I haven’t covered this much on this blog, but SOPA or the Stop Online Piracy Act and it’s sister the Protect IP Act have drawn the ire of Internet users in the US. The idea behind these bills is to stop piracy on the Internet. But many argue that it will infringe on First Amendment rights, censor and will cripple the Internet. As a result, there’s a lineup of tech companies who are against this and are going to be protesting tomorrow against these bills. Google for one will be doing something on their home page to protest. Wikipedia is going one step further by going dark tomorrow to protest. Word on the street is that Reddit and Boing Boing will take their sites down for 12 hours starting at 8 a.m. as well.
Frankly speaking, these bills need to die. If America really wants to kill one of the few industries that are making money in these tough times, cripple free speech, and be no different that countries that they criticize, then they should go ahead. But if they want to prove that they are the land of the free and the home of the brave, than these bills need to die and die quickly. Americans, tell your friends, tell your family, and most importantly tell your elected officials you feelings on these rather crappy bills before it’s too late.
I’ll be showing my support by not posting tomorrow. It’s the least that I can do.
SOPA and Protect IP Halted In Congress… But The Battle Isn’t Over
Posted in Commentary with tags Protect IP, SOPA on January 20, 2012 by itnerdI guess this week’s blackout on the Internet got the attention of lawmakers in the US. The National Post is reporting that both SOPA and Protect IP have been halted:
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said he would postpone a critical vote that had been scheduled for January 24 “in light of recent events.”
Lamar Smith, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, followed suit, saying his panel would delay action on similar legislation until there is wider agreement on the issue.
You’ll note that the bills have only delayed and not killed. That means that they could come back in some other form. Those who oppose these bills will have to be vigilant and hold US lawmakers to account.
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