• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechNet neutrality

Tech Firms Unite for ‘Day of Action’ to Save Net Neutrality

By
Jeff John Roberts
Jeff John Roberts
Editor, Finance and Crypto
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 12, 2017, 8:47 AM ET

Consumers on Wednesday awoke to discover special messages on many of their favorite websites and apps. The messages, which are showing up on everything from Netflix to dating site OKCupid, urge them to object to an impending plan by the FCC to tear up so-called net neutrality rules.

The rules, in place since 2015, forbid Internet service providers from creating paid “fast lanes” or giving special treatment to some websites over others.

Many of the websites participating in the so-called “Day of Action” on July 12 are displaying a whirling symbol of a web page loading slowly. Airbnb, for example, is displaying the sign prominently on its homepage as this screenshot shows:

Netflix, meanwhile, is displaying a “Protect Internet Freedom” message at the top of its homepage with a link to a site that instructs users how to contact the FCC:

Other sites with prominent messages include Spotify, Vimeo, and the pornography site PornHub (a banner on its site reads “Slow Porn Sucks”). On Twitter, the site’s public policy group is promoting #NetNeutrality at the top of its trending topics.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Meanwhile, the technology page of the popular news and discussion site Reddit has an even more dramatic display:

AT&T, a longtime opponent of net neutrality, this week said it would join the day of action, though many regarded its claim as a cynical tactic.

You can see images from what many more sites are doing on an Imgur page compiled by Even Greer, the activist who is leading the Day of Action.

So far, however, it appears some of the Internet’s biggest names—Google and Facebook—have yet to take any prominent steps to join the Day of Action, despite earlier pledges they would do so. In Google’s case, the company has put up a blog post on one of its policy sites describing the case in favor of net neutrality, but not put a message on its homepage.

As for Amazon, which weeks ago announced it would take part in the Day of Action, the retailer has added a “Net Neutrality? Learn More” button to its homepage.

While the largest tech giants are on record in support of the current FCC rules, their size likely means they will be able to negotiate with Internet providers to ensure any changes to net neutrality policy does not affect them.

Despite Wednesday’s broad display of support for net neutrality, and public opinion polls that suggest a majority of consumers—both Democrats and Republicans—are in favor of the policy, the campaign to preserve the rules faces an uphill struggle.

The FCC’s current chairman, Ajit Pai, is an ideologue who has long been adamant in his opposition to the 2015 rules, arguing they amount to undue regulation that hurts business. Since Pai, a Republican, has a majority of votes on the Commission, he is likely to go ahead with his plan to rip up the rules later this summer.

About the Author
By Jeff John RobertsEditor, Finance and Crypto
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Jeff John Roberts is the Finance and Crypto editor at Fortune, overseeing coverage of the blockchain and how technology is changing finance.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Latest in Tech

kim jong un smiles for photo
CryptoCryptocurrency
North Korea stole a record amount of crypto—again: report estimates  its hackers’ 2025 haul at $2 billion
By Carlos GarciaDecember 18, 2025
21 minutes ago
Businesswoman discussing ideas with colleagues in meeting at tech startup office
SuccessCareers
Want a job in AI-era tech? Forget prestigious degrees—tech leaders want to see your GitHub projects and internships
By Preston ForeDecember 18, 2025
21 minutes ago
Rafael E. Carazo Salas, the founder and CEO of CellVoyant
AIBiotech
U.K. startup CellVoyant debuts AI platform that could radically reduce the cost of cell-based therapies such as CAR-T immunotherapy for cancer
By Jeremy KahnDecember 18, 2025
34 minutes ago
RJ Scaringe, wearing a dark green shirt and glasses, gestures with both hands as he speaks.
North AmericaAutos
Rivian CEO says midprice EV sales are still 50% Tesla: ‘That’s not a reflection of a healthy market’
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 18, 2025
1 hour ago
Photo of the Endra founding team, including Anton Juric, the COO, at left, Niklas Lindgren, CEO, in the center, David Rydberg, technical cofounder, and Gustav Hammarlund, technical cofounder, right.
AIArchitecture
Exclusive: Swedish startup automating mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design for commercial buildings raises $20 million in seed round
By Jeremy KahnDecember 18, 2025
1 hour ago
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 23: Michael Burry attends the "The Big Short" New York premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on November 23, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
InvestingMarkets
‘Big Short’ investor Michael Burry piles misery onto tech stocks after Oracle fails to close AI debt deal
By Jim EdwardsDecember 18, 2025
1 hour ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
The $38 trillion national debt is to blame for over $1 trillion in annual interest payments from here on out, CRFB says
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 17, 2025
20 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
As millions of Gen Zers face unemployment, McDonald's CEO dishes out some tough love career advice for navigating the market: ‘You've got to make things happen for yourself’
By Preston ForeDecember 16, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
America's $38 trillion national debt 'exacerbates generational imbalances' with Gen Z and millennials paying the price, warns think tank
By Eleanor PringleDecember 16, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
'Robots are going to be amongst us': Qualcomm exec says buckle up for the next 5 years. Your car is going to be the first shoe to drop
By Nino PaoliDecember 17, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Innovation
An MIT roboticist who cofounded bankrupt Roomba maker iRobot says Elon Musk's vision of humanoid robot assistants is 'pure fantasy thinking'
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezDecember 16, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
IBM, AWS veteran says 90% of your employees are stuck in first gear with AI, just asking it to ‘write their mean email in a slightly more polite way’
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezDecember 16, 2025
2 days ago