YouTube is reportedly slowing down videos for Firefox users::Users are reporting that YouTube has begun adding a five second delay when loading a video on non-Chrome browsers like Firefox. Read on!
not defending the behavior, but is this even an example of net neutrality? it’s not like ISPs are putting a slow lane for specific browsers in this case. it seems more like a shitty dark pattern type thing (which should have consumer protections as well)
It could still be argued as net neutrality, because the browser with the largest market share is slowing down bits on their way to a different browser when it comes to their video service.
It also should be viewed negatively through an anti-competitive/monopolization lens.
If the internet is truly and open platform where no bits are treated differently on the path to the user based on their content, then this is inherently antithetical to that. Slowing down bits because you don’t like whats in them or where they are going is fundamentally breaking Net Neutrality rules. The interruption of bits on their path is what makes it a Net Neutrality issue.
correct me if I’m wrong but I thought net neutrality by definition was the ISPs doing these shenanigans. at least that’s what I gathered when the whole topic was blowing up with that guy with the face we all up voted on Reddit so he’d show up on Google Images under “punchable faces” or something.
I agree this is an anti-competitive tactic. that’s what I was referring to as it being a shitty dark pattern thing - to lure people into using their tools.
It’s about prioritization of data, which can be through ISPs, but in this case, it’s Google choosing to prioritize or deprioritize data.
I understand, yes, that’s its generally aimed at ISPs, but this is an example of a non-ISP using data-shaping to impact use of their service.
Anti-trust laws should handle it. Google is using their market power to push users from their competition to their product. It’s pretty basic anti-competition behavior that is covered by classic consumer protection laws. I don’t think there’s any reason why net-neutrality would be needed or apply in this case.
We still need net-neutrality, just not for this reason.
