They actually backed down and it feels so surreal to think about how much noise we made over this ridiculous bill. I am still kind of shaking honestly because the idea of them just cutting off sites like that was so terrifying but we did it and the internet stays …
The internet is a free place where anyone and everyone can gather to freely share information, opinions. The internet has created forum communities, online games, online encyclopedia's, Wikileaks. The internet has sparked revolutions and changed the lives of many. However the internet did come with it's own problems, namely piracy.
The United States government is currently working on passing the PROTECT IP Act, which gives the United States government the right to censor search engine results, and have America-based Internet Service Provider's deny access to websites with alleged copyright infringement.
The problem with this is that when you read through the bill, they are vague on what they consider "copyright infringing websites". Under this definition, any website that has copyrighted content on it is liable to be censored. Furthermore, members of the United States government have stated that the people have the "freedom to connect", which is like the freedom of assembly only in cyberspace. It is the right for the people to have uncensored internet access. This bill will directly go against this right. Also, since any site simply accused of copyright infringement is liable to be censored, this goes against the legal "presumption of innocence". The presumption of innocence is our "innocent until proven guilty" policy. This bill goes under a "guilty until proven innocent" policy, and thus goes against the legal presumption of innocence.
That is why we ask for the United States government to not pass this bill, and if it is passed repeal it. This petition will be mailed to the United States government (in email form) by 5/24/13. If you support our efforts for a free, uncensored web then please leave your signature below.
I really thought this might just disappear into the void but looking at how many people actually care about this is honestly kind of overwhelming. It is wild to think about how fast this moved because it just shows that people see the danger in these vague laws even if the people writing them pretend we do not notice.
Reached 100 supporters
January 19, 2012
7 Comments
J
Jason Yang
15 years ago
Featured
STOP TRYING TO CONTROL THE WEB. WE ARE WATCHING YOU.
M
Mike Cole
15 years ago
Featured
dont touch our internet. this is just a power grab by big media companies.
E
Elena Karimi
15 years ago
Featured
this is a massive overreach of government power. keep the web open.
S
Sarah Shaw
15 years ago
Featured
Censorship has no place in a free country. leave it alone.
C
Chris Bauer
15 years ago
Featured
the bill is way to vague. they could shut down any site they dont like for any reason.
T
Tom Ortiz
15 years ago
Featured
Seriously? Censoring the whole internet just because of piracy? Get a grip.
B
Betty Pagan
12 years ago
Keep the internet as is !
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Couldn't copy automatically. Long-press to copy:
Share directly
They actually backed down and it feels so surreal to think about how much noise we made over this ridiculous bill. I am still kind of shaking honestly because the idea of them just cutting off sites like that was so terrifying but we did it and the internet stays …
The internet is a free place where anyone and everyone can gather to freely share information, opinions. The internet has created forum communities, online games, online encyclopedia's, Wikileaks. The internet has sparked revolutions and changed the lives of many. However the internet did come with it's own problems, namely piracy.
The United States government is currently working on passing the PROTECT IP Act, which gives the United States government the right to censor search engine results, and have America-based Internet Service Provider's deny access to websites with alleged copyright infringement.
The problem with this is that when you read through the bill, they are vague on what they consider "copyright infringing websites". Under this definition, any website that has copyrighted content on it is liable to be censored. Furthermore, members of the United States government have stated that the people have the "freedom to connect", which is like the freedom of assembly only in cyberspace. It is the right for the people to have uncensored internet access. This bill will directly go against this right. Also, since any site simply accused of copyright infringement is liable to be censored, this goes against the legal "presumption of innocence". The presumption of innocence is our "innocent until proven guilty" policy. This bill goes under a "guilty until proven innocent" policy, and thus goes against the legal presumption of innocence.
That is why we ask for the United States government to not pass this bill, and if it is passed repeal it. This petition will be mailed to the United States government (in email form) by 5/24/13. If you support our efforts for a free, uncensored web then please leave your signature below.
I really thought this might just disappear into the void but looking at how many people actually care about this is honestly kind of overwhelming. It is wild to think about how fast this moved because it just shows that people see the danger in these vague laws even if the people writing them pretend we do not notice.
Reached 100 supporters
January 19, 2012
7 Comments
J
Jason Yang
15 years ago
Featured
STOP TRYING TO CONTROL THE WEB. WE ARE WATCHING YOU.
M
Mike Cole
15 years ago
Featured
dont touch our internet. this is just a power grab by big media companies.
E
Elena Karimi
15 years ago
Featured
this is a massive overreach of government power. keep the web open.
S
Sarah Shaw
15 years ago
Featured
Censorship has no place in a free country. leave it alone.
C
Chris Bauer
15 years ago
Featured
the bill is way to vague. they could shut down any site they dont like for any reason.
T
Tom Ortiz
15 years ago
Featured
Seriously? Censoring the whole internet just because of piracy? Get a grip.
STOP TRYING TO CONTROL THE WEB. WE ARE WATCHING YOU.