Anti-SOPA Blackout Day: WordPress Joins SOPA

[Linuxfever]

Both WordPress.org and WordPress.com are joining the protest against the abusive SOPA and PIPA bills. They're doing it in different ways, but you are very likely to notice the protests if you use any of the two sites.

But bloggers using either WordPress.com or their own WordPress install can join in as well, by adding a "Stop Censorship" ribbon or a full blackout of their blog. Those hosting their own blog have a full section of plugins dedicated to the SOPA blackout. WordPress.com users have a couple of new entries in their dashboard.

The WordPress.com homepage will be blacked-out, specifically, the Freshly Pressed section which now only links to an information page for SOPA.

"We are making it possible for you to participate in the protest. There are two options: a 'Stop Censorship' ribbon and a full blackout. The blackout portion will be in effect January 18 from 8am to 8pm EST, while the ribbon will be displayed until January 24," WordPress.com explains.

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[House_maniac]

i've put it on my website too,i don't know what the us is trying but whatever they are trying to do it sucks,i don't really like censoring stuff,taking domains we should be able to surf freely and download whatever we want,i know some may say its illegal but what would be life without it?surfing on fb and checking mails?

 

[iPanik]

... but what would be life without it?surfing on fb and checking mails?

If Big Content gets the law they paid for, then it will be.

 

[acuariano]

i've put it on my website too,i don't know what the us is trying but whatever they are trying to do it sucks,i don't really like censoring stuff,taking domains we should be able to surf freely and download whatever we want,i know some may say its illegal but what would be life without it?surfing on fb and checking mails?

totally agree

 

[Littlebits]

I blackout my website as well. Once they start to censor one thing, then it will just lead to another and then another and soon we won't have any freedom on the web.

I rather see illegal crack sites, illegal movie download sites and illegal music download sites then to see many other sites get taken down or blocked without a proper cause or even a fare trial.

If SOPA passes, then you can bet it will get abused.

Letter I received from Fight For The Future for participating in the blackout :

Today was nuts, right?

Google launched a petition. Wikipedia voted to shut itself off. Senators' websites went down just from the sheer surge of voters trying to write them. NYC and SF geeks had protests that packed city blocks.

You made history today: nothing like this has ever happened before. Tech companies and users teamed up. Tens of millions of people who make the internet what it is joined together to defend their freedoms. The free network defended itself. Whatever you call it, the bottom line is clear: from today forward, it will be much harder to mess up the internet.

The really crazy part? We might even win.

Approaching Monday's crucial Senate vote there are now 35 Senators publicly opposing PIPA. Last week there were 5. And it just takes just 41 solid "no" votes to permanently stall PIPA (and SOPA) in the Senate. What seemed like miles away a few weeks ago is now within reach.

But don't trust predictions. The forces behind SOPA & PIPA (mostly movie companies) can make small changes to these bills until they know they have the votes to pass. Members of Congress know SOPA & PIPA are unpopular, but they don't understand why--so they're easily duped by superficial changes. The Senate returns next week, and the next few days are critical. Here are two things to think about:

1. Plan on calling your Senator every day next week. Pick up the phone each morning and call your Senators' offices, until they vote "no" on cloture. If your site participated today, consider running a "Call the Senate" link all next week.

2. Tomorrow, drop in at your Senators' district offices. We don't have a cool map widget to show you the offices nearest you (we're too exhausted! any takers?). So do it the old fashioned way: use Google, or the phonebook to find the address, and just walk in, say you oppose PIPA, and urge the Senator to vote "no" on cloture. These drop-in visits make our spectacular online protests more tangible and credible.

That's it for now. Be proud and stay on it!

--Holmes, Tiffiniy, and the whole Fight for the Future team.

___

P.S. Huge credit goes to participants in the 11/16 American Censorship Day protest: Mozilla, 4chan, BoingBoing, Tumblr, TGWTG, and thousands of others. That's what got this ball rolling! Reddit, both the community and the team behind it, you're amazing. And of course, thanks to the Wikimedians whose patient and inexorable pursuit of the right answer brought them to take world-changing action. Thanks to David S, David K, Cory D, and E Stark for bold action at critical times.

P.P.S. If you haven't already, show this video to as many people as you can. It works! http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa/

Thanks.

 

[jamescv7]

I rather see illegal crack sites, illegal movie download sites and illegal music download sites then to see many other sites get taken down or blocked without a proper cause or even a fare trial.

I pretty much agree on this, SOPA/PIPA bills might be useful however isn't since its having uncontrollable even sites that doesn't violates like illegal thing will be included.

The one thing I hate also that us will post a link that's legitimate then they have the power to censor it. (Once the bill is pass)