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YouTube is reportedly slowing down videos for Firefox users::Users are reporting that YouTube has begun adding a five second delay when loading a video on non-Chrome browsers like Firefox. Read on!
Here’s a reason why net neutrality laws are good
not defending the behavior, but is this even an example of net neutrality? it’s not like ISPs are putting a slow lane for specific browsers in this case. it seems more like a shitty dark pattern type thing (which should have consumer protections as well)
It could still be argued as net neutrality, because the browser with the largest market share is slowing down bits on their way to a different browser when it comes to their video service.
It also should be viewed negatively through an anti-competitive/monopolization lens.
If the internet is truly and open platform where no bits are treated differently on the path to the user based on their content, then this is inherently antithetical to that. Slowing down bits because you don’t like whats in them or where they are going is fundamentally breaking Net Neutrality rules. The interruption of bits on their path is what makes it a Net Neutrality issue.
correct me if I’m wrong but I thought net neutrality by definition was the ISPs doing these shenanigans. at least that’s what I gathered when the whole topic was blowing up with that guy with the face we all up voted on Reddit so he’d show up on Google Images under “punchable faces” or something.
I agree this is an anti-competitive tactic. that’s what I was referring to as it being a shitty dark pattern thing - to lure people into using their tools.
It’s about prioritization of data, which can be through ISPs, but in this case, it’s Google choosing to prioritize or deprioritize data.
I understand, yes, that’s its generally aimed at ISPs, but this is an example of a non-ISP using data-shaping to impact use of their service.
it seems quite by definition that ISP are what it’s about though
the principle that internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites. -Oxford Dictionary
Net neutrality is the principle that an ISP has to provide access to all sites, content, and applications at the same speed, under the same conditions, without blocking or giving preference to any content. -Wikipedia
Network neutrality—the idea that Internet service providers (ISPs) should treat all data that travels over their networks fairly, without improper discrimination in favor of particular apps, sites or services - EFF
Net neutrality, principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) should not discriminate among providers of content. -Britannica
The fact that its an oversight to not apply it to companies like Google if they are also choosing what traffic gets to people is an oversight, to be sure.
Google acts as an ISP in a different capacity, as well. Alphabet spun off lots of parts of the company, but last I checked, they’re still technically an ISP. So why wouldn’t rules apply to a business that is also literally an ISP with Google Fiber?
also, it’s not an “oversight”. we’re just literally not talking about net neutrality here and that’s what I’m saying. this isn’t a net neutrality problem lol