January 18th, 2012 is the largest online protest in history, to stop the internet censorship bills, SOPA & PIPA. Join in by blacking out your site and urging everyone you can reach to contact Congress now.
I'm not actually American but on January 18th, I will not be blogging or publishing comments on my blog or commenting on other blogs. I do not support internet censorship or more government control over the internet and America's actions will have ramifications for other countries.
Canadians to join Wikipedia protest of anti-piracy act
Online encyclopedia to black out site for 24 hours at midnight
The Canadian Press
Posted: Jan 17, 2012 6:52 AM ET
Last Updated: Jan 17, 2012 4:46 PM ET
Some Canadian websites are pledging to join Wikipedia and other prominent sites in a protest blackout on Wednesday.
The self-imposed blackout is a protest against proposed anti-piracy
legislation in the United States that could have far-reaching effects
for Internet users and companies around the world.
The Stop Online Piracy Act and the PROTECT IP Act could allow website
addresses to be blocked when complaints are filed about copyright
infringement.
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The Wikimedia Foundation says the proposed U.S. law would harm the open internet and make more censorship possible. (Wikipedia.org)
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engines and websites could be compelled to remove links to sites
accused of copyright violations, and web payment processors and
advertisers could be forced to stop doing business with alleged
offenders.
Tucows (TSX:TC), a Toronto-based company that manages over 11 million
domain names and provides other Internet services, is planning to
temporarily take down its popular downloading site, which hosts more
than 40,000 programs. The legislation could theoretically affect Tucows
if someone claimed it was allowing downloads of software illegally.
"There will be hundreds of thousands — maybe a million — people
impacted by not being able to download the software they want but we
feel it's important," said Ken Schafer, executive vice-president of
products for Tucows.
"It's not just about inconveniencing them, it's about getting to
those people and making them aware of this issue and getting them to
take action."
Law professor Michael Geist, who is Canada's Research Chair in
Internet and E-commerce Law, and social media service is also among the
Canadians taking part in the protest.
Other popular sites that are participating include Boing Boing,
Reddit and the blogging platform Wordpress, which is encouraging its
users to join the cause.
Only the English portion of Wikipedia is going offline Wednesday,
reads a message to users signed by Canadian Sue Gardner, executive
director of the Wikimedia Foundation.
"My hope is that when Wikipedia shuts down on Jan. 18, people will
understand that we're doing it for our readers. We support everyone's
right to freedom of thought and freedom of expression," she wrote.
"We believe in a free and open internet where information can be
shared without impediment. We believe that new proposed laws like SOPA
and PIPA, and other similar laws under discussion inside and outside the
United States, don't advance the interests of the general public."
5 comments:
Well I pray they censor what I have posted...LOL
But I respect your stand and good on you!!xx
CM, I think you believe in free speech. That is what allows you to post as you do. I do believe in free speech also. God bless. xx
Let freedom ring! I'm all for free speech - but there are some copyright issues that may need to be dealt with. I thought they had already enough laws on the books to do the monitoring of copyright law-ignorers ... but maybe I was wrong.
I couldn't agree more Fred. It would be great if your politicians decided to go back to the drawing board and spend a little more time ensuring that the proposed legislation does not have unintended consequences, and is not cast overly broadly. That would be a good outcome!
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