Stop SOPA and PIPA

The ramifications of the proposed Internet Blacklist Legislation are numerous and potentially dire. The Electronic Frontier Foundation boils it down most succinctly:

The Internet blacklist legislation -- known as PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House -- invites Internet security risks, threatens online speech, and hampers Internet innovation. Urge your members of Congress to reject this Internet blacklist campaign in both its forms!

As the EFF points out, though it’s possible to spin both bits of legislation in a positive way, but the deeper implications require serious study:

Big media and its allies in Congress are billing the Internet blacklist legislation as a new way to battle online infringement. But innovation and free speech advocates know that this initiative will do little to stop infringement online. What it will do is compromise Internet security, inhibit online expression, and slow growth in the technology sector.

Today January Magazine joins much of the Web in a day of study and reflection about what these twinned Bills might mean. So much has been written on the topic already, with more being added every minute, rather than add to the noise, we offer a series of links and a day of quiet.

So read about and consider the issues, make your voice heard, vote if you can... then hit the fallback position and spend some time with a book.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation covers the matter here.

Wikipedia explains in some detail here.

The National Post does its usual great job of coverage here.

Ditto Strombo here.

CNN covers the basics here.