The protesters’ arsenal includes a censor-yourself app for Twitter, email and status updates
For background on this potentially Internet-breaking bill, see my last post on the subject.
How much does the Internet hate America’s proposed Stop Online Piracy Act? A LOT.
In anticipation of a congressional hearing on the bill on Thursday, online activists are mobilizing in a big way:
Will all the push-back work? It already has–somewhat. Texas Congressman Lamar Smith, who introduced SOPA, has backed away from its original thuggish language. He’s watered down his own bill in hopes of avoiding a full-scale war with the Geek Lobby. His efforts, though, seem to have placated no one, as even a half-neutered SOPA would still let ad networks and payment platforms like PayPal cut off “rogue” sites without fear of legal consequence.
A good alternative to SOPA might be OPEN, the “Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act” introduced by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and Republican Congressman Darrell Issa. OPEN puts intellectual property disputes in the hands of the U.S. Trade Representative, instead of allowing infringement accusers to choke websites on the basis of unproven allegations.
Jesse Brown is the host of TVO.org’s Search Engine podcast. He is on Twitter @jessebrown