Why SOPA Is Eerily Similar To Another Form Of Regulation That Didn’t Work
So I read this MSNBC article on SOPA and how Wikipedia is going to have a internet blackout in protest to SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act). I have been hearing bits and pieces of this legislation last year and gradually getting more informed of the subject. I have to saw this piece of legislation is flawed. In its simplest form, it plans to regulate the internet by taking down any website that hosts copy-written information. The reason being is to take down websites that has files to shows and movies unlawfully to stop online piracy.
For example, let’s say there was a website called FreeMoviesHere.com (by the way, there wouldn’t be a pirate stupid enough to create a website with a name like that) that has online viewing of newly release movies that anyone can watch for free. This would be illegal and through the act, can be shut down indefinitely. Sounds good right? Well not exactly. The language of the bill is extremely vague. You can apply that interpretation to anything on the internet. If Facebook (for whatever reason) had Mickey Mouse promoting something on the website without the consent of Disney, the federal government would have the right to shut down Facebook. As facetious as that sounds, it would be well within the law.
A lot of the internet as you see now would be grounds to be blacklisted. Even Youtube would be a victim. But the sponsors of this bill said that Youtube would be exempt from the law. Well then this would create a slippery slope because now we would need to know how does one get off the blacklist of hosting copy-written material.
For those who are well versed in US History should see some similarities in other forms of regulation. Prohibition should be on the top of the list. The federal government tried to but a permanent ban on alcohol which only led to the rise of bootleggers. No, not the people who try to sell you $5 copies of video camera recorded movies, but people who made their own alcohol in bathroom tubs. Then drink said alcohol behind closed doors. This was the 1920s version of piracy. Which led to criminal activity in controlling the sell and trade of illegally obtained alcohol. Although, I would find it hard to imagine criminal control of behind-the-scenes internet activity, but there will be “other” ways to find the content you would need.
Tomorrow there will be an internet blackout in protest to SOPA. Here are some websites that further explain SOPA and what the internet blackout is supposed to be:
http://www.copyblogger.com/sopa/
https://github.com/SaraJo/SOPA-PIPA-Protest-Page
http://www.warriorforum.com/main-internet-marketing-discussion-forum/524112-call-action-against-internet-censorship-stop-sopa-pipa.html
And an active discussion (for and against) about SOPA. A good place to gather more opinions on the subject.
http://www.warriorforum.com/main-internet-marketing-discussion-forum/521804-internet-blackout-sopa-protest.html
