EU member states are considering ditching net neutrality, with many already showing a scant regard for local net neutrality.
According to a leaked document from the Council of Europe which La Quadrature du Net acquired access to, the potential for a much reduced system is being considered.
The leaked PDF shows that a number of discussions are taking place regarding a possible change to the EU’s stance on net neutrality. The report has removed references to the net neutrality topic, the safeguarding of end user rights and the non-discriminatory treatment of traffic.
Those who have campaigned in favour of net neutrality will no doubt be disappointed by the content of the document.
La Quadrature du Net, said: "La Quadrature du Net has already expressed its concerns on several occasions on the direction given to the text by the Council of the EU, because it removed any reference to Net Neutrality and proposed traffic management measures deeply prejudicial to the freedom of communication and innovation."
"It is unacceptable that the Council, including the Latvian presidency, sweeps away positions of the European Parliament. It is unacceptable that the Council makes the play of big economic operators to the detriment of citizens and small SMEs… The European Union has now the opportunity to reaffirm its Human Rights values but if the Council do not seize this opportunity, the EU will be lagging behind the USA."
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