The internet is on strike! Today, more than 7000 sites are going dark in protest of anti-internet legislation. SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, and PIPA, the Protect IP Act, could alter the way that the internet functions.
Sites like Reddit and Wikipedia have decided to blackout their sites today to protest SOPA and PIPA. The White House has even come out against the legislation, saying that it would hurt the “dynamic web.”
Here’s a look around the internet today.
REDDIT – “”The freedom, innovation, and economic opportunity that the Internet enables is in jeopardy. Congress is considering legislation that will dramatically change your Internet experience and put an end to reddit and many other sites you use everyday.”
Reddit also posted a FAQ about SOPA, provided several articles on the legislation, and urged users to contact their congressman. Here’s a video posted up on Reddit today.
WIKIPEDIA – For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia. Learn more .
IMGUR – “Imgur stands in solidarity with Reddit, Wikipedia, Google, The White House and countless other groups that oppose HR 3261 (SOPA) and United States Senate Bill S.968 (PIPA). SOPA is not dead; it has been shelved and won’t return “until a consensus is reached,” according to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). The fight against Internet censorship continues as the Senate vote for PIPA is still scheduled for Sunday. It is important that our users understand the far-reaching and potentially disastrous repercussions that this legislation could have on the vibrancy and freedom of the Internet.”
WORDPRESS – “There’s a bill in the U.S. Senate that if passed would put publishing freedom severely at risk, and could shut down entire sites at the whim of media companies.”
WordPress users will still be able to access their blogs but WordPress has created anti-SOPA plugins for bloggers to use.
The Cheezburger Network – “A bill called PIPA proposed in the US Senate will cripple the Web — one of the biggest job-creating engines in America — and censor our online freedoms. It could mean the censoring of Cheezburger, Facebook, Wikipedia, and millions of others. It will mean censoring you.”
MOZILLA – “Today Mozilla joins with other sites in a virtual strike to protest two proposed laws in the United States, called SOPA and the PROTECT IP Act . On January 24th , the U.S. Senate will vote on the PROTECT IP Act to censor the Internet, despite opposition from the vast majority of Americans.”
Moveon.org – “ This is what Internet censorship looks like. Today, MoveOn.org is blacking out our website in protest of Internet censorship legislation—along with Wikipedia, Reddit, Mozilla, and many other major websites. Sign our petition against Internet censorship.”
FARK – Fark is one of the few sites supporting SOPA and PIPA. Fark writes: “While a bunch of other sites are going “dark” to protest SOPA/PIPA, we’re over the moon about the whole thing. Why? Honestly, we’ve been bringing you the latest news happening across the internet for 12 years, and we’re tired. And SOPA/PIPA is the perfect excuse to quit.”
FARK also posted a video showing you why you should support SOPA/PIPA.
Here are some more links about SOPA and PIPA.
- SOPA PIPA Break the Internet, Here’s How [Video]
- 7,000 Sites Go Dark To Protest SOPA and PIPA
- Wikipedia Editors Voice Concern Over SOPA Blackout
- [Op-Ed] Why the Internet Giants Have Let SOPA Protestors Down
- SOPA Protests: Google Hits Back at Rupert Murdoch
- Lamar Smith Is Fighting A Losing Battle Over SOPA
- Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales Talks To CNN About SOPA and PIPA Faults [Video]
What do you think about the SOPA blackout? Do you think SOPA is dangerous to the internet?