Yelp Stands Up For Net Neutrality

You’ve heard us talk about Google’s anti-competitive practices in local search before. By manipulating search results for local business information in its favor, Google is impeding consumers’ ability to find the best information. Unfortunately, using size and reach to constrain consumer choice isn’t limited to Google, and is increasingly becoming a strategy that appeals to other dominant platforms.

Internet service providers (ISPs) are looking to benefit from this sort of behavior with the roll back of net neutrality protections, which has become a hot button topic in recent months. So what is net neutrality and what would rolling it back mean? Net neutrality is the basic principle that allows consumers choice over what they do with their internet connection. Without net neutrality protections in place, internet service providers would be able to favor larger websites that can pay for priority, potentially shutting out access for startups and small businesses.

This June, the Internet Association reported that ISPs’ investments have grown under the FCC’s 2015 net neutrality protections, and that the 2015 rules have spurred innovation by allowing businesses and consumers to compete online. Contrary to baseless claims by critics that the rules are stifling internet growth and access, this research proves that the rules are working for everyone.

We want to keep the internet open and fair for everyone, which means ensuring that ISPs and other dominant platforms — like Google — prioritize consumers. Today, we’re participating in the Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality on July 12. Please take a moment to sign this petition, reach out to your Representatives and make your voice heard in support for net neutrality. At the end of the day, the internet belongs to billions of users around the world––not to a select few CEOs.