Wikipedia, Redditt and several other websites are shutting down for a day in protest of SOPA and PIPA.
What is SOPA and PIPA?
SOPA is the Stop Online Piracy Act. It's intention is to provide law enforcement some extra tools to help address copyright violations. However some people and organizations think it goes a bit too far - limiting freedom of speech and the openness of the web.
Here is Wikipedia's reasoning as to why SOPA and PIPA is a bad thing -
http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia_anti-SOPA_blackoutThe good news is that the SOPA bill has been Killed in process -
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/new-media/item/25366-sopa-bill-killed-in-us/The big issue with SOPA and PIPA is the last line in that article - "Those for SOPA, mostly Hollywood, saw it as an opportunity to defend their industry against widescale piracy of movies and music that they say is costing jobs."
I do agree that those in the industry need to be protected in some way, after all they do provide much content for sites like Lovelyish, Datingish, etc... But the reality is that the internet is a free and open form of communication.
How could they effectively police the internet? Seriously - if sites have a challenge to help monitor their own back-yard, how could a Government keep track of what's going on as well?
I think the best thing we can do as internet users is to make sure we give credit to where we obtain information. This includes pics, links, etc...
How do you think we could avoid laws like SOPA and PIPA from coming around and limiting our freedom of speech and expression?------------------
Have you contacted your local representatives?
Comments (28)
They are such insidious bills with the ability to have huge repercussions. I can't believe that anyone would be short sighted enough to vote yes. But....
I'm glad Wikipedia decided to do this. Now, if only Facebook and Google did some sort of blackout too...that would certainly reach a whole lot of people.
@Roadlesstaken - God, could you imagine the outrage if Facebook and Google shut down their sites for a day?
@Roadlesstaken - @the_rocking_of_socks - the world would like, END, if Facebook and Google shut down for a day.
@DrakonFyre - "Oh noes, I can't get in mah Facebookz! BURN THIS FUCKER DOWN!"
@the_rocking_of_socks - It'd be hilarious to watch, actually.
I can haz mai interwebz the way they iz?
@Roadlesstaken -
Also if yahoo did.
People would probably feel lost with Facebook, (just like cell/ mobile phones) if it went down.
SOPA hasnt been killed, only shelved. PIPA is still out there though. I will be supporting the Blackout that occurs. Good for ya!
How do you think we could avoid laws like SOPA and PIPA from coming around and limiting our freedom of speech and expression?
I listened to a very VERY interesting debate on this topic on Sunday morning's "Up with Chris Hayes," (I think that's the spelling of his last name, I'm not sure). Did you see that?
The one guy really made some good points about what the SOPA actually does if he's telling the truth, it only goes after people whose SOLE site is for purposes of piracy and no other reason, and never in America, that's what he said.
The other guy then began to argue that this kind of policing wouldn't be effective anyway...to which the other guy said:
If burgleries are going up in a neighborhood should we diminish the capacity of the police or maybe increase it a little, nothing is going to work perfectly, does that mean we give up?
To that the other guy had a response but he lost me. I actually came down on the side of the guy who was defending that, IF he was telling the total truth.
Go Wikipedia.
@DivaJyoti - the wording does not limit them to what that guy was saying
Why isn't this in the top 20 posts?
My spy novel/government-going-too-far novel begins with. "First thing they did to suppress dissent was to shut down the internet." Because that is what they would do.
That'll turn heads, alright. I for one use wikipedia heavily.
@Roadlesstaken - Google isn't doing a full blackout, but they are addressing it on their main page tomorrow.
@DivaJyoti - It's good to have the debate going. Sorry, didn't see the show.
@lexacolton - more recommendations. :)
@edlives - I just heard more on it from the co-creator of Wikipedia. He added a new twist to my thoughts. He said that in Wickipedia, in definining a certain piracy blog, he wants to be able to link to that blog to show us what it is.
In a way that makes a point. This is one thing I can actually kind of see both sides of, but it sounds like all the smart people are totally against it, so ....they're probably right. It's probably too dangerous of a thing to try to do like this.
Also, now I hear the legislature isn't well written.
@DivaJyoti - Most legislation is not well written -- a CA representatively recently said that "we have to hurry up and pass the bill so we'll have time to read it." What a commentary on why the public needs to be aware and alert!
@slmret - The guy who argued pro the bill was emphatic and said he'd read it. He sounded credible to me. But, apparently he's not on the "cool" side of things, so I'm just gonna let other people figure this one out. I've got more than enough 'causes'.
@nidan - are you a wikipedia editor? if so, we need something up for Autisable - care to help? :)
I'm not an editor really. Except in the fact that I do correct mistakes on their pages frequently. But it's not in an official capacity.
I have contacted my reps....signed petitions and used the land line....I wonder if there was this much response to stuff like taxes and budgets it would make a difference...
These bills create a problem for autisable, and yet you seem as if you're on the fence. Read the bills ffs man.
@Uek - I'm against these bills. The wording on the bills are very generic in scope - allowing too much flexibility for sites to be shut down without due process. I try to make my posts in the middle to allow people to discuss both sides of an issue.
My facebook status updates show where I stand. I've already discussed my stance as well with my reps. I know piracy need to be addressed - but these bills aren't the answer.
@mlbncsga - good thought. Maybe there should be a campaign that would be similar in nature for those topics - makes one wonder.
@nidan - Do you know an editor, or would be willing to create a page for Autisable? If I wrote it, it would be rather biased - and I know that's not a good thing.
@edlives - Well yes I'm willing, but it might come off bias from me as well. I'm a self publishing writer, and thus have a tendency against laws that use the copy-right principle to restrict and attack creativity in writers.