Internet Blackout to Protest SOPA

[Cramulus]

http://techland.time.com/2012/01/12/sopa-reddit-confirms-january-18-blackout-wikipedia-and-others-may-follow/?iid=tl-main-mostpop1

It's on — at least partially: Reddit has announced that it will go dark for 12 hours to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has said that he hopes to coordinate with the site so that Wikipedia does the same. Will other sites join in? Should we prepare for the Great Internet Strike of 2012?

Writing that it's "not taking this action lightly," Reddit announced on Tuesday that it will black out its site on Jan. 18 for 12 hours, starting at 8 a.m. E.T. During that period, the site's content will be replaced with "a simple message about how the PIPA/SOPA legislation would shut down sites like reddit, link to resources to learn more, and suggest ways to take action." The company will also run a live video stream of that day's House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on Internet security, intellectual property and economic growth.

[Cain]

OK, now this I can support.  And I suspect, with big names like that taking part, people will be far more likely to sit up and pay attention.

[LMNO]

I read an op-ed that this could be the spark that will make people pay attention.  Similar to what would happen if everyone's TVs got shut off.

[Sita]

I think it will have more of an impact than if tv was turned off.
I know I could deal without one, because you can watch pretty much everything online. But going without favorite sites, or possibly any internet, would make me crazy.

[Triple Zero]

We should also take stuff offline!

Not PD, but other people's forums. Because we're not the sort of people we preach to, eh

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY DISAPPROVES OF SOPA



http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2012/01/12/if-facebook-wont-stop-sopa-we-can-do-it-for-them/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57349540-281/sopa-opponents-may-go-nuclear-and-other-2012-predictions/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Jimbo_Wales#Request_for_Comment:_SOPA_and_a_strike
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/o7rdz/were_scheduling_an_antisopa_blackout_for_11812/

[Prelate Diogenes Shandor]

I think that this is a good move to raise awareness.

The only possible problem with it (and this is a small problem indeed) is that with major websites temporarily down it may drive people to instead spend the time during the blackout patronizing traditional media, which are to be detested.

This needs to be followed up with some kind of boycott to weaken the power of the mass media. Even if SOPA is defeated (and Obama said that he'd veto it, so hopefully it will be) the threat of Hollywood and the recording industry will remain; Only when these dark specters from the past are at long last sent to their final and permanent rest damnation will the internet truly be safe.

We should also take stuff offline!

Not PD, but other people's forums. Because we're not the sort of people we preach to, eh

I support this idea as well

[navkat]

I think it's imperative that the "shutdown" pages be informational for this reason. Be flat-out candid about what traditional media's slant on the issue is. I think it should be 24 hours instead of 12, also.

[Thurnez Isa]

with wikipedia going down for a day I guess that means all internet debates will cease for the day too

[maphdet]

Well hell, I posted in the wrong thread. Should have posted here.
Seems for now, there will not be a communication kill switch.

http://wakeup-world.com/2012/01/16/victory-for-internet-freedom-us-congress-shelves-sopa-bill/
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/204167-sopa-shelved-until-consensus-is-found

*killed fb account for shits and grins anyway*

[navkat]

We're almost there, folks. Pick a side.

[AFK]

Maybe I'm overly cynical but my sense is that it really isn't that big a deal that Wikipedia shuts down for a day.  Is anyone really going to miss it that much that it will cause them to get all engaged in public policy and shit?  I'm pretty skeptical. 

[Prelate Diogenes Shandor]

Well hell, I posted in the wrong thread. Should have posted here.
Seems for now, there will not be a communication kill switch.

http://wakeup-world.com/2012/01/16/victory-for-internet-freedom-us-congress-shelves-sopa-bill/
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/204167-sopa-shelved-until-consensus-is-found

*killed fb account for shits and grins anyway*

The threat of Hollywood still remains.
Hollywood delenda est.

[Cramulus]

Maybe I'm overly cynical but my sense is that it really isn't that big a deal that Wikipedia shuts down for a day.  Is anyone really going to miss it that much that it will cause them to get all engaged in public policy and shit?  I'm pretty skeptical.

Wikipedia's blackout page is set up really really well IMO.

They've got a very tightly worded FAQ which explains why they're doing this, why you should oppose SOPA / PIPA, and information about how to get involved.

They've got a congressional representative locator... I punched in my zip code and it gave me the e-mail addy, website, twitter account, and telephone # of my representatives AND my senators. There are quick buttons to spread info on facebook, twitter, and g+. They have made it really really easy to make noise, and I think a large number of people (compared to the average) will do it.

[Placid Dingo]

Maybe I'm overly cynical but my sense is that it really isn't that big a deal that Wikipedia shuts down for a day.  Is anyone really going to miss it that much that it will cause them to get all engaged in public policy and shit?  I'm pretty skeptical.

What it has done I think, is made a conversation that a small number of people are trying to start, into a conversation a large number of people are having.

[Cramulus]

Oops, we pissed off the MPAA!

http://gizmodo.com/5876984/the-mpaa-says-blackout-protests-are-an-abuse-of-power

The statement comes down from none other than MPAA Chairman and former Senator from Connecticut Chris Dodd:

[regarding the internet blackout]

It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information and use their services. It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today. It's a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests.

, taking down your own website in response to legislation which endangers it is an abuse of power! They shouldn't have the freedom to do that! 

THE MPAA WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR WEBSITE AND YOU WILL LIKE IT