Posted 01.17.2012 at 1:50 pm
20 Comments
Blackout
Wikipedia
From social networking sites to megacompanies, tomorrow will be a dark day on the Internet. Wikipedia has joined the list of web giants who plan to shut off temporarily on Wednesday, protesting two bills in Congress that could douse freedom of speech (and freedom of perusal) online.
The English-language version of the online encyclopedia is the latest and arguably most prominent site to go dark in defiance of the legislation, known separately as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House of Representatives, and PROTECTIP (PIPA) in the Senate. The bills are meant to prevent “rogue” web sites in other countries from ripping off U.S.-created content. They would essentially create an online blacklist, and would require Internet providers and search engines to abide by it, preventing access to the rogues in question.
“If passed, this legislation will harm the free and open Internet and bring about new tools for censorship of international websites inside the United States,” Wikipedia administrators said in a collective online statement.
Supporters range from the Motion Picture Association of America to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who argue the bills will prevent the illegal copying and sharing of movies, music and other intellectual property online. Foreign entities who pirate American creativity cost money and jobs, they argue. But legions of detractors, from Google to Facebook to independent bloggers, point out that the bills would dampen free expression and require them to police and censor their content.
One of the most insidious aspects of SOPA (which is now apparently on hold, it's worth noting) is its packet surveillance and blocking provision. CNET highlighted this last fall. Under the bill, Internet providers could be required to monitor customers' traffic and shut off access to websites suspected of "rogue" behavior. ISPs could do this using a method called deep packet inspection, which entails intercepting the information exchanged on your computer. This means your ISP could spy on your browsing habits, filtering every piece of information you seek and determining whether the ISP will allow you to view it. It's wiretapping plus information control.
This provision is one reason why some ISPs are opposed to SOPA — they don't have the resources, nor do they want to expend the resources, to listen in on all their customers' behavior.
For the uninitiated, here’s an interesting Q&A about how the proposed legislation would affect you, courtesy of CNET. And here’s the proponents' take, in which they argue that counterfeit goods from rogue sites can actually kill you.
The White House said Friday it would not support any legislation that reduces freedom of expression or “undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet.” So it’s possible President Obama could veto the bills if passed as they stand now. But Internet giants like Wikipedia clearly still view them as a threat.
Now let’s see if Facebook or Google follows Wikipedia into the dark.
[via Slashdot]
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So, basically, companies like Disney are noticing that people are uploading their movies without permission for other people to watch, and they want companies like Google and Verizon to help them police copyright infringements. Sounds like the problem is that companies are too lazy to take care of copyright infringements, and they want search engines and ISPs to provide a solution by filtering content. And just think about what this does to privacy! I, for one, do not want ISPs sifting through every iota of information that I request of send on the Internet. Heck, this post would be analysed for copyright infringements, right? What if so much stuff gets copyrighted that it becomes illegal to do many of the things we take for granted on Facebook?
DO NOT PASS THIS BILL!
I recently read Wikipedia's announcement about this, and I was both taken aback and very happy with Wikipedia to take a stand on something so important. Wikipedia has long tried very hard to keep its head out of the political storm, but they are jetting in this time and are taking everyone by surprise. This may or may not be a major hit to Wikipedia's reputation as being non-partisan, but it will also gain the trust of the whole of the internet. I am overjoyed at this response, and I look forward to seeing SOPA die hard.
The primary reason behind SOPA and PIPA is to keep Americans from accessing news media in other countries. The traitors running the government want to keep us snowballed with whatever pap they wish to feed us at the mainstream media outlets, and keep us from what may be the real truth being reported by the media in other countries. Take the current uprisings in the middle east, for example: it is being heavily debated and publicized overseas that the US is behind them for the purpose of bringing down their central banks and eliminating competition for the world reserve currency (currently the dollar), and the fact that these "wars" and "uprisings" were planned over 20 years ago.
To mainstay Freedom of Speech for the world, perhaps this may bring back the old HAM Radio System in popularity again. lol
Exactly what can the government regulate in the form of Free Speech on the internet? I can only imagine they can influence (legally of course) of how search engines respond to peoples queries. Otherwise, how can they stop bloggers or people who email back and forth?
This could all be a side show, to pull the public attention away from the fact, our government is weak, powerless, incompetent and legally and political bogged down from solving our budget problems. This could all be an invention to distract us, the same as when they speak of an (OFF) switch for the internet too.
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See life in all its beautiful colors, and
from different perspectives too!
good for wikipedia! Hopefully google and facebook will follow suit.
Excellent comments, except ehayes2006. I'm pretty sure the ostensible reason for SOPA and PIPA is to "prevent piracy" of Hollywood's digital media and--as CosmicJoker42 explained so well--force others to do the heavy lifting. The consequences would be to allow people to use the U.S. legal system to arbitrarily restrict, censor, and shut down websites without due process. I haven't heard anyone, except you, propose the agitprop theory. I didn't realize that the country with arguably the most free, unrestricted media on earth was being manipulated by the devious machinations of the government. Amusing theory, but sadly wrong. Apparently you don't understand the difference between freedom (U.S.) and censorship (North Korea). Maybe you should go experience real censorship then get back to us....
Good points made by laurenra.
