FCC’s reversal of net neutrality leads to fake comments campaign, finds investigation

Some of the US’s largest broadband providers were involved in a huge campaign to flood the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with fake comments following the commission’s 2017 order to revoke net neutrality, stated a report released on Thursday by the New York Attorney General’s office.

Years of investigation discovered that fake comments were the reason behind the majority of comments given in response to the order, nearly 18 million, out of a total of 22 million.

8.5 million, out of those 18 million were presented through ‘co-registration,’ which saw external companies promising ‘gift cards and sweepstakes entries’ to allure the consumers to join in the campaign.

Further on, they would use that information to register form responses to the order. Even though, the individuals behind those comments had no hint about their names being used.

A majority of these companies registered fake consumer responses as well. Also, more than half a million fabricated fake letters to Congress were found, confirmed the report.

However, the Attorney General’s office discovered that among the largest groups, three of the largest telecom companies in the United States along with an industry trade group were funding this entire influence campaign.