Restrições ao acesso informacional: a neutralidade de rede e a prática do zero-rating na governança da internet

Abstract

With the expansion of Internet bundles that are free of charge for certain applications or content, practice known as zero-rating, new challenges arise for the governance of Internet, especially with regard to equal and non-discriminatory treatment of information flow on the web. In this context, the present paper analyzes the international experience in regulating the net neutrality principle and the zero-rating practice from the regulatory frameworks of Canada, Chile, Netherlands, India and European Union. Therefore, a descriptive research of qualitative nature was developed, based on bibliographic and documentary analyses. The results indicate, on the one hand, a tendency to regulate the prohibition of Internet practices that aim to block, prioritize, degrade or intentionally restrict some types of content. On the other hand, a lack of uniformity is verified in relation to zero-rating regulation. In these terms, the research seeks to contribute to the academic discussion about the regulation of practices that limit the information access of Internet users.