Congress is conducting hearings on American Internet censorship, starting today. These are the two most-recent Internet censorship acts to go through Congress.
SOPA – Stop Online Piracy Act
Protect IP – Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act
I am all for companies trying to protect their product, but acts like these encompass way more than they should and use too broad of terminology. I am worried that most of the websites I view on a daily basis would fall under American censorship. Not file-sharing sites, but community forums and social gathering platforms where people share information, entertainment, and creativity.
I do download music and movies. I would rather continue downloading my media for free, but I accept a corporation’s right to protect their merchandise and dissuade illegal downloading of such materials. I just don’t want them meddling in grounds they do not belong in. Social networks, blogs, community sites, and more should not fall under the umbrella of such legislation. SOPA and Protect IP need to be broken down to the specific elements they are intended for.
I will not let my Internet freedoms be taken away without making my voice heard.
Image from Mashable.
Please visit AmericanCensorship.org to petition against these acts.
