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Topic: Browser

Black Wednesday: The day the Web went dark

Summary: Wednesday 18th January 2012: The day where the web went dark in protest of the SOPA, PROTECT-IP and OPEN bills, presently in Congress.

Zack Whittaker

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SOPA and PROTECT-IP (also known as "PIPA"), along with the OPEN Act are bills currently in Congress, which threaten the very existence of the web. It will enable rights holders to legitimately -- and even fradulantly -- shut down websites that allegedly infringe copyright. They are censorship bills. 

Today, the web has fallen silent, blacked out its pages, become dark, and effectively gone on strike. From Wikipedia to Google, even Firefox users are affected, as are other major online communities. 

Read more on SOPA here.

This gallery will show you some of the major websites that have gone dark or offline today.

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Topics: Browser, Google, Piracy, Security, Social Enterprise

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Talkback

56 comments
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  • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

    not enough impact, facebook and twitter need to join the cause
    bak1818
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

      @bak1818 : Agreed. It would be a lot more effective with both of those sites involved.
      rtkirton@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

    So Wikipedia's blackout is rather lackluster. They use Javascript to redirect to their "blackout" page, so turn off Javascript and you can use Wikipedia just fine.
    Aerowind
    Reply Vote

    • Wikipedia isn't blocked.

      @Aerowind: How is it I can go directly to Wiki's main page, and it says "The English Wikipedia is currently locked for the SOPA/PIPA blackout", but then I click Search and type away? Because everything I'm finding on Wiki right now is in....

      (wait for it)

      ENGLISH.
      tw1975
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

      @Aerowind

      They havnt done it to deny access to wikipedia, they did it to bring attention to the cause. so they purposefully made it easy to circumvent.
      Scarface Claw
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

    So Wikipedia's blackout is rather lackluster. They use Javascript to redirect to their "blackout" page, so turn off Javascript and you can use Wikipedia just fine.
    Aerowind
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

      @Aerowind You actually think most Americans know how to disable JavaScript? Doubtful... Moot argument.
      luispedroza
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

        @luispedroza

        You're right. And those that do know how to disable JavaScript (ie, techies, geeks, etc) are most-likely also already knowledgable of the SOPA and PIPA bills. This blackout is intend to gather the attention of the unknowing, non-techie public.
        NetAdmin1178
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

      @Aerowind OK, well, the intent is very clear. Congrats for finding a work around. We all bow to your Java-ness intellect. The point was made. If we don't do something, most of the internet will be like this....
      RyanJ989
      Reply Vote

  • Corrupt

    Congresscritters who have sold their souls to big media are by definition CORRUPT!

    Opposing this big media attack on the American People is not enough. Vote these corrupt politicians OUT OF OFFICE!
    Tim Patterson
    Reply Vote

    • But you're ok if they sell out

      To Wikipedia and google because those company's positions agree with you.
      baggins_z
      Reply Vote

      • Huh?

        @baggins_z

        This isn't about being a fan of company x or company y. This is about special interests corrupting our elected officials and pushing legislation which is a direct attack on our freedoms.

        It's astounding that some people become such irrational fanbois that they would actually argue for the erosion of their own liberty.

        SOPA and PIPA expose the blatant corruption which has thoroughly infected our system. Anyone who proposes such legislation or supports it is, IMHO corrupt.

        So, by all means, continue with the ignorant 'my team is better than their team' garbage.
        Tim Patterson
        Reply Vote

      • @Tim

        Thanks for proving my point. You're totally OK with congresscritters selling their souls to companies as long as those companies agree with you.

        Where was this righteous indignation when campaign finance reform was passed or health care reform, both of which do more real damage to your freedoms than SOPA or PIPA will.
        baggins_z
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

        @baggins_z ---to add to your comment re campaign finance reform: Our biggest consent to allowing Congress and Bush's attack on our liberty was the so called "patriot act." Yeah, I avoided cap lock on purpose.
        kkpickens
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

        [i]Where was this righteous indignation when campaign finance reform was passed or health care reform, both of which do more real damage to your freedoms than SOPA or PIPA will.[/i]

        That is your opinion, of course. You do realize that, don't you?

        And is this blog really about health care reform or campaign finance reform?

        I suggest you re-read the title of this blog again.
        ScorpioBlue
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

      @Tim Patterson, I got a better. idea. vote them out of office will not be enough, I say run these jerks out of office and put them in prison for violating our rights!!
      jj57901
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

      @Tim Patterson

      Enough is enough, we need to remind congress that the government of this country is accountable to THE PEOPLE and not special interests
      Queuecumber
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

      @Tim Patterson Our congressmen and senators take corporate money to buy our votes, then behave like employees of those same corporations. I am going to vote against my incumbent congressman and senator in the next election and I ask that you join me. A wholesale firing of our congress will get their attention. "We The People" need to reassert our control of congress, and teach them that the "For Sale" sign will no longer be tolerated.
      steve6225
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

        @steve6225 Great idea, except that it presently takes money, lots 'n lots of money, to run for congressional seats also. I can't afford to run, I assume you don't have the funds to carry on against a well financed opponent, so guess who's going to run and fill the fired vacancies. Yep, more Citizens United enabled self serving big boys ...and girls. The Citizens United ruling needs to be addressed before any meaningful change can be made.
        aussiedawg
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Black Wednesday: The day the web went dark

      @Tim Patterson :

      It's not about big media but, rather, about big government and control... Think of the media angle as a ruse. Over the last two years especially, there have been increasing congressional entities pushing outward, not the media pushing inward. Jay Rockefeller, the gentleman from WV, and fellow congressional cohorts and allies in the White House and Homeland Security have increasingly become vocal about justifying their views and while also lobbying support for these measures often under the radar... Don't be fooled... Check it out.
      Calbeach01
      Reply Vote
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