Topic: Net Neutrality
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Griffin Glick
School: Roeper School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Ethiopia position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
In the past 2 decades, the internet has rapidly grown into a fundamental force of worldwide communications and day-to-day life in many countries. Although it may have started off as a military tool, it has now completed a transition between private and public widespread access around the world. This powerful tool for inter-connectivity has both facilitated the alliances of many nations, along with allowing information to disseminate around the world at previously unimaginable speeds. The development of social media has allowed people to coordinate at high pace with a lower chance of being intercepted than before at almost any point in human history. The Ethiopian constitution calls for freedom of press and speech, under which messages such as these are protected.
As shown by the extensive utilization of social media by the Daesh and other terrorist organization, dangerous attacks can be planned and carried out. Such forms of communication have proved to be efficient tools for all forms of communication, both constructive and destructive. Although social media can be used for positive and progressive social movements, the internet in Ethiopia is frequently used by political dissenters that are attempting to produce and persuade falsely informed opposition groups that wrongly attempt to undermine the national sovereignty of Ethiopia. In order to protect our citizens, Ethiopia maintains that we have the responsibility of restricting false and damaging propagandist materials because such materials may corrupt the public. As is demonstrated by the shutting down those spreading false materials and hate, Ethiopia reserves the right to censor outright terrorist organizations.
Ethiopia is pro net-neutrality, but believes to have the right to block access to all sources for the benefit and livelihood of its people.
