Implications of the Abolition of Net Neutrality for the Cybersecurity Community

Jan 3, 2025

On January 2, 2025, the Federal Appeals Court struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) net neutrality regulations, marking yet another significant shift in the contentious debate over internet governance. This decision has profound implications for the cybersecurity community, as it dismantles protections that ensured equitable access to the internet and imposed certain regulatory responsibilities on Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The cybersecurity risks associated with this repeal are both systemic and far-reaching, potentially exposing users, businesses, and critical infrastructure to heightened vulnerabilities.

This report examines the cybersecurity implications of the abolition of net neutrality, emphasizing the risks posed by ISP practices, the erosion of user privacy, and the broader consequences for critical infrastructure and national security.

1. The Role of Net Neutrality in Cybersecurity

Net neutrality regulations, first introduced in 2015, classified ISPs as “Title II common carriers” under the Telecommunications Act of 1934. This classification required ISPs to treat all internet traffic equally, prohibiting practices such as blocking, throttling, or prioritizing certain content for financial gain (Silicon Republic, 2025). By ensuring an open and neutral internet, these rules indirectly supported cybersecurity by limiting the ability of ISPs to manipulate traffic or engage in invasive practices like deep packet inspection (DPI).

Without net neutrality, ISPs have greater freedom to prioritize certain traffic, block or slow down access to specific websites, and engage in DPI to inspect and potentially monetize user data. These practices introduce significant cybersecurity risks, as they weaken user protections and create opportunities for exploitation by malicious actors.

2. Increased Vulnerability to Deep Packet Inspection

One of the most concerning cybersecurity implications of the repeal is the potential for ISPs to engage in deep packet inspection (DPI). DPI allows ISPs to analyze the contents of data packets transmitted over their networks, including sensitive personal information such as browsing habits, financial transactions, and communication metadata (ZoogVPN, n.d.).

The risks associated with DPI include:

Privacy Violations: ISPs could collect and sell user data to third parties, exposing individuals to targeted advertising, surveillance, and identity theft.
Exploitation by Malicious Actors: If ISPs fail to secure the data they collect, it could be intercepted by hackers, leading to breaches of sensitive information.
Erosion of Trust: Users may lose trust in internet services, knowing that their data is being scrutinized and potentially monetized without their consent.

These risks are exacerbated by the lack of robust regulatory oversight, as the FCC no longer has the authority to enforce privacy protections for broadband users (CSO Online, 2018).

3. Creation of “Fast Lanes” and “Slow Lanes”

The repeal of net neutrality allows ISPs to create “fast lanes” for preferred content providers who pay for prioritization, while relegating other traffic to “slow lanes.” This practice has several cybersecurity implications:

Forced Use of Insecure Services: Users may be compelled to use faster but less secure services, as slower connections could hinder access to secure applications (ZoogVPN, n.d.).
Disruption of Security Tools: Security tools that rely on real-time data transmission, such as antivirus updates or intrusion detection systems, may be affected by throttling or prioritization policies.
Barriers to Innovation: Startups and smaller companies may struggle to compete with established players who can afford to pay for prioritization, potentially stifling the development of innovative cybersecurity solutions (Ars Technica, 2025).

4. Risks to Critical Infrastructure

The cybersecurity risks extend beyond individual users to critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, healthcare, and transportation. Catherine J.K. Sandoval’s research highlights how the repeal of net neutrality creates “zero-day” vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure by enabling ISPs to engage in practices that compromise reliability and security (Sandoval, 2019).

Key risks include:

Paid Priority: ISPs could prioritize traffic for certain energy providers or critical systems, potentially disrupting the operations of competitors or smaller entities.
Backdoor Vulnerabilities: The lack of net neutrality increases the risk of compromised hardware or software being exploited to create backdoors into critical systems.
National Security Threats: Foreign-owned ISPs or data centers could exploit the absence of net neutrality to infiltrate U.S. networks, as highlighted by concerns over Chinese and Russian hacking (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 2025).

The energy sector, in particular, is highly vulnerable to these risks, as it relies on internet connectivity for grid management, monitoring, and communication. A compromised internet could lead to outages, disruptions, and even cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

5. Weakening of FCC Oversight

The abolition of net neutrality significantly weakens the FCC’s ability to regulate ISPs and enforce cybersecurity standards. Under Title II authority, the FCC had the power to:

Mandate cybersecurity standards for broadband providers.
Revoke authorizations for foreign-owned ISPs deemed national security risks.
Prohibit interconnection between broadband providers and data centers controlled by foreign entities (Detroit News, 2025).

With the repeal, the FCC’s authority is now limited, leaving gaps in the regulatory framework that could be exploited by malicious actors. This loss of oversight is particularly concerning in light of recent high-profile cyberattacks, such as the Salt Typhoon hacks, which lawmakers have described as the worst in the nation’s history (Detroit News, 2025).

6. Broader Implications for Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity community faces several broader challenges in the wake of the net neutrality repeal:

Increased Costs: Companies may need to invest in additional security measures to counteract the risks introduced by ISP practices, such as DPI and traffic prioritization.
Legal Uncertainty: The ongoing legal battles over net neutrality create uncertainty for businesses and users, making it difficult to plan and implement long-term cybersecurity strategies.
Erosion of Public Trust: The perception that ISPs prioritize profit over user security could undermine trust in internet services, leading to reduced adoption of online tools and platforms.

Conclusion

The abolition of net neutrality represents a significant setback for the cybersecurity community, exposing users, businesses, and critical infrastructure to heightened risks. The practices enabled by the repeal—such as deep packet inspection, traffic prioritization, and reduced regulatory oversight—create systemic vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. Moreover, the weakening of FCC authority leaves a regulatory gap that undermines efforts to safeguard the internet as a secure and reliable platform.

To mitigate these risks, the cybersecurity community must advocate for stronger regulatory frameworks, invest in innovative security solutions, and educate users about the importance of protecting their data. However, without legislative action to restore net neutrality or establish new protections, the internet’s security and openness remain at significant risk.

References

Sandoval, C. J. K. (2019). Cybersecurity Paradigm Shift: The Risks of Net Neutrality Repeal to Energy Reliability, Public Safety, and Climate Change Solutions. San Diego Journal of Climate & Energy Law. https://digital.sandiego.edu/jcel/vol10/iss1/5/
ZoogVPN. (n.d.). Net Neutrality – Everything You Have to Know On the Issue. https://zoogvpn.com/net-neutrality/?srsltid=AfmBOoov5vGoTjFmq1iG3a6J-WMAGN24cTXEPywQEnn6bvBbJYbqCFVH
Silicon Republic. (2025, January 3). Net neutrality dismantled in the US again. https://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/net-neutrality-dismantled-fcc-us
Detroit News. (2025, January 2). In blow to Democrats, federal appeals court strikes down net neutrality. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/02/in-blow-to-democrats-federal-appeals-court-strikes-down-net-neutrality/77410512007/
Ars Technica. (2025, January 2). Appeals court blocks FCC’s efforts to bring back net neutrality rules. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/01/appeals-court-blocks-fccs-efforts-to-bring-back-net-neutrality-rules/
CSO Online. (2018, January 26). Will the end of net neutrality be a security nightmare? https://www.csoonline.com/article/564395/will-the-end-of-net-neutrality-be-a-security-nightmare.html