The paradox of the regulated Internet: the deregulation of value-added services in Brazil

The article examines to which extent the concept of value-added services (VAS) remains adequate in a scenario of convergence between telecommunications, media and the internet, specifically as far as audiovisual content distribution services over the internet are concerned, having in view that in Brazil, the characterization of a service as VAS implies exclusion from the ordinary regulatory jurisdiction. Such characterization and consequent immunity to general regulatory rules tend to become more controversial as new services emerge that are increasingly similar to traditional (tele) communication services, subject to State regulation. Underlying the research is the question if and to which degree State regulation of the internet is legitimate, considering that for many, a high level of freedom and the absence of rules are central elements for the configuration of the internet as a democratic space.