The FCC has been ordered to hand over data and IP addresses linked to fake comments against net neutrality. A federal judge has ordered the FCC (via Gizmodo) to hand over to New York Times reporters server data revealing the IP addresses behind fake comments advocating the repeal of net neutrality. The FCC argued that releasing the IP addresses would be an “unwarranted invasion of , privacy”but Judge Lorna Schofield said the commission didn’t really explain how anyone would be affected by the transfer of that data.
The judge stressed that the benefits of such an action clearly outweigh the disadvantages, as there is a problem. The FCC had voted to repeal net neutrality and had asked for public input. “The notice-and-comment process has failed if the fake comments outnumber the real ones,” Schofield said.
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New York Times reporters filed a Freedom of Information to obtain the dataafter the FCC refused to release the records. In theory, the records should show both the extent of the fake comments about net neutrality and their connection to specific groups that may have been involved. According to multiple investigations, more than half of the comments are fake , and some of them appear to be linked to “dark money” groups.
The FCC has not commented on the ruling. However, it has tried in the past to avoid providing information about net neutrality comments. It would not be surprising if the FCC challenges this court ruling in a last-ditch effort to keep the origin of the comments a secret.
