A Call to Act: Free Space, Free Speech

Re: P.I.PA., S.O.P.A. Online Censorship

Whew! We are safe- for now. The two headed internet censorship beast otherwise known as the Protect Intellectual Property Act (herein after referred to as P.I.PA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (herein after referred to as S.O.P.A.) has been put to rest-for now. Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D-VT) the chief sponsor of P.I.PA. (S968) declined to call a vote for it in the U.S. Senate as of Friday January 20, 2012. Likewise, his U.S. House of Representative counterpart, Lamar Smith (R-TX) put S.O.P.A. (3261) indefinitely on hold with regard to scheduling a vote.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Google, Craigslist, and Wikipedia among others. They engaged in a “blackout” on Wednesday January 18th to draw attention to this duo threat to freedom of speech. Some of the bill’s co-sponsors have withdrawn their support thereafter. Still, it is down but not completely out.

The stated purpose of the twin terror is to prevent internet piracy and other crimes perpetrated by miscreants based outside of U.S. borders and beyond the reach of Federal judicial perimeters who direct their illicit commerce activities to people in America. The proposed statute would give a complaint to the courts the same penalty to the accused that typically and rightfully occurs only after a trial in which an individual who received a fair chance to defend his interest is proven guilty. A person(s) internet activity (and revenue) could be arbitrarily interrupted based upon circumstantial speculation presented before the court.

It would allow the U.S. Attorney General and/or a party (anyone) to petition the court to stop internet activity to which they object provided the accused is not within U.S. jurisdiction. It would also coerce any and all internet entities however remotely involved with the suspect(s) to sever ties and disconnect services to the alleged offender’s web site. And to do so within 5 days of receiving a copy of the court order. The web based crowd subject subject to this tyranny would include those involved with payments, advertising, search engines and anyone else, such as writing.com with some slight link to the accused subject of the court order. This would in effect deputize web entities to enforce a government edict contrary to their private interest and in conflict with free expression online.

I have only been a member here briefly. However, it is clear to me via my participation that everyone on the site is not within U.S. jurisdiction. For instance, I once visited the page of someone based in England. To those editors and members based in America, I urge you to contact your Senators and local House members and suggest they scrap this insidious affront to common liberty dressed up akin to a censorship wolf in “security” sheep clothing. All of us, regardless of state or congressional district (or country) should contact Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) the chief sponsors of this menace. Their addresses are as follows:

http://leahy.senate.gov/contact/ and

https://lamarsmithforms.house.gov/ContactForm/default.aspx