SOPA and PIPA Blackouts

Seriously, I believe some senators are already backing out of this. Even if those dumb laws passed, we will always have hackers offering us alternatives to circumvent them. Thank god for hackers. And cat videos.

Dear US senators, please don't take away our porn. Thanks. xoxo

Yesterday's "blackouts," though economically insignificant, added to SOPA and PIPA opposition solidarity and increased awareness for the cause. That's not a bad thing. As mentioned, several lawmakers, including two of the bill's co-sponsors withdrew their support for the bill. Progress. The only time politicians are truly influenced by something other than money is when the public that puts them in office is extremely pissed. The media coverage of yesterday's blackout and the increased public attention brought to the issue rang a few thousand phones and prompted thousands of emails. Google confirmed that 4.5 million people signed their names to their anti-SOPA petition. That's not a small number. Social media and the use of the internet as a campaign platform played a major part in Obama's 2008 presidential victory. Other lawmakers realize the impact the internet has on their political endeavors as well. It is in politicians intertest to listen to what the internet collective of US constituents. Certainly paper mail sent to lawmakers to voice your opposition helps, but I don't see the increased awareness web blackout participants brought to the cause silly at all. The fight isn't yet over, but I think it's gained some steam.

I have to say that this is one of the few areas where I completely disagree with your premise. I think that the wave of sites that are choosing to do this today are contributing to raising the general public awareness that these bills even exist. I hate to admit it, but until I heard that Wikipedia was going dark for 24 hours and I logged in to see what was a big enough deal to motivate them to do such a thing, I didn't really know anything about these bills. (I'm so busy these days that I tend to be a few weeks behind on my current events... I'm not proud of that but it is what it is...) It took companies that I respect choosing to be a part of this protest to make me sit up and take note, learn more and create my own educated opinion on the matter. A site going down in protest won't make them go away, but it may make a few more people pay attention. The more people pay attention, the more people act. Even small acts like FB posting or changing a picture... are form of protest. One person walking down a street shouting isn't given much credence either - but one thousand doing the same thing and politicians start to take note. Same with email, I'm sure they don't read every email that comes in - but I know they are going to get a report on how many emails protesting various subject matter have come in and if I can help by sending one - I don't thing that's a wasted effort. What politicians care about is degree of public outcry. That's what we have the power to communicate. The more people spread word, the more people make an active protest, the more emails/FB/G+/Tweets etc that are sent... the greater the perceived degree of public outcry - and that's what has a chance of motivating law makers. Sorry Jay - normally I'm with you 100% :-)

I think doing something meaningful is important, however I also believe in doing this. It's a way to make people who normally wouldn't say anything at all, at least do something. Several Congressmen have taken their support back at the behest of the public. So something is working.

I think you're right that the blackouts will not change minds, but considering the awareness of the average american on tech-related bills that aren't being covered in national media, I think the target audience is not the government, but the people. This protest could raise awareness among voters and people who have no idea what's going on. For that, i think it's a good and effective strategy. Will it change legislators' minds? nope. Will it mobilize people who don't know about this? I hope so. This blackout hits Americans where it makes an impact, their convenience... the moment they realize that a thing they use all the time is threatened, that could motivate action.