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Back in 2017, @fightfortheftr started noticing suspicious comments flooding the FCC docket. All of them opposed #NetNeutrality 
. We published a blog post about it and some journos started investigating.
Today the NY AG announced they have proof this fraud was funded by the ISPs. https://twitter.com/NewYorkStateAG/status/1390298451435458561
. We published a blog post about it and some journos started investigating. Today the NY AG announced they have proof this fraud was funded by the ISPs. https://twitter.com/NewYorkStateAG/status/1390298451435458561
Of course, this comes as a surprise to no one. #NetNeutrality activists have been saying for years these fake comments were likely funded by companies like Comcast and Verizon. And journalists at Buzzfeed, CNN, and other outlets have gotten close to proving it. Now it's official.
activists have been saying for years these fake comments were likely funded by companies like Comcast and Verizon. And journalists at Buzzfeed, CNN, and other outlets have gotten close to proving it. Now it's official.
We built http://Comcastroturf.com , a tool that allowed Internet users to check if their personal information had been used to submit a fake comment. We called on Congress to investigate. Comcast sent us a cease and desist. We've got receipts for all of this https://www.vice.com/en/article/a3w9vj/comcast-is-trying-to-censor-a-site-that-claims-comcast-is-committing-fraud
Our research and advocacy @fightfortheftr led to calls from lawmakers for a full investigation. Gizmodo, WSJ and other major outlets published stories that tied the comments to a few shady marketing firms, some of which counted ISPs among their clients. https://www.wsj.com/articles/fccs-net-neutrality-proposal-marred-by-millions-of-fake-comments-11620309351
We organized a letter to FCC boss Ajit Pai signed by dozens of people whose names and home addresses were stolen and used without their permission to submit fraudulent comments against #netneutrality . Tens of thousands of others called for an investigation https://tumblr.fightforthefuture.org/post/161059082913/victims-whose-stolen-names-and-addresses-were-used
. Tens of thousands of others called for an investigation https://tumblr.fightforthefuture.org/post/161059082913/victims-whose-stolen-names-and-addresses-were-used
Here's a few screenshots from one of our early posts on this summarizing the research we had done on the fake comments and encouraging lawmakers and journalists to investigate. Ajit Pai's FCC repeatedly ignored this issue & moved ahead with the repeal https://tumblr.fightforthefuture.org/post/160771385833/the-fcc-cannot-move-forward-until-it-investigates
So why would the nation's largest broadband companies go to such lengths as to break the law by funding shady astroturf firms to stuff fake comments into the FCC's docket?
It's because they couldn't find any real people who oppose #NetNeutrality to shill for their position.
It's because they couldn't find any real people who oppose #NetNeutrality
to shill for their position.
#NetNeutrality , the basic rules that prevent ISPs like AT&T and Comcast from abusing their gatekeeper power, is overwhelmingly popular.
If there's one thing every can agree on it's that they don't want their phone or cable company to tell them what they can see and do online.
, the basic rules that prevent ISPs like AT&T and Comcast from abusing their gatekeeper power, is overwhelmingly popular.If there's one thing every can agree on it's that they don't want their phone or cable company to tell them what they can see and do online.
Polls consistently show that the overwhelming majority of people from across the political spectrum support #NetNeutrality . Millions of REAL people submitted comments to the FCC and called Congress opposing its repeal. No wonder ISPs had to resort to fraud https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/11/12/wonkbook-polling-shows-even-republicans-overwhelmingly-support-net-neutrality/
. Millions of REAL people submitted comments to the FCC and called Congress opposing its repeal. No wonder ISPs had to resort to fraud https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/11/12/wonkbook-polling-shows-even-republicans-overwhelmingly-support-net-neutrality/
Thousands of small businesses spoke out for #NetNeutrality , along with civil rights groups, librarians, teachers, veterans, websites, musicians, and the original inventors of the Internet. It's one of the most popular policies of the last century http://BattleForTheNet.com
, along with civil rights groups, librarians, teachers, veterans, websites, musicians, and the original inventors of the Internet. It's one of the most popular policies of the last century http://BattleForTheNet.com
Ajit Pai knew that there was overwhelming consensus in favor of net neutrality. The goal of the telecom giants who funded these fraudulent comments was to muddy the waters, create confusion, and provide cover for Trump's FCC to repeal these democratically enacted protections.
Now that the @NewYorkStateAG has hard proof that this criminal activity was funded by Big Telecom companies, there must be accountability. First and foremost, the FCC under new leadership should move quickly to restore the #NetNeutrality rules that never should have been repealed
rules that never should have been repealed
Next, the Big Cable companies that funded this illegal activity should face real consequences, & agencies like the FCC should put policies in place to prevent this type of astroturfing and abuse. I'd like a personal apology from Comcast's CEO too if that's not too much to ask ;-)
Finally, now that we know beyond any doubt that Broadband for America & telecom giants funded this fraud, it's hard not to wonder whether they also funded the firm that targeted me & @fightfortheftr with a sophisticated, sustained phishing campaign, attempting to hack our email..
That campaign was traced back to a firm in India that contracts with a Private Investigations firm here in the US, one that counted Verizon as a client...
Really makes you think
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-09/u-s-investigating-hacker-ring-paid-to-target-corporate-critics
Really makes you think
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-09/u-s-investigating-hacker-ring-paid-to-target-corporate-critics
Here's @fightfortheftr's statement. https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2021-05-06-fight-for-the-future-group-who-originally-exposed/
We're calling for
1) The FCC to immediately restore #NetNeutrality
2) Criminal charges against the companies & execs
3) An investigation into whether those same companies funded the paid phishing campaign against us
We're calling for
1) The FCC to immediately restore #NetNeutrality
2) Criminal charges against the companies & execs
3) An investigation into whether those same companies funded the paid phishing campaign against us
