Websites go dark to protest Internet censorship Proposed U.S. legislation aims to tackle online piracy, but critics claim passing it could jeopardise Internet freedoms.
Websites such as Wired.com, Wordpress, and GOOD, among many others, censored themselves in protest of the SOPA bill on Jan 18, 2012. This <a href="http://storify.com/fuzheado/wikipedia-blackout-to-protest-sopa-jan-18-2012" target="_blank">Storify by Andrew Lih</a> documents the blackout.<br>
Recent anti-piracy legislation Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) seeks to target websites that act as conduits to copyright-protected material. Under SOPA, all content submitted to user-generated sites like YouTube and Twitter would have to be monitored, which some argue would curb innovation and impact investment. Since the bill's introduction, entertainment conglomerates such as the Motion Picture Association of America have issued statements in support of SOPA. Many cite improved online accountability and the protection of entertainment livelihoods as benefits of SOPA.<br>
“Over 2 million Americans across all 50 states earn a living and support their families in jobs connected to the making of motion pictures and television shows. They deserve better than to see their work stolen out from under them by criminals out to make a profit. This legislation hits rogue sites where it hurts: their access to American consumers and to the financial services they use to make money. We want to thank Chairman Smith, Chairman Goodlatte and the other co-sponsors for standing up for good American jobs. -Michael O’Leary, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, Motion Picture Association of America
— Tue, Jan 17 2012 16:01:40 “This legislation is a first step towards a brighter day when these rogue offshore websites can no longer duck accountability under U.S. laws, all the while providing a critical boost to the marketplace for legal digital music services. This bipartisan effort serves as another example of the broad and borderless role that intermediaries can play in discouraging digital theft. -Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO, Recording Industry Association of America
— Tue, Jan 17 2012 16:01:40 Major internet companies feel threatened by SOPA because they believe it would severely alter its architecture and change the liability rules around copyright infringement. Free speech advocates are concerned that SOPA will allow the U.S. government to prosecute and mute online speech.
The news organisation <span style="font-style: italic;">Politico</span> published a cartoon depicting the main groups on opposite ends of the debate: the technology and entertainment industries.
Anti-SOPA/PIPA activist group Fight for the Future created an animated video illustrating the negative consequences of the bill on internet users.
Active SOPA supporter Viacom Corporation released a counter-visual on how online piracy has cost the entertainment industry significant revenue loss.
STAND UP AGAINST PIRACY
<div>In November 2011, internet giants Google, eBay and Facebook, among others, first vocalised their opposition to SOPA by running a full-page ad in<span style="font-style: italic;"> The New York Times</span>. <br></div>
Following public outcry, the White House issued a statement criticising SOPA, a move which postponed the vote on the bill.
Obama Administration Responds to We the People Petitions on SOPA and Online Piracy
Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corporation, took to Twitter in response to the White House statement.
Attention is now shifting to SOPA's Senate twin bill, the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), which contains similar provisions. Full infographic<a href="http://www.businessinsurance.org/behind-sopa-what-it-means-for-business-and-innovation/" target="_blank"> here</a>.
Although SOPA has been shelved until February, online community voices remain leery of the bill's possible return and of the equally controversial PIPA.
A smaller share of tweets expressed approval of SOPA, mainly in reaction to the bill's effect on online music.
Major internet companies are now employing a more aggressive strategy to educate users about the harms of SOPA and PIPA. Wikipedia, Boing Boing and Reddit, among others, are spearheading an internet blackout by taking their sites offline on Wednesday, Jan 18, 2012.
Twitter users, including founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, showed support for the upcoming internet blackout.
The New York Tech meet-up or 'Silicon Alley' boasts 20,000 members and has organised an offline protest against PIPA on Jan 18, 2012. The protest will take place outside the offices of New York senators, <b>Gillibrand and Schumer who co-sponsored the PIPA bill.</b>
Rally for the Future of Tech
Online community voices have expressed resounding opposition to SOPA/PIPA through political cartoons and musical satire, shown below.<br>
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This is a <a href="http://fredbenenson.com/blog/2012/01/18/twitter-conversations-about-sopa/" target="_blank">visualisation</a> of Twitter users referencing SOPA on Jan 18, 2012:<br>
Some comments and questions about SOPA/PIPA via Reddit, Twitter and Facebook:
What specifically in SOPA puts Reddit at risk?
— Tue, Jan 17 2012 08:33:16 What kind of precedent does legislature like SOPA/PIPA set for the future of the Internet? Even if neither of them pass, do you think politicians will continue to look at the Internet as something to be controlled and regulated, or do we have any hope for legislation to protect the free flow of information?
— Mon, Jan 16 2012 21:22:57 Why must SOPA affect overseas? I understand that USA is one of the world's superpower , But I feel it does not have the right to affect people outside of it. Like a household , your neighbour does not abide to your house rules. Right? So why must they do this to us?
— Tue, Jan 17 2012 08:33:24 Califat MagikWordz A good thing...if this affects news, conscious movies, conscious music,etc in a world that is already attempting to control the way we see the world. However, there is a need to think of artists, practitioners, professionals,etc who put their efforts and money behind producing something that allow them to survive, have a means to make earnings, or make a business. It necessary that we start to understand that producing is not free! And not paying for things sometime will actually prevent the continuation of any good artist, producer, writer, etc.
— Tue, Jan 17 2012 08:33:24 
