What is this black Wordless image, you might ask?
Well, it’s a representation of many who are shutting down their sites today. Going black.
This blackout started at 12:00 a.m. eastern time on Wednesday morning and will last until 12:00 a.m. eastern time on Thursday. Database giant Wikipedia went dark as a protest against proposed anti-piracy legislation in the United States called SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act).
In fact, if you go to Wikipedia.org right now and attempt to do a search, this is what you’ll find. Crazy wild.
So what is SOPA exactly?
“Thousands of websites, including some of the most popular, are going dark today to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act, a bill which is designed to thwart copyright infringement but that Web experts warn could threaten the functionality of the Internet.
Encyclopedia giant Wikipedia, popular news-sharing site reddit, browser pioneer Mozilla, photo-sharing favorite Twitpic and even ICanHazCheezburger.com are blocking access to content throughout Wednesday, symbolizing what the bill may allow content creators to do to sites they accuse of copyright infringement. Other websites, including Google, are expressing solidarity with the protests by featuring anti-SOPA content on home pages.
The online protests are being joined by a physical demonstration in New York City, where thousands of representatives from the city’s tech industry plan to demonstrate outside the offices of Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.),co-sponsors of the Senate version of SOPA, beginning at 12:30 p.m. As pressure has mounted, both have expressed willingness to compromise.
SOPA would give both the government and major corporations the power to shut down entire websites accused of copyright infringement with neither a trial nor a traditional court hearing. The legislation is aggressively backed by Hollywood movie studios and major record labels, along with several major news providers, including Fox News and NBC-Universal, which have largely shied away from coverage of the bill. (Huffington Post)
You can watch this video as well, which might explain more.
Check out this woman’s point of view, “I’m horrified that Congress has crafted a law that will screw with the architecture of the internet in ways that will undermine free speech.” – (Blogher.com). Clearly many are outraged.
Today, I’d like to get the conversation going. Are you on the fence? What are your thoughts on this debate? I’d love to hear your reactions.
xoxEDxox
This would be a disaster for all bloggers and writers. I hope the bill does not pass. Let’s pray.
I started to hear about Sopa and Pipa just this week. I had not heard of it before. Thank you for explaining it. It looks like a terrible thing for freedom of speech and for the internet in general. I hope this bill is not passed,
Read this article on SOPA as well. http://mashable.com/2012/01/17/sopa-dangerous-opinion/
It’s a good one.
ED
The widespread disapproval of the proposed bill is creating such problem. I think gov’t needs to understand that we have something callled a “Constitution” and if I’m not mistken it says and I qoute “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” If the SOPA bill passes it will create a negative impact for internet users and small business owners like myself that have an online forum. This is a very informative article and should be discussed continuously!
I’m Just saying.. Nihki F!
The widespread disapproval of the proposed bill is creating such a problem. I think gov’t needs to understand that we have something callled a “Constitution” and if I’m not mistaken it says and I qoute “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” If the SOPA bill passes it will create a negative impact for internet users and small business owners like myself that have an online forum. This is a very informative article and should be discussed continuously!
I’m Just saying.. Nihki F!
SOPA and PIPA would censor the Web
The U.S. government could order the blocking of sites using methods similar to those employed by China. Among other things, search engines could be forced to delete entire websites from their search results. That’s why 41 human rights organizations and 110 prominent law professors have expressed grave concerns about the bills. Stop the bill.. let your voice heard! Take 2 seconds to sign the petition