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Websites Go Dark to Protest SOPA

Thousands of sites join strike

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 18, 2012 12:44 AM CST | Updated Jan 18, 2012 7:52 AM CST

(Newser) – Even the LOLcats are going on strike. The "Cheezburger Network" is among an estimated 7,000 websites shutting down today to protest two Internet-regulation bills making their way through Congress, the Washington Post reports. Wikipedia went dark at midnight Eastern time and was soon joined by Reddit, Raw Story, WordPress, and many others. Google has blacked out its logo and added a link to a petition urging Congress to reject SOPA and PIPA.

"Like many businesses, entrepreneurs, and Web users, we oppose these bills because there are smart, targeted ways to shut down foreign rogue websites without asking American companies to censor the Internet,” a Google spokeswoman says. Supporters of the bills call the shutdown a "stunt," but lawmakers have already begun backing away from the bills, which seemed certain to pass just a few weeks ago. SOPA has become "a dirty word beyond anything you can imagine," noted a Republican aide.

This message greeted visitors to Wikipedia after midnight Eastern time. (Wikipedia)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 31 comments

danton3

Jan 18, 2012 1:37 PM CST

Rhianna is not sexy..yellow diamonds is the worst racist song out there....102 jamz isn't playing eminem again............................................even the avril lavigne/sean kingston duet hasn't been heard in awhile..yo-yo-yo-yo...yodelling..........................though SOPA may agree that Google is a yahoo redone...youtube is awesome.....................................................this stuff is bad.......back to videos I never had, mp3s'....and vehicles that aren't insured nor used for good quality responsibility. Lack of attraction towards my pain..and the continuing unhealthy while so unsexy situation is a deep squeeze in my throat, brain and chest.

LoginsSuck

Jan 18, 2012 11:40 AM CST

The same people supporting SOPA are probably many of the people who supported "corporations are people", Super PAC's and unlimited donations from corporations. Think about that. Who's best interest do you think they hold? That being said: Wikipedia went dark!! Holy poop on a stick. How are students supposed to write papers and do homework now!

GeminiMishy

Jan 18, 2012 10:21 AM CST

Does anyone have a link to a list of these supporters by chance? Haven't seen to many VA politicians on the bandwagon but I could be wrong.

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Internet • Wikipedia • I Can Haz Cheezburger • Reddit • Stop Online Piracy Act • SOPA • PIPA

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SOPA Protest Hails Web's 'Coming of Age'

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(NEWSER) - Yesterday, we witnessed the power of the Internet to influence policy, as countless websites went dark to protest SOPA and PIPA. It did the job: Congress faced an onslaught of complaints about the controversial online piracy measures—which were born of traditional lobbying and heavy corporate spending, writes James Temple in the San Francisco Chronicle . When even some of the bill's GOP backers backed away in the online maelstrom, we saw "a fundamental shift in the legislative landscape, a flexing of a newfound and untraditional source of political power in the Internet sector." More»

Wikipedia to Go Dark in SOPA Protest

Make sure you don't need to look anything up Wednesday

(NEWSER) - "Student warning! Do your homework early. Wikipedia protesting bad law on Wednesday!" With that tweet, issued earlier today, Jimmy Wales revealed that Wikipedia will be joining up with Reddit, I Can Haz Cheezburger, and several other websites in their Jan. 18 protest against the Stop Online Piracy Act . Wikipedia's English-language version will be inaccessible for 24 hours, the Atlantic Wire reports. Wales later tweeted that going dark was a "community decision," arrived at in—where else?—a "Wikipedia talk" forum. More»

OPEN Act Emerges as SOPA, PIPA Take a Beating

Senators desert PIPA amid public backlash

(NEWSER) - The public backlash and Internet protest yesterday made the SOPA and PIPA anti-piracy bills look a lot like a sinking ship—one many lawmakers decided not to go down with. Sen. Marco Rubio dropped his support for the PIPA bill he co-sponsored and he was joined by 17 others, including six co-sponsors, leaving the bill's supporters without a majority, Gizmodo reports. More than a dozen former backers of the House's SOPA also announced their opposition. More»

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(NEWSER) - Behold the power of Reddit: Users fuming over Paul Ryan's alleged support of a controversial online piracy bill have prompted a clarification from the congressman. "Contrary to false reports, Congressman Paul Ryan is not a cosponsor of HR 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act," said a rep, though he stopped short of saying Ryan opposes the act. In fact, Ryan's position on the matter seems to be unsettled, notes the Atlantic Wire , calling him an "odd target" since other lawmakers have offered clear support for the bill. More»

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(NEWSER) - Internet, you have been heard—by a couple of influential senators at least. Marco Rubio says he's dropping his support of the Protect Intellectual Property Act, of which he is a co-sponsor, Politico reports. In a Facebook post , the Florida senator says he's heard "legitimate concerns about the impact the bill could have," and urges Congress to "avoid rushing through a bill that could have unintended consequences." John Cornyn soon followed suit, the New York Times reports. More»

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Websites Go Dark to Protest SOPA

Thousands of sites join strike

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Internet • Wikipedia • I Can Haz Cheezburger • Reddit • Stop Online Piracy Act • SOPA • PIPA

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More Newser Stories

SOPA Protest Hails Web's 'Coming of Age'

Protesting websites' message clicked with users

Wikipedia to Go Dark in SOPA Protest

Make sure you don't need to look anything up Wednesday

OPEN Act Emerges as SOPA, PIPA Take a Beating

Senators desert PIPA amid public backlash

Reddit's Next SOPA Target: Paul Ryan

Plus, looks like 'Dump GoDaddy Day' actually worked

Marco Rubio Drops PIPA Sponsorship

Says he's worried about unintended consequences

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