Topic: Net Neutrality
Country: New Zealand
Delegate Name: Emerson Byrne
School: Fishers High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All New Zealand position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
New Zealand, as a first world country and as an avid supporter of human rights and human equity, believes in the fair and equal ideals of net neutrality. The nation of New Zealand believes that internet service providers should not limit, restrict, influence or prioritize any online actions from any site. The nation further believes that there should be no discrimination between any and all forms of online traffic.
With internet usage becoming more and more common, and with more people coming to heavily rely on this resource, we believe it is in the common interest of all users to have unrestricted usage over their internet service; and if it is a service that must be paid for, then doubly so. Net neutrality is also necessary to protect the rights of the individual citizens of a nation. For example, the Republic of China has heavy restrictions and limits on the usage of internet within the nation: they restrict what can be searched, what can be obtained, and what can be sent to the outside world. This is a massive invasion of privacy, and a major restriction of the principle of free speech. If net neutrality were to be enacted throughout the nation of China, and other nations that allow internet providers to discriminate against the various forms of traffic, the citizens of those afflicted states would have be granted the civil liberties they were previously deprived of.
The nation of New Zealand would like to suggest that every nation within the UN and even those outside of it, every nation with working, public internet access, should follow the guidelines and directives set by the principle of net neutrality; it is imperative to maintain the basis of net neutrality. The delegation of New Zealand would also like to strongly urge nations that are already supporters and enforcers of net neutrality to work together to make a more concrete platform for net neutrality; to rally support for net neutrality; to encourage nations and states that have yet to adopt net neutrality to choose to support it instead; and to discourage the actions of nations that allow for restriction of internet services or perpetuate the restrictions themselves.
The internet is the fastest growing technological achievement of mankind, and in this rapid, constantly changing world the internet is one of the most powerful resources at our disposal. We as a whole need to ensure that all can use it effectively and efficiently, and we as members of the United Nations need to reach a consensus that safeguards the individual rights of the people and allows for free, unrestricted usage of the internet for whatever purposes. If we truly believe in upholding ourselves to the highest standards and constantly improving the living conditions for others, then the decision for a neutral, non-discriminatory internet should be a clear and unanimous decision.
Sources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nz.html
https://internetnz.nz/news/net-neutrality-now-little-bit-more-neutral
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/81120320/Explained-the-net-neutrality-court-decision
Myself
