'Occupy' Protesters Arrested At Google Campus Overnight
MOUNTAIN VIEW (KPIX 5) - Occupy protesters returned to the Bay Area overnight, this time targeting internet giant Google as part of the ongoing debate over equality of access to internet content.
The occupation outside Google headquarters lasted only about ten hours, but resulted in 10 arrests. The activists - totaling around 20 - had been demanding that Google do more to protect net neutrality.
The Federal Communications Commission is considering creating a two-tier system with higher cost broadband service for people who want faster connection speeds. Google originally said the group protesting such a shift in access could stay because they weren't disrupting business, but that changed around 9 p.m. when police began demanding that they leave campus.
"Though Google and other major companies such as Netflix, Amazon and Microsoft have come out in support of preserving a free and open web, we believe much more can be done," the group said on its website.
Around 11 p.m., many of the activists agreed to leave, but 10 who refused were arrested and booked for trespassing.
The occupy protest was timed to coincide with a Google Developers Conference that kicks off Wednesday in San Francisco. Activists said they would also be picketing at that event, beginning at 10 a.m.
The FCC is considering public comment on the two-tier access plan until July 15th.