Last Wednesday a great number of websites spearheaded by Wikipedia initiated a blackout, small and big websites alike blacked out their website in protest of the legislation known as SOPA. Many users have become aware of this legislation and has voiced their opinions as well.
Imagine a Day Without Internet
This is what the blackout is letting us experience. This is what Wikipedia and the tech industry is letting us experience. A time when internet will be a thing of the past and the liberties we enjoy now, nothing more than a memory. And what Wikipedia and the other internet bigwigs have set out to do, they indeed accomplished, the greatest of which perhaps is that, President Obama has categorically stated that he will not support the legislation while a great many users have also voiced their protest against this legislation effectively stopping it, for now that is.
It’s Far From Over
SOPA is shelved in congress for now, but one more legislation is set to make its mark in the Senate, PIPA, it’s generally just the same thing as SOPA. And again the internet community is asking everyone who wants to keep the internet as it is now, must make a stand. Call, email, text, or whatever else means of communication you can think of, your state senator and tell them to say NO to PIPA.
There’s also the coming election, yes, we might want to declare that President Obama will win again but in case there’s a change in the presidency, then SOPA or PIPA might move again.
We have already touched upon what SOPA and PIPA will do to the internet but you should learn all you can about the bills as much as you can. This will allow you to defend your stand all the more easily than if you are uninformed. If you can, do find a copy of the actual legislation and read on it. Yes, this can be quite a taxing read but if you want to be informed and see the “hidden clauses” on it, you should read and learn about it extensively. So read up and learn more about these coming legislations and figure out if it indeed is something you want to boo or support.
Fight Piracy
We are not saying that there shouldn’t be legislation against online piracy or copyright infringement but it is also important to take into consideration how legislation is put into effect and there should be specific clauses entered into it not vague generalizations so as not to affect the millions of users who take advantage of what the internet has to offer and has no hidden agenda
