Many websites plan to “go dark”, or go on the proverbial strike in protest of proposed legislation enabling the government to have powers to censor and block content that they deem in violation of copyright law. SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) are the two bills being considered by the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively.
I stand with those who stand against this form of internet censorship. The premise is presented delicately enough for the government, who claims this would be a tool for content owners to go after ‘foreign’ websites delivering content in violation of copyright law. For many, including myself, the fear is not specifically pirated content…it is what the government may decide the best course of action is for halting the usage of said content, wherever it may be.
This also includes surrendering internet content to the discretion of the government, or whomever they appoint (unelected of course) to chair this type of operation. Who among us is to determine the merits of use or distribution of information if it is being argued that no one among us has fair intentions?
If you give the government an inch, they will most certainly take a mile…and threaten with force by means of coercion. The internet is the embodiment of information and utilization…a free market of ideas in one of its purest visible and applicable forms. Don’t let the government screw it up.
Please, do some research and educate yourself on these issues. There is a lot at risk here…and a lot to lose if you don’t join others in standing up for our freedoms.
Related articles
- Why we’re taking Wikipedia down for a day (newstatesman.com)
- Wikipedia, MoveOn, Reddit, Mozilla shuts down to protest SOPA/PIPA, how to prepare (cbsnews.com)
- NO to SOPA/PIPA – NO to Internet Censorship (with censored display) (illuminared.wordpress.com)
- BOTHER. does not support SOPA and PIPA (botherstore.wordpress.com)
- Hackers Figuring Out How To Set Up Satellites To Route Around Internet Censorship (InnovationToronto.com)
- Stop Censorship (booksinheaven.wordpress.com)
- Tell Electronic Arts to Oppose Internet Censorship (nvrdc.wordpress.com)
- SOPA vs. PIPA: Anti-piracy bills, uproar explained (digitaltrends.com)
- Filibuster Censorship: Ask Wyden to Read Your Name from Floor of Senate (my.firedoglake.com)
- Congress has a plan to change the Internet forever. (myvikaroti.wordpress.com)
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