Will the Internet As We Know It Be a Thing of the Past?

I bet almost all of you have seen some weird occurrences while surfing the web today.  After a few clicks on Wikipedia, an eerie message appears.

Or if you used Google today (when is there a day when you don't use Google), you noticed the ever-changing Google logo is blacked out.  Or sites like WordPress.com and reddit.com look different today as well.  This is all in response to 2 bills currently being passed through Congress attempting to censor the Internet.  This post is to get you informed of this serious situation, to help prevent such a thing from occurring.


There are 2 bills, one in the House and one in the Senate that are, in essence, eliminating free speech from the Internet-one of our 1st Amendment rights.  The Protect IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) are the two bills in question.  The reasoning behind them is to help eliminate online piracy, which technically isn't illegal...yet.  However, the ramifications of such bills being passed reach far beyond online piracy sites.  Take Wikipedia for example, they are protesting these bills as much as file sharing websites.


Why you ask?


Congress would have the ability to censor ANYTHING that is said or posted on the Internet.  Granted, Wikipedia may not be the best "source" of information; however, it's one of the best resources out there because of its vast amount of information.  If these bills are passed, the validity of ANY source of online information immediately goes out the window because everything, to an extent, will be subject to censorship by our "benevolent government".


If these bills are passed, it will be the end of the Internet as we know it, but here's why I am not all too worried about the situation.


1) I think this is a bluff by Congress to bring the "piracy" issue to the forefront once again, similar to the whole Napster/Limewire situation.  They want to scare people into the fact that they are paying attention but basically can't do anything about it-unless these bills are passed.


2) If these bills are not passed, someone will look like the "good guy" in the whole situation and during an election year, someone or a group of someones will need to step up and join the majority in this fight against the bills, which can only help their electibility (if that's even a word, but it should be).


3) The Supreme Court still has final ruling on Constitutional issues.  If these bills aren't considered unconstitutional, I have no idea what is.  Freedom of speech is one of the most important aspects of a civil democracy.  Do we really want to be like China since their government has censorship over the Internet in China?  So even if either bill does pass, I have faith that our Supreme Court will intervene and determine both of these bills are clearly unconstitutional.


So what can you do?  Sign this petition to let Congress know you disapprove and would like to keep your 1st Amendment rights.  Share this page and the petition page to get people informed and help protect your Constitutional rights as an American!