Madigan Joins Group of Officials Opposing Net Neutrality Rollback

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is joining a group of law enforcement officials opposing the FCC’s rollback of net neutrality rules.

Madigan has been a long-time opponent of the push to de-regulate internet access, saying that internet service providers will be able to “favor their own content over third-party sites” thanks to the relaxed rules.

“Today’s Commission vote undermines the public interest by putting our free and open internet at risk,” Madigan said. “In taking this action, the Commission disregarded the overwhelming view of the public and ignored the legal precedent upholding the existing net neutrality rules.”

The FCC repealed the regulations by a 3-to-2 vote on Thursday afternoon, and several groups and government officials, including New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, have already filed lawsuits to try to reverse the decision.

Madigan’s office had joined other state attorneys in calling for a delay on the FCC vote after reports surfaced that millions of comments in the lead-up to the vote were submitted using fake and stolen identities.