DOJ Investigates Millions Of Fake Comments Posted To FCC Site In Support Of Ending Net Neutrality Rules

Buzzfeed News reports:

The Justice Department is investigating whether crimes were committed when potentially millions of people’s identities were posted to the FCC’s website without their permission, falsely attributing to them opinions about net neutrality rules, BuzzFeed News has learned.

Two organizations told BuzzFeed News, each on condition that they not be named, that the FBI delivered subpoenas to them related to the comments. The reports are the first that federal investigators are taking in interest in the case, which was already subject to an investigation previously announced by the New York Attorney General’s office.

The comment scheme took place over the course of months beginning in April 2017 after the Trump administration’s FCC chair, Ajit Pai, moved to overturn Obama-era rules enforcing net neutrality, a regulation that prevented internet providers from choosing which web traffic gets to flow at full speed.

It’s believe that around 9.5 million comments were submitted in people’s names without their consent.