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Beyond the upselling under duress, I've also seen complaints that Cloudflare protects the client-facing websites of DDoS-as-service operators. This enables them to sell their service, which then creates demand for Cloudflare's service from their targets.

Cloudflare describes that policy as a commitment to content neutrality rather than extortion, and I think that's more or less sincere (since they've protected many other unpopular sites that didn't give them such a benefit, with a few high-profile exceptions). It does work out very conveniently for them, though.

> Cloudflare describes that policy as a commitment to content neutrality rather than extortion

But we know that's not true. Point out problems with a very controversial blogger and they'll cancel your service.

There was a recent anonymous critic of Cloudflare on the front page: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40481808

"What is the reason Cloudflare is an extortionist firm?"

Because they are a publicly traded company

Nailed it. The implications are saddening.

So is Amazon.