---
author: RichiH
date: 2012-01-18 15:32:14+00:00
slug: on-sopapipa
title: On SOPA/PIPA
imported: yes
robots: noindex
---
Today, January 18th 2012, a number of websites, organisations and institutions along with countless individuals have chosen to take a stance to protest the proposed SOPA and PIPA legislations.

We believe that these acts could have a significant impact on the way in which we currently use the internet, and we strongly encourage and support raising awareness about the legislative proposals in order for people to make an informed decision about their stance on the issue.

Whilst we will not be partaking in any blackout to mark the occasion, we very much welcome frank and open discussion about SOPA/PIPA in ##sopa on the freenode network. The channel is not run by freenode staff, but was created by some people with a passion about the topics covered by the proposed legislations. If you feel passionate about SOPA/PIPA or you want to find out what all this is about, why not come along and join in the discussion?

As the USA is a power house in so far that they directly or indirectly control most of the internet's infrastructure, and the proposed legislation has been written in a manner in which they specifically take into account "foreign rogue sites", the legislation will, should it pass, have an impact upon the world as a whole.

For more information about SOPA/PIPA, please see:





	
  * [Wikipedia's background information](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:SOPA_initiative/Learn_more)

	
  * [americancensorship.org](http://americancensorship.org/) (long page, scroll down)

	
  * [EFF's graphical overview](https://www.eff.org/free-speech-weak-link/)

	
  * [Google's stance](https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/)


