January 18, 2012: A day that will live in infamy, at least in the annals of Internet history.
Today, websites like , Google and reddit are protesting the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) — acts proponents say will help deter the piracy of copyrighted material. Opponents of the bills say they are forms of censorship.
Former Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd, who now serves as Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, had the following to say about the Internet blackout:
"It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information and use their services. It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today. It's a dangerous and troubling development when the platforms that serve as gateways to information intentionally skew the facts to incite their users in order to further their corporate interests."
