Rerum Novarum and Net Neutrality

[Caldera599]

Someone I was debating made a connection between Rerum Novarum and net neutrality, apparently government regulation of the internet falling under the state’s duty to fullfill the common good. What am I to make of this. Am I required to accept net neutrality add a matter of Church teaching?

 

[seakelp]

I doubt it.

But it is an interesting idea. I think that it may not be entirely strange in fifty years or so to think of net neutrality (in a general sense) as a matter of social justice. Net neutrality can be an instrument of free expression, free thought, and the exercise of human dignity.

Consider net neutrality’s categorical opposite: internet censorship. I think it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to consider internet censorship as a deprivation of a kind of social or political good. Why would it therefore be hard to imagine an open internet as a social good?

 

[Jared2914]

In medieval times, you wouldn’t expect a government to have to supply power to homes, but these days you would consider that a basic thing that every person needs access to. Similarly, we might get to a point where internet access is required in a modern country like the U.S. At that point it becomes the government’s responsibility that every person has access to it. I don’t think we are there yet. I still consider internet access a “nice to have”. Even then most people have access to a library with free internet access and many businesses offer free wifi.

 

[Timothysis]

When the Church speaks of the “state,” she is speaking of the legitimate authority that is supposed to legislate laws based on Catholic teaching and Natural law. Ultimately, the state should be a Catholic state. Since this is not the case, it doesn’t really matter. Abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia etc. are far more important than net neutrality. We have to start at the top of the list and work our way down.

 

[Holly3278]

I don’t know of any Church teachings that would require a specific position on net neutrality but I am strongly in favor of net neutrality.