The past week has seen an unprecedented investigation into the practices of a large internet service provider (ISP), X, which allegedly throttled or deliberately slowed down competitors and news sites for more than a week.
Throttling is a practice that ISPs can use to reduce internet speed and bandwidth for certain users, or for certain types of content. It is illegal in some places, and its aims are not always clear. In this case, though, critics claim that X deliberately slowed down competitors and news providers for its own benefit. This is a serious concern as it could potentially impede an open and fair marketplace for services, as well as limit citizens’ access to unfiltered news.
This news has spread like wildfire across the internet. Many customers have posted their personal experience and outrage about the issue, as well as their respective governments’ responses to the allegations.
Various reports have also revealed that this throttling was extremely widespread across numerous networks, notably those of X competitors as well as various news outlets. This is particularly troublesome as users have been unable to access key online resources for over a week in some areas.
X has yet to issue a response to these allegations, though they could face severe fines and other legal action. Government regulators in several countries have expressed concern about the practice, and are reportedly investigating X’s practices in further detail.
If the allegations are true, this issue could reshape the global online landscape significantly, as it has already demonstrated the power of ISPs to regulate internet access and slow down certain online activities. It is yet to be seen whether X will face repercussions for these actions, or if other ISPs will follow their lead. Until then, users and news organizations alike will remain wary of any further attempts to slow down internet speed and access in the future.