Netflix rips net neutrality repeal: ‘This is the beginning of a longer legal battle’

Netflix on Thursday ripped the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to repeal net neutrality rules, calling it “misguided.”

“This is the beginning of a longer legal battle. Netflix stands w/ innovators, large & small, to oppose this misguided FCC order,” the company tweeted shortly after the FCC voted on the measure.

We’re disappointed in the decision to gut #NetNeutrality protections that ushered in an unprecedented era of innovation, creativity & civic engagement. This is the beginning of a longer legal battle. Netflix stands w/ innovators, large & small, to oppose this misguided FCC order.

— Netflix US (@netflix) December 14, 2017

The FCC voted 3-2 along party lines Thursday to scrap its 2015 Open Internet Order, which required internet service providers to treat all websites equally, banning them from blocking, slowing down or speeding up access to certain content. {mosads}

Public interest groups have already vowed to challenge the move in court, and Democrats plan to push legislation.

Numerous Democratic lawmakers took to social media to oppose the decision, and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said he is suing the FCC to block the repeal from going into effect.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and others in favor of the decision argued the deregulation of the internet would spur innovation, and that the Federal Trade Commission would have the authority to sue providers who abuse competition on the web.