Public Comment Is Broken

Federal agencies are required to provide a public comment period for any proposed regulatory changes, such as the FCC's current plan to repeal Obama-era net neutrality rules. But this public comment period was unique, both because it garnered vastly more comments than every other comment period combined and because an overwhelming majority of those comments were automated – either via electronic form letters or programmed bots. Add to that the discovery of stolen contact information, and the entire public comment process has been cast into question – enough that the FCC has stated that it probably won't be heeding the comments, real or not. Brooke talks to Issie Lapowsky, senior writer for Wired, about her article "How Bots Broke the FCC's Public Comment System," and why she's concerned about what this portends for the future.

Song:

Shoot the Piano Player by George Delerue