Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Net neutrality and Occupy Wall Street – making a connection

in Opinion
EBS Staffby EBS Staff
November 12, 2011

By Mark Scheerer

Big Sky Connection

The U.S. Senate may vote this week on overturning Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules aimed at guaranteeing an open Internet, whereby corporations were forbidden to give some people better access to the Web than others. And the fate of the so-called “net neutrality” rules could affect future protests like Occupy Wall Street.

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad

At Occupy Chicago, communications volunteers count more than 33,000 Facebook “likes,” 20,000 Twitter followers, and several thousand website hits every day.

So, some are asking, what would happen if the corporate entities that are the targets of protests were able to limit Internet traffic? That was tried at one point by the Egyptian government during the Arab Spring protests, and Betty Yu with the Center for Media Justice says it’s a legitimate concern.

“A lot of this organizing that happened – sure, it was organic – but it would not be able to happen the way it happened, the way it flourished, if there wasn’t an open Internet, period.”

Opponents of net neutrality rules say they’re not necessary and stifle business growth. Yu says the consolidation of wireless phone companies – like the proposed AT&T and T-Mobile merger – could also lead to a situation where the companies – or the government – could hamper Twitter communications.

Andrew Smith volunteers in the communications area of Occupy Chicago, where he says social media are used not only to mobilize demonstrators, but to make sure mainstream media report accurately on the protest.

“If false information is reported, then we can be like, ‘Whoa, no; this is what really happened and here’s why.’ And using social networks to keep ourselves on message and to keep people informed is critical.”

Betty Yu says the role of the Internet in organizing the “Occupy” protests makes the possible Senate showdown about net neutrality something to be watched closely.

“Big Brother is watching. And I think that it’ll be interesting to see how the net neutrality fight plays out now.”

Yu says mainstream media no longer determine how protests get covered.

“There are about close to 40,000 videos up online of the Occupy movement. That just goes to show you how these tools have really democratized the process of capturing protests, capturing democracy in action and being able to share it.”

Some contemporary protestors use the chant of the 1968 anti-war protestors in Chicago, “The Whole World is Watching.” It could have much wider meaning some four decades later.

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes

Upcoming Events

May 20
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Event Series

American Legion Bingo

May 21
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

“On the Face of it,” an original Big Sky Community production

May 23
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at Waypoint

May 27
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Event Series

American Legion Bingo

May 30
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

A la Carte: On coffee and concentration 
Opinion

A la Carte: On coffee and concentration 

May 12, 2025
Community Spotlight: Spring off-season
Community

Community Spotlight: Spring off-season

May 9, 2025
Let’s Talk About Mental Health: Creative outlets 
Health

Let’s Talk About Mental Health: Creative outlets 

May 9, 2025
Thriving Landscapes: Prepare for wildfire season through management and defensible space
Environment

Thriving Landscapes: Prepare for wildfire season through management and defensible space

May 9, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Big Sky PBR
  • Hey Bear
  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Plan Yellowstone

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube