10M Fake Comments Estimate As FCC Targets Net Neutrality

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman's investigation has now turned up 2 million fake comments corrupting the Federal Communication Commission's public comment process on ending net neutrality.

That's double the number of fake comments his investigators originally estimated, on top of eight million that used entirely fabricated identities.

However, the FCC is scheduled to vote Thursday, and its General Counsel informed Schneiderman Monday that the agency will not cooperate with a law enforcement investigation into the impersonation of New Yorkers.

But it's not just New Yorkers. Schneiderman offered several examples of fraud reports filed to his website from around the country:

“I am a service member in the United States Navy. I was… on a flight from Bahrain to Boston at the time the comments were submitted.” – Florida
“This is my elderly mother’s information. I have verified with her that she did not submit this information.” – Ft. Meyers, FL
“My LATE husband’s name was fraudulently used after a valiant battle with cancer. This unlawful act adds to my pain that someone would violate his good name.” – Los Angeles, CA
“My 96 year old World War Two veteran father…was offended by ‘the theft of [his] good name and honor.’ Someone used his name and address without his consent.” – Thousand Oaks, CA
“As a disabled Veteran and who owned his own computer repair shop and is involved in the IT community…I find this egregious.” – Old Saybrook, CT
“This fake comment is purportedly from my father. The problem is…the comment was posted more than a year AFTER HIS DEATH!!! Good luck in prosecuting whoever desecrated the memory of a Navy reservist and Seabee.” – Stratford, CT

“Please do find who did this and establish all violations possible and prosecute.” – Des Moines, IA
“This comment was made under my mom’s name. She passed away several years ago from cancer. This is sickening.” – Chicago, IL
“This is a fake filing. This isn’t the county that I served on active duty in the Marine Corps for nearly 5 years.” – Elkhart, IN
“This is a case of someone using the identity of a 13 years old minor. This is such a disgrace to the public trust.” – Lowell, IN
“I am 72 years old. I don’t understand how this happened but I am angry about it. People should be held accountable.” – Morristown, NJ
“I am filing this complaint on behalf of my mother, an elderly woman. This is definitely a false submission to the FCC.” – Red Bank, NJ
“I’m sick to my stomach knowing that somebody stole my identity and used it to push a viewpoint that I do not hold. This solidifies my stance that in no way can the FCC use the public comments as a means to justify the vote they will hold here shortly.” – Columbus, OH
“Please do something about this. This is crazy!” – Fremont, OH
“This is so outrageous. I am furious. Please investigate and prosecute.” – Chambersburg, PA
“I wasn’t sure which form to complete on my State Attorney’s website (Kansas), so I am completing your form as well as contacting him. I was horrified to see that my name was used in a comment that is opposite of my belief!” – McPherson, KS
“My father is 92 years old, was in a rehabilitation facility with a recently broken femur and I promise you, he does not know anything about net neutrality. This is definitely a fake post.” – Burnsville, MN
“This was someone commenting as my deceased father.” – Minneapolis, MN
“I am submitting this on behalf of my grandpa who is 90 years old. He absolutely did NOT write this comment.” – St. Louis, MO
“This is terrifying. Who knows what else has been said falsely under my name?” – St. Joseph, MO
“These are the kinds of actions that make the population lose faith in the system. How many deceased people ‘commented’ on this? Sickening.” – Cameron, NC
“This comment listed the name and address of my father, who died 10 years ago. This is really disgraceful that his name and address has been used in this way.” – Meadville, PA
“The comment I found is attributed to be from my mother, who died in 2009.” – Fort Mill, SC
“I find it extremely sick and disrespectful to be using my deceased dad to try to make an unpopular decision look the opposite.” – Tennessee
“My step-uncle died two months before this comment was made. I am. Absolutely. Livid.” – Knoxville, TN
“It cannot stand that the American’s people information is abused in such a clear and blatant way to be used to justify unspeakable evils.” – Bay City, TX
“I hope as the Attorney General of this great state you and other states attorney generals do something about this. I do not appreciate having my name and information used without my consent.” – San Antonio, TX
“The mass misrepresentation of the people makes me sick. Please ensure my voice is not misrepresented, I am against and will continue to be against the repealing of net neutrality.” – Leesburg, VA
“I am a veteran and I should not have my name wrongfully [used].” – Hi Hat, KY
“I am filing this on behalf of my father who had two fake comments posted. He resides in VA and I have contacted our Attorney general as well.” – Virginia Beach, VA
“I am from West Virginia, but maybe you can use this information to expand the scope of the investigation. Our attorney general has not set up a form as easy to use as this one. Thank you for your service.” – West Virginia

The FCC's new position stands in contrast to its hints of last week that it would cooperate.

In a new letter to the FCC, Schneiderman rebutted the excuses for refusing to cooperate with an investigation of illegal conduct that could constitute, among other violations, criminal impersonation under New York law.

"One might expect a federal agency to harbor a great deal of concern when faced with strong evidence of a massive fraud uncovered by multiple sources—including, most recently, The Wall Street Journal—that appears to have thoroughly infected its most important rulemaking since the establishment of net neutrality more than a decade ago," Schneiderman said.

"...blithely ignoring clear evidence that two million of the comments it received stole Americans’ identities (not to mention another eight million that used entirely fabricated identities), stonewalling a state law enforcement investigation, and insisting upon a vote on a sweeping and controversial policy change despite a growing widespread outcry from Americans and a bipartisan chorus of elected officials and state law enforcement officers will irreparably damage the FCC’s integrity," he wrote.

People can check whether their identity was misused and report it to the Attorney General’s office at ag.ny.gov/FakeComments.

MAP/ New York Attorney General's Office

SEE: Net Neutrality Fraud Probe Moves Forward: NY AG