In a very troubling development for freedom of speech and the future of “net neutrality”, the New York Times is reporting that Verizon Wireless has rejected a request from Naral Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group, to make Verizon’s mobile network available for a text-message program.
Verizon claims that they have the right to block “controversial or unsavory” text messages.
The messages in question are part of a program that allows people to sign up for text messages from Naral by sending a message to a five-digit number known as a short code. The program has been accepted by other carriers.
According to the NYT, Verizon told Naral that
it does not accept programs from any group ‘that seeks to promote an agenda or distribute content that, in its discretion, may be seen as controversial or unsavory to any of our users.”
However I think that this position is arbitrary and ludicrous.
I agree with Naral’s president Nancy Keenan who said that Verizon’s decision interfered with political speech and activism.
I also agree with Keenan when she says that
No company should be allowed to censor the message we want to send to people who have asked us to send it to them. Regardless of people’s political views, Verizon customers should decide what action to take on their phones. Why does Verizon get to make that choice for them?
Naral provided an example of a recent text message that it has sent to supporters: “End Bush’s global gag rule against birth control for world’s poorest women! Call Congress. (202) 224-3121. Thnx! Naral Text4Choice.