Is SOPA Dead?

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

SOPA is Not Dead

SOPA is definitely not dead and here’s why…the buzz that’s been going around the internet indicating we’ve, (the collective internet community – for the most part), are filling the blog world with chants of the infamous SOPA bill that was to be voted on by the House on Monday was killed.

All of our internet freedoms are still at risk. Although, I believe, the postponement was to do with the high volume of negative feedback our publicly elected officials received on the hill, the bill is NOT DEAD. I know the reason for this postponement is due to our network of internet users otherwise, why would the Obama administration submit a rebuttal to all the inquiries on Whitehouse.gov and the “We The People” petition tool that was set up.

Paul Tassi, a contributing writer to Forbes magazine, wrote an informative article stating their exact position and that this topic was postponed until a consensus has been reached. Paul articulates the current conditions very well and pulls out the important parts of the rebuttal that you need to pay attention to.

The entertainment industry (ESA – Entertainment Software Association) spent millions to pass this bill because they are trying to stop internet piracy so they don’t lose revenue for intellectual property rights, which is a good thing; however, the problem with SOPA is that it’s much more than simply monitoring for acts of software piracy. Search engines and social media sites can be forced to deny access to targeted sites by the DoJ (Dept. of Justice). Even if the site owner isn’t responsible for comments from outside influence, i.e., forums, etc.

Between the Lines of the SOPA Rebuttal

Here’s why everyone was celebrating:

“While we believe that online piracy by foreign websites is a serious problem that requires a serious legislative response, we will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet.”

However, thanks to the diligent research from Mr. Tassi, this is what concerns me and it should concern you as the Protect IP Act (PIPA), the Senates version of the House bill, is still very much alive. This next quote in the White House’s rebuttal should come as fair warning that this issue is still very much on the table:

“That is why the Administration calls on all sides to work together to pass sound legislation this year that provides prosecutors and rights holders new legal tools to combat online piracy originating beyond U.S. borders while staying true to the principles outlined above in this response“.

So, what does this mean? Well, SOPA (or a revamped version of SOPA) and PIPA very much open to discussion and how willing you are to accept the fact that this could be the onset of government oversight and it begs the question…how far will this go? As you might know, many of the laws that are passed start off as a large bill that is negotiated down and finally a consensus is made, but then you have amendments to the bill. Are you ready for a socialistic internet? I’m not.

The good news is because of the large uprise against this bill, our voice has stalled the bill on the floor for now. If you were planning to participate in the protest this Wednesday, January 18, then still participate as an effort to dismiss this bill. Join Wikepedia and the hundreds, if not thousands of other sites that are going black on Wednesday.

Visit trafficblogcafe.com to sign the petition and show your support if you don’t want the government intervening on our first amendment rights.