The colour dress and llama chase: How the internet spent its first day of freedom

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Late last night, perhaps the most important thing ever to happen to the internet took place. And, elsewhere, a US government vote on net neutrality made the internet a utility — a landmark ruling that campaigners say will keep the internet free.

Web users opted to use their first day as protected citizens to watch llamas running around a city, and arguing fiercely about the actual colour of a dress. Sometimes, the two happened at once.

The net neutrality ruling means that internet service providers (ISPs) will now be banned from intentionally blocking or slowing traffic. It stops them from forcing certain websites – such as Netflix – to have their traffic be put through “internet fast lanes”.

The regulations had received the support of many websites and internet protestors, but for a long time it was unclear whether US politicians would buckle under heavy pressure from ISPs and other groups. However, last night the Federal Communications Commission voted on the rules, essentially finalising their passage into law.

Any company that provides a broadband connection now has to act in the public interest and do its business in a way that is “just and reasonable”.

And just as those rules were passed, the internet was busy watching residents try and catch them as they sprinted around Arizona’s Sun City. Internet users tuned in live to watch the “llama chase”, before they were caught and given back to their owner.

Hours later, the newly-freed internet erupted once again, with all out war over the exact colour of a dress.