Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. The Bill is called “Stop Online Piracy Act” or SOPA for short.
What is SOPA?
Internet fascism.
What does that mean?
Anyone caught posting “copyright” material, whether it be in the background of your toddler’s “Dancing to the music” YouTube video or a mom, like me, simply writing about a person or business on her blog… could face huge fines and up to 5 years in prison. That’s more time than the Doctor who killed Micheal Jackson got…
But I’m not American… how does that affect me?
The Internet has no borders. duh!
While you still have a voice…
Contact your local State Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or similar branch of government. Tell them you oppose SOPA and PIPA, and any similar legislation. SOPA and PIPA will affect sites outside of the United States, and actions to sites inside the United States (like Wikipedia) will also affect non-American readers — like you. Calling your own government will also let them know you don’t want them to create their own bad anti-Internet legislation. ~ Wikipeida
Fill out this STOP AMERICAN CENSORSHIP petition {non-US peeps, scroll down to find your spot to petition}, before it’s too late and we look like China, who doesn’t allow Facebook.
Check out this video for more info, “Protect IP/SOPA Breaks The Internet”.
** UPDATE Jan 20, 2012: SOPA and PIPA were dropped by Congress today. The largest online protest in history has fundamentally changed the game. You were heard. Click to see the stats from the Jan 18 #sopa strike. **
Finally! A post about SOPA that is easy to understand! Loved it. As a Canadian, I was wondering how it affects us. I realized the whole no borders thing, but wondered if I could make a difference. Thanks 🙂
Off to sign the petition. Thanks for bringing this issue to light.
signed it, thanks Shash
good explanation 🙂
Great Article! -thanks for the clarification 🙂
Don't forget we are facing the same thing in Canada with Bill C-11
http://www.hilltimes.com/policy-briefing/2012/01/16/digital-lock-provisions-of-bill-c-11-go-far-beyond-wipo-standards/29276
Totally support the solidarity agains SOPA/PIPA but we shouldn't forget what's happening in our own country. Digital locks provision would consider almost all of us criminals.
Great explanation!
Excellent point Anonymous! I know the way I put it sounds "simplistic" but I wanted to get the point across that albeit piracy is BAD, this Bill won't stop who needs to be stopped.
I am glad you posted because I was unsure what it meant for Canadians.
Thanks for posting and this is definitely a whole lot of crazy. I'm hoping that this ends on the 24th.
Yikes, i wondered what it all meant! 🙁
GAH! Thanks for putting it in simple terms.
Where do us Canadians go to sign the for non-US..I cant find it.
Thanks so much for posting this! Off to share it on FB, Twitter, etc.
This is really scary! Thanks for making it easy to understand and giving us practical advice on how to help.
Is the United States becoming a Police State? Seems like it, more and more every day.