Porn Sites Join Net Neutrality Activists in 'Internet Slowdown Day'

Activists campaigning against net neutrality regulations through an "Internet Slowdown Day" have been joined by major websites, including three of the world's largest porn sites.

The day of action taking place on Wednesday will see major websites post symbolic loading icons to demonstrate how the speed of sites will be affected if internet service providers (ISPs) introduce internet "fast lanes", as proposed by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The Battle for the Net event is being organised by advocacy groups Fight for the Future, Free Press and Demand Progress, and has so far received support from major websites like Reddit, Vimeo, Wordpress and Boing Boing.

A coalition of porn sites, which includes Pornhub, Redtube and Youporn, have also pledged their support. The three sites combined expect to reach around 50 million web users with the net neutrality message.

"We'll be displaying an official widget from battleforthenet.com," the coalition announced. "We won't be shutting down or streaming your porn slower. There will be a big in your face message that users will need to close."

Fight for the Future claims that the "only path to protecting net neutrality" is by urging officials to demand that the FCC reclassify broadband providers as common carriers, under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.

The deadline for public comments to be submitted to the FCC is 15 September, having been extended in July due to overwhelming interest from the public.

"Thus far in 2014, millions of people have called upon the FCC to pass and enforce real net neutrality protections," Timothy Karr, senior director of strategy at Free Press, told IBTimes UK. "No issue in the history of the agency has seen a larger public response, or one that is more overwhelmingly opposed to FCC chairman Wheeler's proposed rules - which would undermine the open internet.

"On 10 September, we're asking organisations and online companies to join us in a day of online action. Our goal is to show that the internet-using community is united in defence of the open internet, and that the FCC must put our demands for net neutrality protections before the narrow interests of phone and cable companies."

Following the passing of the deadline, a second round of comments on the original submissions will open. A final ruling by the FCC is then expected to be made by the end of the year.