The Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP), which is in-charge of regulating telecommunications in France, has said in a report that just like telecom operators, mobile devices and other internet-access devices also have a bias and that prevents an open Internet. The report is titled 'Devices, The Weak Link In Achieving An Open Internet'. According to ARCEP the internet access chain doesn't stop with internet service providers (ISPs): Other intermediaries have the power to hamper users’ ability to access certain online content and services. This is true of devices (smartphones, tablets, computers, etc.), their operating systems and their app stores, which are controlled by a small number of economic actors. ARCEP says that it has mapped out a "large number of impediments to internet openness that stem from devices". Some of these aren't intentional on the part of the device manufacturers or the operating system (OS) providers, because they stem from the "devices’ inherent technical constraints." It's not possible to draw a conclusion regarding restrictions of this nature, however, the regulator says there's reason to believe users are aware of such technical limitations, and select devices based on their internet access requirements. On the other hand, impediments created because of "willful actions by device manufacturers or OS providers, such as those that derive from editorial policies or competition models between systems," can be studied conclusively and effective action to prevent such impediments is necessary. In this regard, ARCEP says that: Some restrictions that device manufacturers or OS providers have deliberately…
