Net Neutrality is an Important Principle

The NTSCMP.COM incident has stirred up heated debate recently. Starting with an accusation or suspicion that Netvigator and HGC may be blocking the site, speculations are abound.

The discussion by Charles at:
http://charlesmok.blogspot.com/2006/09/blog-post_22.html
Provides a clear headed analysis

Sidekick gives a good roundup of much of what is being said: http://sidekick.myblog.hk/archives/2006/09/27/875/

Based on my own simple analysis of the IP address: 69.49.101.19 (a simple google search of the IP: http://www.google.com/search?q=69.49.101.19&start=0&ie=utf-8
&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official), it seems like the same IP has been found to be connected to several phishing scams:
http://phishery.internetdefence.net/data/796
http://phishery.internetdefence.net/data/9283
http://db.aa419.org/fakebanksview.php?key=8797
http://www.trendmicro.com/en/security/phishing/overview/
phish050608a.htm
http://escrow-fraud.com/fraud_data.php?id=1832
http://escrow-fraud.com/fraud_data.php?id=1817

So... it might be that the IP was blocked somewhere else because of this...

All in all, regardless of what really happned, I am glad that our netizens are ready to fight for an important principle which is net neutrality. I.e. that network operators, (e.g. ISPs) should not filter content. Personally, I believe that neutrality is an opinion in and of itself, nevertheless, the point is that prohibitive "protection" is perhaps obsoleting.