Yesterday (December 14), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to kill the Obama-era "net neutrality" rules in the United States, taking another step towards controlling free speech and restricting the flow of information. The decision hinged on FCC chairman Ajit Pai, who has become the scapegoat for the whole thing.
Leading up to the vote, Pai released an impossibly terrible video for conservative site The Daily Caller. The clip, which can be viewed below if you can stomach it, included horribly corny "internet" references that could only be considered funny or cool if you're the guy responsible for killing the internet.
The video also features "Harlem Shake," the electronic song from Baauer that became a viral dance craze nearly five years ago, in 2013. According to Mad Decent and Diplo, the song wasn't properly licensed so the label has issued a takedown notice.
In a statement to Billboard Dance, Baauer said "obviously comes as a surprise to me as it was just brought to my attention."
He continued, "I want to be clear that it was used completely without my consent or council. My team and I are currently exploring every single avenue available to get it taken down. I support net neutrality like the vast majority of this country and am appalled to be associated with its repeal in anyway."
Find the producers' tweets and watch Pai act a complete fool in the smarmy video below.
Leading up to the vote, Pai released an impossibly terrible video for conservative site The Daily Caller. The clip, which can be viewed below if you can stomach it, included horribly corny "internet" references that could only be considered funny or cool if you're the guy responsible for killing the internet.
The video also features "Harlem Shake," the electronic song from Baauer that became a viral dance craze nearly five years ago, in 2013. According to Mad Decent and Diplo, the song wasn't properly licensed so the label has issued a takedown notice.
In a statement to Billboard Dance, Baauer said "obviously comes as a surprise to me as it was just brought to my attention."
He continued, "I want to be clear that it was used completely without my consent or council. My team and I are currently exploring every single avenue available to get it taken down. I support net neutrality like the vast majority of this country and am appalled to be associated with its repeal in anyway."
Find the producers' tweets and watch Pai act a complete fool in the smarmy video below.
yo @baauer did the FCC license your song for this? this is your moment to become a hero. call the lawyers https://t.co/xfaW1Wxobn
— Diplo (@_diplo_) December 14, 2017
I'm Taking action. Whatever I can do to stop this loser https://t.co/Ajo6wBATdF
— Aa (@baauer) December 14, 2017
Official statement re the use of "Harlem Shake" in Daily Caller's video of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai: neither Mad Decent nor Baauer approved this use nor do we approve of the message contained therein. We have issued a takedown will pursue further legal action if it is not removed.
— MAD DECENT (@maddecent) December 15, 2017