Abstract
89% (Source: Litmus) of the users on the internet are using free email services such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, ICloud and AOL Mail because they feel that it is an open, free market with an clear exchange of information.

We have found through extensive data analysis that a statistically significant percentage of email subscribers are not being sent content due to interference by their 'free' email service providers. This is due to the providers' arbitrarily designating what content they deem worthy of delivering to the subscriber base, even though the subscribers want to be communicated to by the mail senders.

In addition, we have also found through data analysis that emails are being designated as 'opened' or 'clicked' when a human never interfaced with them, only bots.

Net neutrality – a cornerstone of the digital world, facilitates the democratization of information on the internet. Yet, the 'free' Big 5 email services provide us with examples that negate this standard.

Willful Obstruction of Correspondence: A Breach of Net Neutrality?
The Big 5 Email Services (Google, Yahoo, Outlook, AOL, and Apple), who we implicitly trust with our digital correspondence, might not adhere strictly to the principles of net neutrality.

Net Neutrality and Obstruction of Correspondence
The United States Code clearly defines the obstruction of mail ( 18, U.S.C., 1702 ), but does it account for Email? Not yet.

This question brings forth the issue of net neutrality, as it is suspected that these email services use automated systems to alter the flow of emails without explicit consent or knowledge of the recipients.

Investigating the Allegations
'Free' email services are often advertising-supported, and there are concerns that they might prioritize commercial interests over user communication. This could potentially lead to interruption in email delivery if the content does not align with their commercial interests.

What can we, the people do? Simple. Just say 'NO' to 'free' email services except for authentication as required. Don't use them for your business or social outreach.

Instead, buy a domain name, and put a commercial email address on that domain that does not have an 'anti-spam' bot on it - so you can monitor the emails on that yourself.

Deciphering the Truth
To uncover the truth for yourself, if you are a mail sender, we suggest a 3-step process:

1) Identify who has allegedly lodged a complaint (i.e. unsubscribed, marked as 'spam' etc. ) against your commercial promotions. Simply export your 'unsubscribe' list from your mail provider and contact a few of these people with a personal letter and ask them whether they truly did unsubscribe or were they unsubscribed / bounced without ever receiving anything from you.

In our experience, a lot of people we contacted said they never got an email from us or don't remember any email from us and were wondering why we were no longer contacting them.

2) Reach out to them for verification with a personal message.

3) If they deny lodging any complaints, suggest that they upgrade to a commercial business-class email address that offers the freedom of custom email filtering, reducing dependency on third-party services.

Share with them this petition and replace their old email address with their non 'free' email address so you can continue to engage with them.

A Case Study on 'Obstruction'
There have been instances where clients' accounts were flagged or even 'shut down' due to 'too many' spam complaints. With specially installed software to log the email addresses of the 'complainers', a trend became evident.

Is this a Breach of Net Neutrality?
The findings suggest that 'free' email services may use anti-spam systems to create false 'bounces' or 'spam complaints'. Without the knowledge or consent of the recipient, this qualifies as Obstruction of Correspondence, potentially conflicting with the principles of net neutrality.

The Call to Action
This brings forth the need for users to take some actions:

Spread awareness about this petition.
Purchase a pair of email addresses from your domain name provider.
Offer discounts to 'business class' email recipients, effectively offsetting the cost of the email service.

Why Should You Do It?
Switching to commercial email services has several advantages. You get the freedom to reach someone’s Inbox with your updates and newsletters, fewer spam complaints and bounces, and significant savings on your Email Service Provider fees.

We all have our favorite 'free' email services, but they may not always be the best choice for business or e-commerce. By moving towards email sovereignty, we can manage our communication preferences, rather than leaving it in the hands of commercial, advertising-supported services.

These examples demonstrate possible instances of obstruction of correspondence, an affront to the principles of net neutrality.

The Importance of Upholding Net Neutrality
In the context of email services, net neutrality implies that all electronic mail should be treated equally, without any interference. The examples provided point towards possible violations of this principle by the Big 5.

Final Thoughts
The idea of net neutrality is fundamental to a free and fair internet. Through the lens of the 'free' Big 5 email services' practices, it becomes crucial to continuously scrutinize such platforms for potential violations.

Do you know any activists? We are technologists, not activists and for change to occur on this matter, we need Members of Congress to take a stance against the commercial email service companies practice of obstruction of email under the guise of 'protecting users from spam'.

Help us spread the word about this petition and support our initiatives by becoming a member of Earthgrid.

AOL

12 petitions targeting AOL

Do you have an issue that AOL can influence?