Comcast Is Fighting an Embarrassing Net Neutrality War on Twitter
Images via Twitter.
To much public dismay, the FCC voted last Thursday to begin dismantling Obama-era net-neutrality rules. Net neutrality keeps the internet free and open by requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to treat web traffic equally and fairly. With the regulation in place, Comcast, for example, doesn’t have the right to block a user’s access to certain websites or apps and also can’t throttle Internet speeds. Net neutrality also blocks paid prioritization by internet providers, which would allow them to prioritize the websites and apps that fork up extra cash.
As the FCC reopens the bitter war over Internet regulation, Comcast has already gotten knee-deep in its own battle on Twitter.
The company launched a GIF Twitter campaign in April to inform the public that even if net neutrality were to be rolled back, it won’t “Block,” “Slow,” or “Throttle Content.”
We do not block, slow or throttle content. There's widespread consensus on #netneutrality protections, and we support them. -Dan pic.twitter.com/pv18cQBFrg
— Comcast (@comcast) May 9, 2017
The company also claims in tweets that it “believes in an open internet” and gives customers “the net neutrality protections they expect.”
We believe in an open internet & give customers the #netneutrality protections they expect: https://t.co/RAa22WEQOA pic.twitter.com/IcyMPB7XZT
— Comcast (@comcast) April 26, 2017
The Twitter discussion quickly turned ugly as users berated “Dan,” a Comcast representative who signed off on a number of the tweets.
Super duper happy @comcast says they like #NetNeutrality. Their past lawsuits regarding the matter means I super duper don't believe them. https://t.co/Kj6o5IGqJJ
— Ben Epstein (@benepstein55) May 22, 2017
I get it twitter guy, you have to make money like everyone else, but fighting against net neutrality is just immoral. You're a bad person.
— Jon Ivy （艾森） (@jonivy) May 11, 2017
Comcast also tried to educate users on the debate by explaining that Congressional action is the best way to ensure net neutrality, but users quickly called B.S.
The best way to ensure #netneutrality is in Congressional action. Read more: https://t.co/RAa22WnfX2 -Dan pic.twitter.com/FoRGW4w8YC
— Comcast (@comcast) April 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/LazyRae42/status/861507506039803904
Comcast did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its net neutrality Twitter campaign.
The FCC won’t repeal the net neutrality rules yet, but the vote kicked off a period of proceedings that includes receiving formal comments on the vote from the public. The FCC encourages the public to submit comments about net neutrality and internet regulation here.
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