Topic: Net Neutrality
Country: Finland
Delegate Name: Malaynah Leach
School: Vicksburg High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Finland position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
In order to ensure all citizens have access to internet free from discrimination, net neutrality needs to be addressed. As the use of internet has been increasing rapidly around the world within the last two decades, recognizing and implementing actions to enforce net neutrality is more important than ever.
In 2010, Finland became the first country in the world to make broadband a human right for all of their citizens. Finland created such a law in order to allow all of their citizens to be apart of the information society they have worked to build. Since 2010, Finland’s number of internet users went from 86% to 92%, proving growth in their efforts to make internet access a human right. As Finland works towards providing internet for all of their citizens, they also stand by enforcing net neutrality laws. Finland believes that if the internet is not equal for all users, it would be infringing on individuals basic rights.
The EU,of which Finland is a member of, ruled that the principles of net neutrality were to be enforced across the entire European Union in 2016. This includes the elimination of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from having any involvement in what end users can access and what they are allowed to put out themselves. This provision of the EU is a large step in creating a world of free internet access and opportunities for all individuals and should be used as a model for other countries who have not yet made a step in applying net neutrality in their society.
