A Thousand Miles Behind

I try to steer away as clear as possible from political and legal discussions for two reasons: One, I will end up doing that for a living. Two, I’m on vacation. Why ruin it right? :D

I’ve known of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) being lobbied in the United States Congress. Actually, there was a similar bill being pushed last year that failed to pass. To do the perfunctory and necessary readings to understand these bills, I will link you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia_blackout. Please take some time to read. If you are reading this post, for goodness sake, this involves you!

Yesterday, I fully-appreciated the impact of the SOPA and PIPA on the future of the information and the world we live in. Above are screen shots Wikipedia and Google participating in the blackout to protest. Below are my theoretical ramblings on the catastrophic impact of the SOPA and PIPA:

One. Social networking sites will be shut down. The SOPA prohibits the sharing or linking of copyrighted material. Not only will it shut down the source or server of the infringed material, the SOPA “gives” the US Government power to shut down the sites where the links were placed as penalty. Too technical? Let me spell it out for you then.

For example you’re on Facebook or Tumblr and you saw this funny clip on YouTube. Should you decide to share it on these sites, not only will you be penalized for it, by a foreign government, nonetheless. Facebook, Tumblr and Youtube will be closed down for hosting your sharing activity.

Two. It will end the Information Age. We have been used to living these past two decades in a world without boundaries (in terms of knowledge). When we would like to watch something, we hit the interwebs (on YouTube, most of the time). When we want to learn about something, we let our fingers do the walking. While the Internet may have unleashed a lot of evils, I don’t think anyone can deny how it equalized the masses. No one monopolizes information anymore. The Internet is the largest leap of information dissemination since the printing press. Rich or poor, once you have access to the Internet, you will have access to information. I’m baptizing the Internet now as the Great Equalizer. 

Three. This is the beginning of American Worldwide Dictatorship. Information is power. Anyone who holds information has the power. I’ve had this crazy thinking that the USA invaded Iraq, not for Saddam, but for the oil there. BUT tell if I’m crazy now. I have nothing against Americans. I love them. I have friends and family over there… yet the Government… WTF? SOPA will “allow” the US Government to encroach on the jurisdictions of other countries where the copyright infringers are found. I will not drone on with the International Law hoopla SOPA will create but I don’t think this will be in the best interest of the world. US Law Enforcement officers in foreign soil? I don’t think that will sit well with the family of nations. Silly rabbit.  

A search will reveal other profound impacts of the SOPA and PIPA, if passed. The possibilities of infringement are limitless. SOPA and PIPA are bills that seek to punish first, before determining guilt. The worst part of it, I, and probably you are, not part of the state in which this may be a law of. If you think you will not even be remotely affected, think again. For all we know, the next time you open your Internet browser, the most interesting thing you will be able to do is check your email. Just make sure no one sent you any cat pictures.