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Yes Yes A Thousand Times Yes

Wikipedia to Blackout on January 18th Protesting SOPA and PIPA

by Eric Limer | 1:23 pm, January 16th, 2012

The bad news is that while SOPA may be “shelved,” PIPA is still on. The good news is that while PIPA may still be on, Jimmy Wales has come out and announced that Wikipedia’s anti-SOPA, anti-PIPA blackout is on too. The decision isn’t unilateral, but rather by concensus of the Wikipedia community and as such, the English language Wikipedia will be going dark on January 18th from midnight to midnight EST reaching an estimated 25 million users globally. Better listen to what Jimmy says and get your homework done ahead of time.

In addition to the English Wikipedia going dark, the German Wikipedia will be displaying a banner. The rest of the Wikipedias have been tasked with making their own decisions. Some of the details are up in the air, but it seems that the consensus is leaning towards a full blackout meaning that you’ll hit a blackout page and there will be no way to click your way through to Wikipedia.

While Wales has been catching some flak on Twitter, he’s made a point of being completely transparent; this is a community decision, up to the community to make, the details of which are still being hashed out on the SOPA blackout talk page.

It may seem like the January 18th blackout might be poorly timed since SOPA has been “shelved indefinitely” but that may not actually be the case. This commitment to blacking out and taking serious, serious measures to protest the coming legislation not only makes a statement against SOPA and PIPA but everything else like it that may or may not be shelved, fixed, modified, mitigated, in limbo, long passed, or yet to come. Blackouts in the face of a government that seems to be shying away from SOPA illustrates nothing other than the complete and utter commitment to complete and utter destruction of the bills at hand.

(via @Jimmy_Wales 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6)

Relevant to your interests

  • Dr Coene

    Keep the internet free.

  • Erin

    Thank you, Jimmy, and rest of you good people!!

  • Jackbondnj16

    I’m not part of that consensus. For one thing, a blackout is only going to hurt (as they said) students. Not politicians. It really doesn’t make a difference. It’s just pointlessly symbolic. They can just say “WE WILL DO THINGS TO STOP SOPA/PIPA”. They don’t have to say “WE WILL CAUSE INNOCENT PEOPLE TO SUFFER SO THAT THEY THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH WORSE IT WILL BE”.

    Most importantly, SOPA/PIPA never stood a chance to begin with. It wasn’t worth this much thought and effort. Nobody’s stupid enough to pass these bills. It ticks me off that I have to pay for it.

  • Proudly not american

    Glad to see American is still in inhabited by the bright minds of the world such as your self.

  • Proud American.

    Proudly not american??? You’re probably a shit-sucking Canadian or some other pussy country that America bailed out in the past. Fuck off.

  • Erin

    I bet you never thought the NDAA would pass either.

  • Erin

    I love Canada

  • seascone

    The blackout won’t be
    causing anyone to “suffer”, in fact, most likely it’ll bring awareness to
    a whole new group of people who aren’t really aware of  the potential damage this bill has.

  • http://Geekosystem.com Eric Limer

    “Nobody’s stupid enough to pass these bills.”
    Did you watch the initial amendment hearings? They made me change my tune, and want to go cry in a corner. 

  • Doctor Claw

    The blackout is actually forcing some mainstream media to mention the harmful legislation. For all we hear about mainstream media conspiracies… this is actually true. SOPA and PIPA have not been mentioned on primetime. Wikipedia’s move (among others) will finally force their hands.

  • Guest

    I thought NDAA didn’t stand a chance yet I was wrong.

  • An American (from Canada)

    Ahahahahahahahaha!  Good to see USA residents are still patriotic to the point of idiocy.  You’re a credit to your country.

    Also, if he’s Canadian, then he’s also from America, therefore American.  So are all the indians, mexicans and everyone in South America.  Pick-up a globe next time.

    To get back on topic, I think Wikipedia is sending a message to the web users who might not know what it’s all about still and haven’t taken the time to inform themselves.  They’re doing this to make sure everyone is well aware of what is going on and the consequences.  And if you rely DAILY on Wikipedia and don’t know how a library works, I weep for you.

  • Danbortz

    Look, if nobody did a thing…the attention SOPA would get would not even fit on the apology note from politicians for allowing this flawed bill to pass.  And…oh, like Citizens United (it will never pass)…it would pass.  Yeah…never in a country like this…think again.  Drastic measures must be taken TO MAKE SURE CORPORATIONS DO NOT TAKE OVER THE INTERNET.  If you think money does not rule the world…take another drink of the Moron koolaid.  Proudlr not American…sorry about the Proudly American persons blather…and JackB…you are JUST WRONG…Grow a pair.  It is one day of slight inconvenience…my site will go down for 24 hours too…small price to pay for a free internet IF IT WORKS.  Still…watch your backs…MONEY IS AND WILL KEEP TRYING TO BUY THE INTERNET…DON’T LET THEM.  


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