Websites go dark to protest Internet censorship
Proposed U.S. legislation aims to tackle online piracy, but critics claim passing it could jeopardise Internet freedoms.
- Websites such as Wired.com, Wordpress, and GOOD, among many others, censored themselves in protest of the SOPA bill on Jan 18, 2012. This Storify by Andrew Lih documents the blackout.
- Recent anti-piracy legislation Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) seeks to target websites that act as conduits to copyright-protected material. Under SOPA, all content submitted to user-generated sites like YouTube and Twitter would have to be monitored, which some argue would curb innovation and impact investment. Since the bill's introduction, entertainment conglomerates such as the Motion Picture Association of America have issued statements in support of SOPA. Many cite improved online accountability and the protection of entertainment livelihoods as benefits of SOPA.
- “Over 2 million Americans across all 50 states earn a living and support their families in jobs connected to the making of motion pictures and television shows. They deserve better than to see their work stolen out from under them by criminals out to make a profit. This legislation hits rogue sites where it hurts: their access to American consumers and to the financial services they use to make money. We want to thank Chairman Smith, Chairman Goodlatte and the other co-sponsors for standing up for good American jobs. -Michael O’Leary, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, Motion Picture Association of America
- “This legislation is a first step towards a brighter day when these rogue offshore websites can no longer duck accountability under U.S. laws, all the while providing a critical boost to the marketplace for legal digital music services. This bipartisan effort serves as another example of the broad and borderless role that intermediaries can play in discouraging digital theft. -Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO, Recording Industry Association of America
- Major internet companies feel threatened by SOPA because they believe it would severely alter its architecture and change the liability rules around copyright infringement. Free speech advocates are concerned that SOPA will allow the U.S. government to prosecute and mute online speech.
- The news organisation Politico published a cartoon depicting the main groups on opposite ends of the debate: the technology and entertainment industries.
- Anti-SOPA/PIPA activist group Fight for the Future created an animated video illustrating the negative consequences of the bill on internet users.
- Active SOPA supporter Viacom Corporation released a counter-visual on how online piracy has cost the entertainment industry significant revenue loss.
- In November 2011, internet giants Google, eBay and Facebook, among others, first vocalised their opposition to SOPA by running a full-page ad in The New York Times.
- Following public outcry, the White House issued a statement criticising SOPA, a move which postponed the vote on the bill.
Obama Administration Responds to We the People Petitions on SOPA and Online PiracyJanuary 14, 2012 at 08:09 AM EST By Victoria Espinel, Aneesh Chopra, and Howard Schmidt Thanks for taking the time to sign this petition....- Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corporation, took to Twitter in response to the White House statement.
- Attention is now shifting to SOPA's Senate twin bill, the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), which contains similar provisions. Full infographic here.
