The FCC Says Consumer Backlash Will Protect Net Neutrality

Instead of expressly banning internet service providers from blocking content or throttling it, Chairman Ajit Pai’s Federal Communications Commission will instead rely on a “consensus” among the general public and—presumably ISPs themselves—that blocking or throttling content is bad. “Most attempts by ISPs to block or throttle content will likely be met with a fierce consumer backlash,” the new rules state. But experts say that the policing after the fact (presumably by the Federal Trade Commission) isn’t going to work, and relying on consumer backlash to serve as a deterrent to a craven industry rife with regional monopolies that have shown little interest in pleasing its consumers does not seem to be a particularly effective way to make sure that companies are serving the interests of the people.