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The need for vigilance after net neutrality
網絡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
網絡中立原則規定，網絡運營商在進行網絡數據傳輸時對待所有數據應當一視同仁，6月11日，美國聯邦通信委員會廢除了有關規定。
would mean everything from the mundane (higher bills) to the bombastic (the end of free speech online).
廢除前夕，支持該原則的人群表示，此舉不但會造成形而下的問題（漲價），也會造成形而上的問題(網絡言論自由的終結)。
This may distract consumers from what they should actually look for in its wake.
然而，這一言論可能會分散消費者的注意力，導致他們忽視他們本應注意的，廢除這一原則帶來的后果。
Yes, companies like Verizon or Comcast may rework how they charge for services like Netflix,
誠然，威瑞森和康卡斯特可能會重新調整他們對Netflix這樣的服務的收費規則，
driving up prices for some—though potentially reducing them for others.
抬高部分服務的價格——盡管也有可能是為了其他服務降低這些服務的價格。
But users are unlikely to feel those effects immediately.
然而，用戶恐很難立即感受到變化。
Service providers won’t want more public outrage so soon.
運營商不會希望太快激起更大的公憤。
The more troubling outcome could accumulate over time:
隨著時間的推移，可能還會有更多更為令人不安的后果：
power may concentrate further in the hands of a small group of digital giants.
權力進一步集中在少數數字巨頭手中。
Companies like Facebook, Google and Netflix arose
Facebook、谷歌和網飛等公司紛紛崛起，
because they replaced something inferior, like My Space, Yahoo and Blockbuster Video.
因為他們取代了諸如聚友網 , 雅虎和百事達之類的公司。
But without net neutrality rules preventing favoritism,
但如果沒有網絡中立規則管控厚此薄彼的做法，
the existing tech titans—even if they grow inferior—will face fewer fights from upstarts.
現有的科技巨頭們——即便他們的地位日漸下降——面臨來自后起之秀的競爭也會更小。
Service providers could cut deals incentivizing users to opt for existing services instead of smaller rivals.
互聯網供應商或許會達成協議，鼓勵用戶選擇現有服務，而不是規模較小的競對服務。
That could leave us with fewer alternatives when the giants behave badly.
這樣一來，巨頭們行為不端時，用戶選擇的余地就會更小。
This does not bode well for our tendency to ignore troubling actions—
加之我們會習慣性地忽視令我們不安的行為——
say, allowing shady third parties to access our most personal data—until it’s too late.
比如允許不正當的第三方訪問我們大部分的個人數據——這可不是什么好兆頭。到頭來后悔都來不及。
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