September, 04 2014, 11:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Christina DiPasquale, 202.716.1953, mailto:christina@fitzgibbonmedia.com
Top Web Companies Join Internet Slowdown Protest for Net Neutrality
Today, a chorus of major Internet companies answered activists' call for a symbolic "Internet Slowdown" protest on September 10th to encourage the FCC to change its current cour
WASHINGTON
Today, a chorus of major Internet companies answered activists' call for a symbolic "Internet Slowdown" protest on September 10th to encourage the FCC to change its current course and take necessary steps to protect net neutrality through Title II reclassification.
Several top websites -- including Etsy, Kickstarter, Foursquare, Wordpress, Vimeo, reddit, Mozilla, Imgur, Meetup, Cheezburger,Namecheap, Bittorrent, and Dwolla -- announced that they will be joining more than 35 advocacy organizations and hundreds of thousands of activists in a day of action that will give a glimpse into what the Internet might look like if the FCC's proposed rules go into effect. The protest comes just 5 days before the FCC's next comment deadline on September 15th.
An explanation of the protest, and previews of the Internet Slowdown widgets, can be found here: https://battleforthenet.com/sept10th.
Sites participating in the slowdown will display prominent messages that include an infinitely-spinning "site loading" icon -- or the so-called "spinning wheel of death" -- to symbolize what surfing the web could be like without net neutrality. These alerts will direct the sites' users to call and/or email policymakers in support of net neutrality.
The names of some of the most well-known companies participating were revealed this morning in a blog post from Engine Advocacy, found here: https://engine.is/issues/open-internet/speak-up-or-slow-down-why-we-need-a-day-of-action-for-net-neutrality/4508.
More companies and other partners will be named in the days leading up to the September 10th protest.
For more background, see this press release from more than 20 advocacy organizations who are supporting the Internet Slowdown: https://bit.ly/1qpYCVr.
Many companies and organizations will directing users to Battleforthenet.com, a site maintained by advocacy groups Fight for the Future, Demand Progress, and Free Press, who initiated the Internet Slowdown effort.
Free Press was created to give people a voice in the crucial decisions that shape our media. We believe that positive social change, racial justice and meaningful engagement in public life require equitable access to technology, diverse and independent ownership of media platforms, and journalism that holds leaders accountable and tells people what's actually happening in their communities.
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Privacy Defenders Decry 'Spy Draft' in Section 702 Renewal Advanced by Senate
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Civil liberties defenders on Thursday decried the U.S. Senate's advancement of the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, which critics say lawmakers are trying to ram through without protection against warrantless surveillance and with a provision that would effectively make every American a spy whether they like it or not.
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Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)—who
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