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The need for vigilance after net neutrality
网络中立后仍需保持警惕
Before its June 11 death, supporters of net neutrality argued that ending the rule that Internet providers must treat traffic equally
网络中立原则规定，网络运营商在进行网络数据传输时对待所有数据应当一视同仁，6月11日，美国联邦通信委员会废除了有关规定。
would mean everything from the mundane (higher bills) to the bombastic (the end of free speech online).
废除前夕，支持该原则的人群表示，此举不但会造成形而下的问题（涨价），也会造成形而上的问题(网络言论自由的终结)。
This may distract consumers from what they should actually look for in its wake.
然而，这一言论可能会分散消费者的注意力，导致他们忽视他们本应注意的，废除这一原则带来的后果。
Yes, companies like Verizon or Comcast may rework how they charge for services like Netflix,
诚然，威瑞森和康卡斯特可能会重新调整他们对Netflix这样的服务的收费规则，
driving up prices for some—though potentially reducing them for others.
抬高部分服务的价格——尽管也有可能是为了其他服务降低这些服务的价格。
But users are unlikely to feel those effects immediately.
然而，用户恐很难立即感受到变化。
Service providers won’t want more public outrage so soon.
运营商不会希望太快激起更大的公愤。
The more troubling outcome could accumulate over time:
随着时间的推移，可能还会有更多更为令人不安的后果：
power may concentrate further in the hands of a small group of digital giants.
权力进一步集中在少数数字巨头手中。
Companies like Facebook, Google and Netflix arose
Facebook、谷歌和网飞等公司纷纷崛起，
because they replaced something inferior, like My Space, Yahoo and Blockbuster Video.
因为他们取代了诸如聚友网 , 雅虎和百事达之类的公司。
But without net neutrality rules preventing favoritism,
但如果没有网络中立规则管控厚此薄彼的做法，
the existing tech titans—even if they grow inferior—will face fewer fights from upstarts.
现有的科技巨头们——即便他们的地位日渐下降——面临来自后起之秀的竞争也会更小。
Service providers could cut deals incentivizing users to opt for existing services instead of smaller rivals.
互联网供应商或许会达成协议，鼓励用户选择现有服务，而不是规模较小的竞对服务。
That could leave us with fewer alternatives when the giants behave badly.
这样一来，巨头们行为不端时，用户选择的余地就会更小。
This does not bode well for our tendency to ignore troubling actions—
加之我们会习惯性地忽视令我们不安的行为——
say, allowing shady third parties to access our most personal data—until it’s too late.
比如允许不正当的第三方访问我们大部分的个人数据——这可不是什么好兆头。到头来后悔都来不及。
译文由可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载。
