Home Domestic Politics Internet revolt beats down PIPA and SOPA
Internet revolt beats down PIPA and SOPA Print E-mail
Written by Doran Miller-Rosenberg   
sopa pipa defeat chuck schumer Since PIPA and SOPA were introduced in May and October of 2011 respectively, the polarizing snowball of the bills has engulfed internet culture and political debate.  In the middle of a grueling campaign season, SOPA and PIPA were able to briefly yet completely eclipse the Republican race, the shortcomings of Obama and an incredibly lackluster economy.

The reasons for this are complex, but one thing is certain: the internet is just about the only thing America has in common.  When it comes to war, the economy or politics America is as fractured as its ever been, but more people rely on the internet today in a way that borders on addiction than have ever congregated over other media sources.  The instantaneity of gratification trumps all else, as Congress quickly learned in January of 2012.
In the one month social media sites ubiquitous sites such as Google and Wikipedia unleashed a blitzkrieg of white noise protest against the bills, which aim to change the way sopa pipa defeat censored woman the internet is run, and give the US gov't the ability to close down sites at their discretion if the site has any content the gov't feels is pirated or counterfeited.  Many of these sites have servers based outside of the US, but the bills expand US jurisdiction to intervene against these sites as well.

Copyright and intellectual property have long been tied into the America dream/myth, and the idea of stealing original ideas or work is seen as tantamount to theft.  But in a digital age in which ideas and content fly to every corner of the earth instantaneously, is this a realistic point of view?  Regardless of ethics or legality (before or after the bills pass or are shot down), there is little practicality in enforcing copyright laws that were created in an era of physical goods on the internet. 

Whats breathtaking is the unity and passion otherwise politically unconcerned and unconnected denizens of the internet displayed in the wake of the bills, and the results which quickly followed.  On January 18th, there were 80 congressional members that had stated support for the bill, and only 31 declared opponents.  On January 19th, amongst massive protests by giant corporations and millions of individuals, Congress was overwhelmed and moved quickly for perhaps the first time in its existence.  By evening of the 19th there were only 63 supporters of the legislation, and opposition almost quadrupled, with 122 stated opponents of the bills.

To say Congress "doesn't get" the internet is to put it lightly, but what they do get is polling numbers, and the fury of their constituency and potential future voters.  Politics are vastly more important to the Congress than and bill or accomplishment, and the internet showed how quickly and efficiently it could play the game of ratcheting up opposition to the bills. 

Last wednesday, on Third Avenue and 51st Street hundreds of protesters gathered  outside of Senator Chuck Schumer's (D) office to protest his support of the legislation, brandishing signs that said things like "First the newspapers started disappearing.  Now they're going after the intent.  Next, will they arrest me for making this sign?"

I called Schumer's office several times, and was told I would be granted a brief interview with his communications director.  He never reached out to me, and was never available the multiple times I made contact.  Once, before I was put on hold, I heard a staffer say "I hate when these bloggers call."  It's this exact arrogance that has contributed to outrage across America at the proposed legislation, and continues to do so. 

I also attempted to reach out to Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D) whose position on SOPA/PIPA is currently unknown, but was met with no response.  This issue is clearly of vast importance to the populace, so where are our representatives?