US citizens complain their names were used for FCC robo-comments Fourteen Americans (with the help of an advocacy group) are complaining to the FCC that their names were used without permission to file fake comments on the proposed net neutrality overhaul. A letter [PDF] sent to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and signed by the 14 people claims that their names and addresses were used to post …
Comcast didn't steal their identities, this is what (probably, possibly, hypothetically, allegedly) happened: now they can do anything they like with customer data they sold some of it to some two-bit marketing outfit and paid for a campaign to spam the FCC with comments against net neutrality.
'twould be interesting to know if the people whose names were used happen to be subscribers to any particular ISP.
...and a HECK of a coincidence if they were all subscribers to the SAME ISP.
Oh, and at the bottom of the FCC online form, there's a "certification" box you have to check before the comment can be submitted that says something like "it's really me, under penalty of perjury", so there's 14 counts of perjury against whoever submitted those robo-comments. (I know this, because I filed a comment against reclassification from Title II)
Not that the Republican dominated FCC or anyone else gives two hoots about prosecuting...
If there is a verification box it seems comcast haters and many other nobodys are not really concerned about it. I think this one is my favorite.
The online comment systems that Uncle Sam set up are great. People get to vent their spleen and convince themselves that they make a difference and the government gets to ignore all the little people squeaking against the machine. Makes for a more peaceful existence all round. As a bonus it doubles as an automated way for the NSA to entice potential rabble-rousers on all sides to self-identify.
Hmm, the troll icon needs a tinfoil hat.
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