Overnight Tech: Web shows support for net neutrality on ‘Day of action’ | Dems call for more FCC oversight | Verizon suffers massive data breach

DAY OF ACTION HITS THE INTERNET: Major internet companies took part Wednesday in a “Day of Action” to show their support for the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules.

On websites and social media, companies tried to rally the public and urged Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai not to kill the Obama-era rules, which require internet providers to treat all web content the same.

Twitter promoted a tweet and hashtag backing net neutrality, the first time it has done so on a policy issue.

{mosads}On discussion forum Reddit, users saw a graphic warning them that without the rules broadband companies could slow down some websites.

Facebook executives Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg penned blog posts in support of the rules.

“Right now, the FCC has rules in place to make sure the internet continues to be an open platform for everyone,” Zuckerberg wrote. “At Facebook, we strongly support those rules. We’re also open to working with members of Congress and anyone else on laws to protect net neutrality.”

And Google’s public policy team shared a message to mobilize users as part of its “Take Action” campaign on policy issues.

The protest was organized by advocacy group Fight for the Future.

Read more here.

Please send your tips, comments and recipes to Ali Breland (abreland@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com) and Harper Neidig (hneidig@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com) and follow us on Twitter: @alibreland, @hneidig and @HilliconValley. We’re also on Signal. Email or DM us for our numbers.

DEMS RALLY OUTSIDE CAPITOL: Democrats rallied outside the Capitol on Wednesday to show their support for the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules as part of a “Day of Action.”

Lawmakers joined with activists in the 90-plus degree heat to slam Republican efforts to repeal the internet rules.

“Without net neutrality, the internet as we know it ends. It’s just that simple,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

While its unlikely the protests will stop FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s plans to roll back the rules, Democrats insisted the popular support for net neutrality will pay off.

“The FCC and everyone in this city is going to know what the political consequences are if net neutrality is repealed,” said Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

Read more here.

DEMS BLAST GOP OVER FCC OVERSIGHT: Top House Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats on Wednesday rebuked their GOP colleagues for failing to hold any oversight hearings of the Federal Communications Commission this year amid the agency’s efforts to strike net neutrality regulations.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (N.J.), the ranking member on the committee, and Rep. Mike Doyle (Pa.), the top Democrat on the technology subcommittee, questioned in a letter if House Republicans are trying to “shield the FCC from having to explain its push to install such unpopular policies,” like the repeal of net neutrality rules.

“This Committee has an obligation to perform oversight on behalf of the American people and ensure that the American people understand the consequences of the FCC’s actions,” they wrote in the letter to Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), chair of the tech subcommittee.

Read more here.

VERIZON SUFFERS MASSIVE DATA BREACH: Names, address, account details and personal identification numbers for as many as 14 million Verizon customers were publicly accessible and unsecured in June because of a third-party cloud server problem, according to a new report.

Chris Vickery, of Upguard, reported the breach after he discovered a database of Verizon customers on a cloud server account of a Verizon subcontractor in a way that could be accessed by anyone who knew where to look for it.

The cloud account, administered by the Israeli firm NICE Systems, hosted what appeared to be a daily log of Verizon accounts, Upguard reported.

Read more here.

WEB INVENTOR CALLS FOR SAVING NET NEUTRALITY: Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the world wide web, joined in on Wednesday’s online net neutrality demonstration, urging people to show support for the Federal Communications Commission rules that are likely to be repealed.

“If we lose net neutrality, we lose the internet as we know it,” Berners-Lee said in a video posted by the World Wide Web Foundation on Wednesday.

Dozens of websites are showing support for the FCC’s net neutrality rules during the online “day of action” Wednesday.

Read more here.

ZUCKERBERG VISITS NORTH DAKOTA: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg visited North Dakota on Wednesday to learn more about the fracking and oil industries, further fueling speculation about the tech billionaire’s possible future in politics.

In a lengthy Facebook post, the Facebook CEO wrote that it is “important” to understand “different perspectives” about the energy industry.

“Today I’m in Williston, North Dakota learning about fracking and the community around it,” he wrote.

“I believe stopping climate change is one of the most important challenges of our generation,” Zuckerberg continued. “Given that, I think it’s even more important to learn about our energy industry, even if it’s controversial.”

Read more here.

ON TAP:

The Senate Commerce subcommittee on space will hold a hearing on space exploration on Thursday at 9:00 a.m.

The Federal Communications Commission will hold its monthly open meeting on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

On Thursday, the House Judiciary subcommittee on intellectual property will have a hearing on the impact of “bad patents on American businesses,” at 10:00 a.m.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

DNC’s Tom Perez jumps into net neutrality fight

Senate Republican: We need bipartisan net neutrality legislation

Dems introduce bill to block cybersecurity team up with Russia

US agencies restricted from using Russian security software

One in four considering not voting over cybersecurity concerns

Current Affairs: Silicon Valley won’t save you

The Ringer: The net neutrality “protest” isn’t a protest (Opinion)

Bloomberg: Google spared $1.3 billion tax bill with victory in French court