beer Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Today must rank among the best applications of their choice placement: a link on the Google homepage and thousands of shares have produced a mind-blowing 4.5 million signatures on their anti-SOPA petition.When I wrote Kill Switch a few months ago, there were some petitions linked to that had tens of thousands at the time and now as many as 150,000 (the Whitehouse.gov one got just over 100,000). And the petition at Avaaz is almost to 1.5 million. The grassroots opposition to these bills has been immense, more so in fact than other rather terrifying bills like NDAA, perhaps on account of the fact that SOPA and PIPA are directly aimed at internet freedoms.Regardless, 4.5 million is a hell of a lot, and in one day as well. I just wrote earlier today how we need to improve the way that the internet and our governing authorities interact, but things like this are certainly among the best applications of existing online methods. The numbers may, of course, be considered somewhat inflated and less salient than 4.5 million written signatures complete with social security number and voter address, but that’s not really the point. 4.5 million people took the time to go to this page, inform themselves, fill out the pertinent information to register their discontent.It was also shared quite widely, as many of our readers will surely be able to attest; according to Facebook’s stats, it has been shared over 344,000 times, Google shows over 125,000 shares on Google+, and surely a few of those 2.4 million #SOPA, #stopSOPA, etc. tweets pointed to Google’s petition as well.(source)EDIT: title error fix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beer Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 I signed up too ;) thanks to 0ver for post the link earlier.The number of signatures is staggering. Goob job :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety.Abd Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I signed up too :) It'd be great if Wikipedia too made a petition like Google instead of shutting down the website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beer Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 In addition to that, I was disappointed that Facebook didn't even have a infographic or anything against SOPA for people to sign up. Although, inconvenient I thought it might have helped wake some people up to find out what SOPA/PIPA is about. Some of the US mainstream media is still trying to portray the opponents of this censorship bill as "angry protestors" or "Hollywood vs Tech Companies." The truth is it's Hollywood/Music/TV studios vs Everyone else.I am sure Google is saving the blackout for future countermeasures if necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pr1xsel Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 It'd be great if Wikipedia too made a petition like Google instead of shutting down the website. They didn't shut it down, smart people clicked refresh and then stop button or used Googles search to open cached site. They really should had made close button or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator DKT27 Posted January 19, 2012 Administrator Share Posted January 19, 2012 Wikipedia's blackout was avoidable just by disabling javascript in your browser or blocking the specific script by adblocker or no script, etc.If Facebook would have done that, the number would have been more than double, but I don't expect anything good from them (just personal opinion).Google will never do total blackout - it heavy effects their shares in market, though supporting freedom, they like to care about their business too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beer Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 I think the blackouts has achieved its intended purpose. It got congress's attention to re-examine the bill, and significantly helped spread awareness among the general public.I just hope people do not solely rely on television as their only news & information source, because one must realize that most of the main stream televised media are subsidiaries of big studios. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avmad Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 If it's been posted already it won't hurt to do it again.Demand Progress Urge President Obama: Pledge To Veto SOPA/PIPAToday has been amazing, but there's one thing that could completely stop SOPA and PIPA in their tracks: President Obama has expressed concerns about the bills, but hasn't pledged to veto them.There's enough opposition to these bills now that even if they pass, the won't be able to overcome a veto.A promise to veto the bills will force opponents into a full retreat, and be the perfect way to cap off this week's protests.We'd be able to declare a victory for the Net, free speech, and democracy.Please urge President Obama to promise to veto SOPA and PIPA:TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: The Internet -- and the millions of Americans who use it -- have spoken loud and clear. We urge you to pledge to veto SOPA and PIPA if they make it through Congress.http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/veto_sopa/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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