• Hot Saucerman@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    What’s going to stop the forms being filled out by industry-controlled bots this time?[1] Last time the FCC took public comment, anti-net-neutrality comments were being made under the names of dead people and people who would later claim they never participated in making comments to the FCC.

    Otherwise, it’s going to be the same dumb shitshow as last time.


    1. https://www.vice.com/en/article/43a5kg/80-percent-net-neutrality-comments-bots-astroturfing ↩︎

    • jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      I used to work in utilities. Electric, not telecom so different set of regulators. What they would do is yank you into and office and tell you something to the effect of: “[Name of Regulatory Body] is considering [issue]. You should really consider going on the public comment section of their website and voicing your [support/opposition depending on corporate stance] for it. It’s not mandatory but you should really consider doing that. It’s very important to our company.”

      It wasn’t “mandatory” but they would repeatedly hound you until you either did it or told them to fuck off, at which point you would be branded a “troublemaker” and they would find ways to punish you.

      • The Doctor@beehaw.org
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        It did a great job of discrediting opening anything for public comment thenceforth. Which I really think was the long-term goal.

    • Spitfire@pawb.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 year ago

      Damn, I forgot all about that. I think one was made under my name and some family, and it was all the same copy-paste letter.

      Did anything ever come of that or did it just get swept under the rug?