For all the students out there, you might find that researching a paper is a little more difficult today.  Wikipedia has blacked out its entire site to protest two bills making their way through the U.S. legislature. Both bills will ultimately censor the internet.  Wikipedia has been a leader in the movement against SOPA, contributing to what may be the largest online protest in history.  Here’s what you’ll find on their site today:

Both the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA), will be voted on by the Senate on January 24th.  The bills are designed to prevent piracy, yet they will affect everything from Wikipedia to Google– completely changing the way we use the internet.  Copyright laws do need better protection, but the senate needs to realize we live in an era of mass collaboration.  Our culture has changed, relying on the values of shared, free knowledge and content.

Before this, the responsibility for guarding against copyright infridgement fell to users and copyright owners thanks to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. (I would hyperlink this to a Wikipedia article, but that’s currently impossible).  Now, the responsibility for policing content would fall to the site itself– which would be far too great a burden even for large sites such as Wikipedia and YouTube. Imagine the hurdles that would pose for new, up-and-coming sites– sites that could provide more jobs and economic growth.

Google provides a great explanation about the negative aspects of SOPA and PIPA, in addition to why they won’t solve the issue at hand.  Not only will these bills hurt the internet, but in doing so, they will harm American businesses.  Online companies are currently one of the most significant sources for job growth in America. If those businesses have to reallocate their time and resources to constantly policing users, the opportunities for growth will be greatly diminished.  Here’s a helpful video that explains the issues at hand:

Numerous other sites have blacked out their pages in protest of SOPA and PIPA.  Sopastrike.com is facilitating the protest by providing the HTML codes to black out a sites. They’re also offering other tools such as apps, petitions, and WordPress plugins.  Facebook and Twitter chose not to host a blackout, prompting some to accuse them of not having enough courage to do so. Still, the founders both Facebook and Twitter have made it clear they oppose the anti-piracy measures.  Frankly, it would be unwise to shut these social sites down in the midst of the protest, because they are currently providing an outlet for the public to discuss, learn about, and knock the two bills.

Throughout the day, the public has also taken up the mantle to protest the legislation.  The Google petition page has been shared all over Facebook, and many people have created YouTube videos to voice their opinions.  On Twitter, hashtags like #FactsWithoutWikipedia, “End Piracy, Not Liberty,” and “Tell Congress” have been trending, allowing websites, organizations and celebrities to share their view.

Watching this process unfold shows beyond a doubt how powerful the internet is.  The thought that our leaders have the power to censor this amazing medium, even unintentionally, is terrifying.  If these bills pass, it would completely alter our access to the online world, transforming our economy and how we interact with the rest of the world.  While I support artists, filmmakers, musicians, and anyone else trying to preserve their content, these bills are not the solution to piracy.

Have you told Congress your feelings about SOPA and PIPA yet?  Click here to take action and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.