Save the Internet

[sce56]

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_internet/?cl=1390372942&v=11160

Right now, the US Congress is debating a law that would give them the power to censor the world's Internet -- creating a blacklist that could target YouTube, WikiLeaks and even groups like Avaaz!

Under the new law, the US could force Internet providers to block any website on suspicion of violating copyright or trademark legislation, or even failing to sufficiently police their users' activities. And, because so much of the Internet's hosts and hardware are located in the US, their blacklist would clamp down on the free web for all of us.

The vote could happen any day now, but we can help stop this -- champions in Congress want to preserve free speech and tell us that an international outcry would strengthen their hand. Let’s urgently raise our voices from every corner of the world and build an unprecedented global petition calling on US decision makers to reject the bill and stop Internet censorship. Sign now and then forward as widely as possible -- our message will be delivered directly to key members of the US Congress ahead of the crucial vote.
HERE IS THE PETITION

Sign the petition
To all Members of the US Congress:

As concerned global citizens, we call on you to stand for a free and open Internet and vote against both the Protect IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act. The Internet is a crucial tool for people around the world to exchange ideas and work collectively to build the world we all want. We urge you to show true global leadership and do all you can to protect this basic pillar of our democracies worldwide


I posted this for new member "Wild Thing" who has to few post to post his own..

[lbrtbell]

1. K&R for a VERY important issue - n/t

[Walk away]

2. If they put this over they will be able to control all of the freedom of the press..

we have left. The internet is the thorn in the side of the power brokers and corporations. This bill gives them the right to completely control content. (of course they will only use it against the Bad Guys :sarcasm:)

[struggle4progress]

3. I recommend people at least look over the bill before claiming to experience heart palpitations

[mojowork_n]

5. Yes, and do some research. Here are a couple of actual links

This generally liberal site -- on media issues, they're usually on point -- is also alarmist:

http://www.freepress.net/news/2011/11/17/stop-online-piracy-act-help-save-internet

While the "moderate" (sell-out/sold-out) HuffPo points out how much richer the rich who already
control the media will be, if this is passed:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/16/sopa-internet-censorship-online-piracy-house-hearing_n_1098255.html

Now what do you think?

I already signed the letter to my congresscritters, last week. FWIW

[struggle4progress]

6. i read the bill. as far as i can tell, it provides a mechanism for going after

sites onshore and offshore that primarily exist for the purpose of copyright violation or counterfeit trafficking

leahy's got a narrower version on the senate side. grab the judiciary committee report on that and read it

[mojowork_n]

7. And where were you in 1996

When most of Congress supported the Telecommunications Act?

That one was going to be a modern, streamlined overhaul, the first in 62 years,
of media; which would allow "cross-ownership."

What it actually did was allow a very few large media companies, the whales, to
eat the medium-sized fish. Fewer news rooms, fewer news offices, fewer editors,
mucn more uniformity, much more consolidation of control.

It also had wide bi-partisan support.

...So, anyway. You read the report.

And....


Spill. What did you find in the fine print? How did you happen to become one of
the very few Americans to have actually waded through every page?

Is there anything more you have to say, that goes beyond two sentences? (It's
all about curbing piracy and copyright infringement. Right.) And the Telecomm
Act was all about 'opening up markets to competition by removing regulatory
barriers to entry.' The stated objective. But what it actually accomplished
was the opposite, by allowing the biggest companies to absorb or crush any
and all competition.

[blkmusclmachine]

4. Where's our so-called "Democrats" in all this?

Or is this going be another aid-&-abette "bipartisan" crapitulation to a GOP that intends to destroy small-d democracy in this Country?