Blackout Wednesday: the Day the Internet Lashed back to Protest SOPA
Noticed anything different lately on the Internet? Chances are some of your most frequently visited websites had a ‘blackout’ last Wednesday to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
What does SOPA entail exactly? Great question. The new bill, introduced to the United States House of representatives in October 2011, will allow the U.S. Government to block Americans from visiting certain websites. In detail, it increases the ability of copyright holders and U.S. law enforcement to battle online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods.
How this may affect you:
- Sites you frequent daily could be blocked
- Email providers may be required to censor certain links you send or receive
- The links and content you share on social networks will be carefully observed and potentially censored
SOPA support and opposition is coming from several different industries and individuals. In fact, more than $2.5 million has been spent on SOPA support and opposition funding so far. To see a breakdown of who is for and who is against SOPA, click here.
For more information on SOPA and what you need to know, check out this infographic.
Which side are you on? Let us know in the comments section below.
