Gore’s Speech and Internet policy

Gore’s speech Monday excoriating Bush’s domestic eavesdropping policy is receiving attention from all corners of the Internet. Less discussed than the politics have been his comments about Internet neutrality and what he portrayed as telecom companies’ responsibility to “cease and desist” from participating in the domestic surveillance: (Raw Story has the transcript, Crooks and Liars links to video.)

Any telecommunications company that has provided the government with access to private information concerning the communications of Americans without a proper warrant should immediately cease and desist their complicity in this apparently illegal invasion of the privacy of American citizens.

It is particularly important that the freedom of the Internet be protected against either the encroachment of government or the efforts at control by large media conglomerates. The future of our democracy depends on it.