FCC Chairman: Twitter, Celeb Net Neutrality Criticism 'Utterly Absurd'

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is taking shots at Silicon Valley and Hollywood celebrities for claiming his plan to reverse Obama-era net neutrality rules will ruin the internet.

On Tuesday, Pai addressed a number of critics, including singer Cher, Star Trek actor George Takei and Mark Ruffalo—who plays Hulk in the Marvel superhero films—for their recent tweets condemning his plan.

"I will confess when I saw [Ruffalo's] tweet I was tempted to just say 'Hulk wrong,'" Pai said in a speech at the think tank R-Street Institute.

Taking away #NetNeutrality is the Authoritarian dream. Consolidating information into the hands of a few controlled by a few. Dangerous territory. https://t.co/ZVdvmGzcHf

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) November 21, 2017

"These comments are utterly absurd," he later added.

But perhaps some of his harshest criticism was saved for Twitter, which has also opposed Pai's push to end net neutrality rules. Despite being a big Twitter user himself, Pai took issue with the company's claim that it's fighting for an "open internet."

"Now look: I love Twitter, and I use it all the time," he said. "But let's not kid ourselves; when it comes to an open internet, Twitter is part of the problem.

"The company has a viewpoint and uses that viewpoint to discriminate," he added. Twitter has a "double standard" when it comes to cracking down on abuse, he said, pointing to its decision to briefly stop Republican Marsha Blackburn from promoting a campaign ad that said Planned Parenthood trafficked in "baby body parts."

"This conduct is many things, but it isn't fighting for an open internet," Pai said.

Twitter didn't comment on Pai's comments, except to say it will closely scrutinize campaign ads because they can reach an audience outside the candidate's own existing Twitter followers.

Other Silicon Valley companies are no different; it's the tech giants—not the internet service providers—who are the ones who already have control over the content consumers can see, Pai said.

"They might cloak their advocacy in the public interest," Pai said. "But the real interest of these internet giants is in using the regulatory process to cement their dominance in the internet economy."

Pai made the comment on the same day he also released a "Myth vs. Fact" sheet that intends to debunk criticisms of his plan.

Critics swiftly pushed back. "There's just one problem: All of Pai's 'myths' are real, and all of his 'facts' are twisted," wrote Dana Floberg, a policy analyst at Free Press, a media reform group and supporter of net neutrality.

Floberg authored her own post countering the "facts" in the sheet. Users on Twitter have also noted that some of the facts come off as opinions, and don't cite sources.

Can anyone tell me why the "FCC Fact Sheet" written by @AjitPaiFCC contains the phrase "Obama Administration's heavy-handed Internet regulations" so many times? Are we really killing net neutrality with "BECAUSE OBAMA" as the excuse?

— a7h13f (@a7h13f) November 28, 2017

just read the "myths and facts" document from the FCC. Fact #3 is contradicted in @stratechery's blog post. Other "facts" are outright lies, debatable, and all need citations. @AjitPaiFCC how do we "debate the merits" of the issue when u ignore evidence contrary to your opinions?

— b_words (@b_words) November 28, 2017

The FCC is set to vote on Pai's proposal on Dec. 14, where it will likely be approved in a 3-2 partisan vote.

Net Neutrality Q&A