Obvious Diversion

The freedom and neutrality of the internet is much of what makes it so empowering to us, but numerous companies are trying to hijack the Internet as we know it. It’s time we start talking about it and fight them one issue at a time.

Part 1: AOL and Yahoo¡ Want To Tax Email

AOL and Yahoo are about to become no better than a corrupt doorman. Slip him enough cash, and he’ll let you through the door.

Currently, all email and the speech it carries across the internet is treated equally. Whether it’s an unpopular political message or a recipe from your Aunt Sue for Apple Brown Bettie, when each email hits the next server in the chain, they are generally forwarded on to their destination on a first come, first served basis.

Yahoo and AOL want to create a “preferred class of e-mail”. Why is it preferred? Because for each email sent, companies could buy postage from them and they’ll give it priority over any other email that comes through their systems. AOL and Yahoo are doing this under the guise of fighting spam, but all they are really doing is gouging the system.

Is your email legitimate? Give me a penny and I’ll believe you. Remember, AOL and Yahoo aren’t stopping spammers with this. Not even close. They’re just slowing down the email of those people who can’t afford to give them some money so they can skip the line and jump right into your mailbox.

With AOL and Yahoo, speech on the internet will come with a tax. Normally with a tax, you get some representation in exchange. With this tax, you just get taken.

Tell AOL and Yahoo to Leave Email Alone

If AOL and Yahoo can’t figure out how to be profitable companies without screwing up the internet, then they don’t deserve to be in business.

This is the only reasonable feedback form I could find for Yahoo. Let them know they should leave email alone.

AOL says “Your feedback is important to us.” Give it to them.