Have you tried to visit Wikipedia, Reddit, or even Google today?  If so, you’ve probably noticed a theme.  The internet hates SOPA.

SOPA, officially, is  H. R. 3261 — To promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes.  Its aim, according to fightonlinetheft.com, the website for an industry group created to promote SOPA legislation is:

The act authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to file a civil action against foreign rogue sites to obtain an order from the court if the site is “dedicated to infringing activity.” Such an order, if granted, requires Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and search engines not to link or connect users to the rogue site and will require payment processors and online advertising networks to cut off the flow of money to the rogue site. It will get them off our computers and out of our marketplace.

Colloquially, on the internet, it has come to be known as The Great Firewall of America.  For an easy explanation of why we, and many others, oppose such legislation as censorship, check out the video created by the group American Censorship below.

 

To learn more about the dangers of internet censorship legislation, the companies who support and oppose it , and what you can do about it, check out this wonderful FAQ created by users of Reddit at the /r/SOPA Community FAQ.