Georges Gobet / Staff

The European Parliament has voted in favour of controversial net neutrality regulations. MEPs voted down four proposed amendments that critics argued would have closed loopholes in the regulations.

A last-minute rally by MEPs, academics and technology companies had attempted to add amendments to the draft regulation, but MEPs voted in favour of passing the unamended version.


In order to see this embed, you must give consent to Social Media cookies. Open my cookie preferences. Parliament rejects amendments to protect #NetNeutrality, allows loopholes for Internet of two speeds. Will let you know how each MEP voted. — Julia Reda (@Senficon) October 27, 2015

Matt Carthy, MEP for Sinn Féin, said the defeat of the amendments showed that "corporate interests come first".

Read next Internet eggcorns are messing up how we all communicate Internet eggcorns are messing up how we all communicate

Critics of the unamended draft regulations had argued it would allow companies to pay for preferential treatment from ISPs and damage the free and open nature of the internet. The vote also confirms that mobile roaming charges will cease to exist across Europe by 15 June 2017.

Julia Reda, MEP for the Pirate Party in Germany, said the vote would allow for the creation of a "two speed" internet in the European Union. "We are disappointed that the European Parliament has decided not to legislate on this critical issue," ​said Estelle Massé, policy analyst at human rights organisation Access Now. "By not supporting the necessary amendments to give clarity to the text, the Parliament has left it up to courts and national regulators to determine its meaning."


These rules protect the right of every European to access the content of their choice, without interference or discrimination Günther Oettinger, EU Digital Economy and Society commisioner

Campaigners in favour of stronger net neutrality had proposed four different amendments that they say would have increased the strength of the law, which was eventually passed.

The rejected amendments included proposals that would have ensured there was no network discrimination, all internet traffic would be treated equally, ISPs would not be allowed to become gatekeepers, and ISPs would have only been allowed to manage traffic when it was congested.

Read next You shouldn't be surprised that UK broadband speeds suck You shouldn't be surprised that UK broadband speeds suck

In order to see this embed, you must give consent to Social Media cookies. Open my cookie preferences. My response to the vote on #netneutrality > missed opportunity https://t.co/8ojvMbCK4S — Marietje Schaake (@MarietjeSchaake) October 27, 2015


Günther Oettinger, the commissioner in charge of the Digital Economy and Society in the EU, said the vote would "deliver tangible results to improve the daily lives of Europeans". "We will get for the first time ever net neutrality rules in EU law," he said. "These rules protect the right of every European to access the content of their choice, without interference or discrimination."

Tim Berner-Lee's Web Foundation went as far to say that Europe's decision on the issue took it a "giant step" away from being a "leader in the digital economy" and that the decision would "threaten innovation and free speech".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

Today’s botched #netneutrality rules take Europe a giant step back in the digital economy. https://t.co/pTVnHy3DQj

Read next One year on, who still plays Pokémon Go? One year on, who still plays Pokémon Go?

— Anne Jellema (@AFJellema) October 27, 2015</blockquote> "Now, European start-ups may have to compete on an uneven playing field against industry titans, while small civil society groups risk having their voices overwhelmed by well-funded giants," said the Foundation's CEO, Anne Jellema.

Other critics of the regulations included leading technology firms such as Reddit and Wordpress. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which also campaigned against threats to net neutrality in the United States earlier this year, said the regulations were potentially damaging.

But Jeremy Malcolm, senior global policy analyst at EFF, told WIRED that "overall Europe is in a better position today than it was yesterday." He said that although the amendments being voted down were "disappointing" the laws passed resulted in consistent net neutrality regulation across Europe for the first time. "The disagreement is around the edges, the extent to which loopholes can be misused for purposes that go beyond legitimate network management," he said. "Those loopholes may or may not be exploited but I guess we will see as this rolls out."


By not supporting the necessary amendments to give clarity to the text, the Parliament has left it up to courts and national regulators to determine its meaning Estelle Massé, policy analyst, Access Now

EDRi, a coalition of 31 European privacy and civil rights organisations, said MEPs had "avoided making decisions on all crucial points" of the legislation. "Now, national regulators will have to decide – on abuses imposed through 'zero rating', on rules on congestion management, on specialised services and so on," said Joe McNamee, ERDi's director. Alliance of Liberal Democrats MEP Marietje Schaake said her colleagues had "missed an opportunity" to impose stronger net neutrality regulations.

The next step for the legislation will see the Body of European Regulators (BEREC) issue guidelines to national bodies -- Ofcom will be responsible in the UK -- on how it will work in practice.