Tech firms unite for 'net neutrality' protest

A host of internet giants - from social networks to dating apps to porn sites - will join a protest Wednesday against plans to roll back rules protecting "net neutrality".

The sites will display a variety of messages, or simulate the potential effects of losing the basic principle of all internet traffic being treated equally.

Google will be among those protesting

The US communications regulator earlier this year voted to remove an Obama-era rule that would prevent the prioritisation or "throttling" of data, as well as other measures campaigners consider to be detrimental to the internet.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed reversing net neutrality rules for internet service providers

Opponents to net neutrality say it stifles innovation and discourages investment in telecoms infrastructure. Among the companies protesting, the headliners include Google, Facebook, Amazon, Reddit, AirBnB, Twitter and Snapchat.

Crowdfunding site Kickstarter will be involved, as will craft-selling site Etsy and dating app OkCupid. PornHub, one of the world's most visited sites, will also be taking part.


"Internet service providers could create special fast lanes for content providers willing to pay more," said Corey Price, vice president of PornHub. "That means slow streaming, which, especially in regards to online porn, is quite problematic as you can imagine."

Campaigners told the BBC around 80,000 websites and services in all are taking part in the co-ordinated action that is designed to draw attention to a public consultation about the proposed rule reversal.
"What we want the FCC to hear, and we want members of Congress to hear, is that net neutrality is wildly popular, which it is, and we want them to stop trying to murder it," said Sean Vitka, a lawyer for pro-net neutrality groups Demand Progress and Fight for the Future.
"It stops large companies, like internet service providers, from controlling who wins or loses on the internet. There'd be nothing to stop your ISP stopping the next Facebook, the next Google, from accessing customer's equally.
"If a new company can't access companies on the same terms as the incumbent's they're not going to have the chance to thrive."