Should The Government Be Allowed To Regulate Freedom Of The Internet

"In this age, the internet has become as important as water and food to some individuals. It provides the means to connect with others, access information, and enjoy various outlets of entertainment. As American citizens, basic freedoms and rights should be guaranteed. The convenience of the internet sometimes challenges the principles that these rights were built upon. The First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press are among popular arguments when it comes to regulating the internet. As of December 14th, 2017, the FCC or Federal Communication Commission voted to repeal the standing net neutrality law. Regardless of internet laws, the federal, state, and local governments should regulate the internet to protect the First Amendment rights over anything else. Net …show more content…
Without the law, they are given the power to direct their customers to potentially biased news articles. This is a direct attack on the freedom of the press. The freedom from censorship also falls under this right. By the service providers deciding which websites its customers can access, it denies the customers’ freedom from censorship. The federal government is directly responsible for this injustice for removing net neutrality. The media on the internet and the ability to communicate opinions has made the internet such a powerful tool. Taking away the freedom to navigate freely online is almost as destructive as taking away someone's voice. The impact that people’s words online have had can be shown through various movements like Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock Sioux Protest, and the Women's March. In all of these movements, the internet was a key asset in political expression and organizing (National Press Club). The government should monitor the internet in the sense that they should uphold the laws in which the freedom of the press is