10 replies to this topic

[Fancy Dan]

STOP INTERNET CENSORSHIP—TWO BILLS IN CONGRESS UNDERMINE THE PRINCIPLES OF THE WEB

American Censorship Day: November 16, 2011
On November 16th, the "Stop Online Piracy Act" will be heard in Congress. This legislation, in addition to the Senate's "Protect IP Act," completely undermine and fundamentally change the core principles of the Web. They have the potential to radically alter or shut down sites like YouTube, Flickr, Tumblr 4chan, others --even us--, and many future companies to follow.
See americancensorship.org for more and help us stop these bills from becoming law.

Sorry to alarm you... we haven't been hacked, but you've probably noticed the "Stop Censorship" bar over our logo... Normally, I don't use TheWalls to post about politically motivated things like this, but this is an issue near and dear to me... I work in an industry powered by the internet, and today, Congress holds hearings on the first American Internet censorship system. This bill can pass. If it does the Internet and free speech will never be the same.

"These bills were written by the content industry without any input from the technology industry. And they are trying to fast track them through congress and into law without any negotiation with the technology industry."

- Fred Wilson (Union Square Ventures)

Whats the worst that can happen?

Website Blocking:
The government can order service providers to block websites for infringing links posted by any users.

Risk of Jail for Ordinary Users:
It becomes a felony with a potential 5 year sentence to stream a copyrighted work that would cost more than $2,500 to license, even if you are a totally noncommercial user, e.g. singing a pop song on Facebook.

Chaos for the Internet:
Thousands of sites that are legal under the DMCA would face new legal threats. People trying to keep the internet more secure wouldn't be able to rely on the integrity of the DNS system.

Yes, but how will this affect TheWallsHaveTeeth.net?
Once the government has the power to censor websites, whats stopping them from just censoring copyright infringing websites? This bill opens the door for many, many more ridiculous and evil things to happen.

Please, I plead with you, fill out the form here to contact our congressional leaders and stomp this bill out!!


For more information:

[Chaindrive]

Proof that it's really you?

[Fancy Dan]

Chaindrive, on 17 November 2011 - 02:44 PM, said:

Proof that it's really you?

Its actually me, Chain. I've finally crawled out of the hobbit-hole that college has landed me in.

[Chaindrive]

Had to check.

Good job getting the shoutbox at the top - I couldn't figure it out.

[Fancy Dan]

Chaindrive, on 17 November 2011 - 02:57 PM, said:

Had to check.

Good job getting the shoutbox at the top - I couldn't figure it out.

I don't recall doing that... o_O

[Chaindrive]

Something you did made it stay visible at the top.

*cue Twilight Zone Theme*

[fld200]

I'm so sick of our government cutting into my life!

[fld200]

Comment removed because of double post.

Edited by fld200, 17 November 2011 - 11:11 PM.

[Phillip S.]

fld200, on 17 November 2011 - 11:11 PM, said:

I'm so sick of our government cutting into my life!

wait till they start controling our life, wait they already do.

Edited by Phillip S., 27 November 2011 - 12:35 PM.

[abandonedfreak]

Yeah, bit by bit they are takin over, and doin what they need to to try and keep us quiet little mushrooms

[Marcel]

fld200, on 17 November 2011 - 11:11 PM, said:

I'm so sick of our government cutting into my life!

AMEN to that fld......free country my ass!