Operation Chokehold

Code-name for a plan of digital disobedience by iPhone users against AT&T.

In response to reports that AT&T was considering incentives to encourage smartphone users to consume less data, the journalist Daniel Lyons posted a call to action on his satirical blog, The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs:

Subject: Operation Chokehold On Friday, December 18, at noon Pacific time, we will attempt to overwhelm the AT&T data network and bring it to its knees. The goal is to have every iPhone user (or as many as we can) turn on a data intensive app and run that app for one solid hour. Send the message to AT&T that we are sick of their substandard network and sick of their abusive comments. The idea is we’ll create a digital flash mob. We’re calling it in Operation Chokehold. Join us and speak truth to power!

Though Lyons later made it clear the idea had been a joke, Operation Chokehold gained momentum – and more than 4,000 Facebook fans. Despite a warning from the FCC, the protest went ahead on December 18.

While reports were divided on whether the protest had any effect on AT&T’s service, many felt the press attention alone was a victory – perhaps paving the way for future demonstrations of “digital rioting” by disgruntled consumers.