The European Union planned to discuss new rules this week that, in its eyes, will “protect” net neutrality.
An open letter to the governing body, however, argued otherwise. Multiple tech companies, including Kickstarter, Tumblr, and Etsy, along with some venture capitalists, say the upcoming proposal contains four “major problems that undermine network neutrality and threaten to undermine the EU technology industry.”
These groups pointed to the proposal's allowance of fast lanes, zero-ratings, class-based discrimination, and impending congestion management as the four primarily areas worth further discussion.
“These problems jeopardize the future of the startup innovation and economic growth in the EU,” the letter stated. “They also create barriers for U.S. startups and businesses seeking to enter the EU market. We believe that the future of the open internet in Europe is at stake and urgent action is warranted."
