In December of 2017, the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality. What this means is that the internet is now less of a level playing field in the US. The net neutrality rules that were previously in place meant that internet service providers (ISPs) weren’t allowed to block or discriminate against lawful content, they weren’t allowed to throttle connections, and they weren’t allowed to prioritize certain content for companies who paid a premium rate to have their content prioritized. This is an unfortunate state of things and poses a threat to the freedom of the internet.
While the current state of things isn’t the greatest, there are measures that the individual consumer can take in this era without net neutrality. One of the best ways to help ensure some level of net neutrality is through the use of a VPN as we will discover below.
To Protect Your Privacy Online
ISPs can view all of your internet traffic. Without a VPN, they will know about every single website that you visit. However, by connecting to a VPN, you will be able to mask your presence online. This is possible since connecting to a VPN routes your internet connection through a secure third-party server.
To Prevent Your Connection Speed From Being Throttled
Since net neutrality has been revoked, ISPs are allowed to prevent you from enjoying your maximum connection speeds. They may restrict your browsing speeds based on the type of activity you’re carrying out. For example, they may want to reduce the amount of streaming you do and throttle this activity even though you are a paying customer. Connecting to a VPN server will stop ISPs from being able to see the types of activities you are carrying out online. This will make it less likely for them to reduce the speed of your connection based on what you’re doing.
With net neutrality being repealed, it is within the power of ISPs to charge you extra based on the services you are using while connected to the internet. For instance, you may be charged extra for using social media or streaming services. A VPN connection can prevent this from happening. If this practice was being carried out, you could simply connect to a VPN server in a country where net neutrality is practiced.
To Prevent Data From Being Sold for a Profit
It is a real possibility that ISPs may try to sell your data to third parties for a profit. There is nothing stopping them from collecting your browsing data, using it to determine your habits, and then selling this information to companies who can then sell you targeted advertisements. However, this practice would be rendered useless with the use of a VPN.
Final Thoughts
Net neutrality was crucial for protecting consumers trying to browse the internet without being taken advantage of. The repeal of net neutrality means that ISPs have far-reaching powers which may make things uncomfortable for consumers. Luckily, VPNs can negate a lot of the bad aspects of the net-neutrality repeal, so you should consider signing up for a VPN service today.