This is somewhat off topic yet on topic at the same time. For people who are against this bill, others that restrict freedom, or just want to have more of a voice in government, you can go to whitehouse.gov. If you make an account you can sign and create petitions for the federal government. There was a petition that called for the end of the Sopa act which I signed. If the petition gets more than 25000 signatures then an official response will be issued. The sopa petition got the 25,000 needed so a response was issued. From the email I got it seemed to me that they recognized the bill was flawed. They said they would contact random signers of the petition as well as the petitions creators and ask for advice on how to change the bill.
Even though that petition is closed now, there are other good causes that you many want to look into. Another one I signed called for a veto of the NDAA, which had a clause allowing the military to be able to detain US citizens indefinitely without trial so long as they are a suspected terrorist. Haha that one may be closed as well by now, but you get the point.
I have always said . . .FREEDOM IS AN ILLUSION. THERE IS NO FREEDOM- ONLY DEGREES OF FREEDOM- AND OUR DEGREES OF FREEDOM ARE BECOMING SMALLER AND SMALLER WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.
OSAMA BIN LADDEN PUT OUR DEGREES OF FREEDOM TO THE TEST ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT GREED AND FEAR WOULD LITTLE BY LITTLE BREAK DOWN OUR FREEDOMS AND THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO AMERICA'S DECLINE. THE WORST THING THE ROMAN'S EVER DID WAS ALLOW JESUS TO BECOME A MARTYR - IT FUELED THE FIRE. . . WE HAVE ALLOWED BIN LADDEN TO BECOME ONE TOO.
IF THIS BILL PASSES, IT WILL BE AOTHER POSTHUMOUS VICTORY FOR BIN LADDEN!
DO NOT ALLOW THIS BILL TO PASS. CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN.
Here's my question;
If companies are so adamant about copyright infringement why did they not stop making recordable VCR tapes, recordable CASSETTE tapes, Recordable DVDs/CDs, DVD/VCR Combos, CD/Cassette combos . . . and on and on . . . Why such a law was not passed to stop these corporations from making these products that directly encouraged people to COPY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL? I WILL TELL YOU WHY . . . BECAUSE "SONY MUSIC/PICTURES" MANUFACTURED BLANK CASSETTE TAPES, VHS TAPES AND CDS AND DVDS . . . BUT THEY CANNOT SELL US 1s and 0s - they have lost their grip on us.
1. If this Bill passes AT&T will shut down any websites that allow jailbreaks for the iPhone in essence allowing ATT to twist people's arm's around the world to forcibly get an ATT account or get another cell provider . . .
2. Any company will be able to forcibly shut down any website that MODs or improves on their software/Systems.
3. There will never, EVER be another "Spring" Revolution such as the Arab Spring. Governments will be able to shut down social websites to suit their needs.
4. THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WILL BE ABLE TO ONCE AGAIN FORCE YOU TO BUY CDS WITH 1 GOOD SONG AND 19 CRAPPY SONGS FOR $20!
5. I WILL BE BLACK MAILED FOR POSTING THIS ON POPSCI!
Mcollsmartsometimes
My voice wouldn't be heard if it weren't for the Internet.And sutpid movie makers come along and say," hey lets get more freaking money than we need and complain about people wanting free stuff."Listen uyah haying movie makers and Congress peoples:
1. Get the stinking company to keep piracy and other infringements from happening.
2. Just because someone pirates and another one.uses.limewire.or.something.doesn't.mean u get the chance to block globally popular sites.like facebook or maybe even twitter. If this law passes i may never watch another.movie again because u ended the meaning of Internet.
Also @ bob. I doubt google and facebook will follow wiki as they are for profit companies. And taking down their sites, even for a day would make them lose a lot of profit. Facebook has more a a chance because it is not a public company yet and doesn't have a responsibility to its shareholders to make as much money as possible.
@menoc: Sometimes I want to know what kind of drugs you people are taking. Popsci has some of the strangest commentators I've ever seen...
Raynre,
Your statement is ambiguous at best and so in that you can add yourself to the list, lol.
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See life in all its beautiful colors, and
from different perspectives too!
We are the 99%, if the majority abandon the use of the internet for month. Bring them to there knees, 50+ and all i`ve ever seen is apathy no backbone in the western world, only in a world war do people unite. well guess what we are in one the enermy.
The NWO.
Make a stand
Asifmatey,
Prior to posting, self editing is highly encouraged. You seem passionate in your words, but I just do not get what you are saying.
..........................................
See life in all its beautiful colors, and
from different perspectives too!
I absolutely applaud and appreciate the manner and style of how Wikipedia responded to this problem.
If you go to their website, yes it is darken today, which shows and explains their protest. Kudos, to the website Wikipedia, for them to standing up and let their voice is heard and FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
But another round of applause needs to go to them, for creating the means of you just entering your zip code and find your local representative and make your own voice to be heard. Oh, you are Free to make own opinion pro or against this subject.
I applaud for Wikipedia making easy use for all of us to heave FREEDOM of SPEECH and easy putting forth our DEMOCRACY!!!
I am going to put my applause where my wallet is and donate $100.00 of my money to Wikipedia. And just so you all know, I am tight with my money, really tight!
KUDOS TO Wikipedia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Science sees no further than what it can sense.
Religion sees beyond the senses.
its crazy how bad big brother wants to hide the truth. thank to big names like google and wiki we might have a chance of fighting back in this knew age of "cyber wars"
"religion is like a prison for the seekers of wisdom"
-Killah Priest