EDIT: The SOPA topic: the end of the Internet as we know it?

[CarThief]

So i just found this on Youtube and it worries me...
Edit: Well it might not have passed yet according to some of the comments now. Still frightening.

Or click here to see it on youtube. If the Government didnt remove it yet. :P

(click to show/hide)

Text version taken from the video description in likely event it gets removed:
Citizens of the United States.

We are ANONYMOUS.

There is a new bill that the United States government has successfully passed. It is called the Stop Online Piracy Act, or (SOPA) for short. Also known as The Protect IP Act of 2011. The US Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementation of the bill would cost the federal government 47 million dollars through 2016. Translated into plain english, It will cost tax payers 47 million dollars over the next 4 years.
The SOPA act will censor you from accessing certain websites and block all access to other areas of the internet that the United States government does not want you to access.

The SOPA act essentually means, that even if you make a video of your child playing or singing and you have music playing in the background, or video on TV, you are breaking the law, and the government will order the websites that host your content to censor your content because of their new bill. Or if you visit websites that are on servers not in the United States you will be blocked so that you cannot access them.

Ask yourselves, Who really owns the internet?

The answer is simple: no one actually owns the Internet, and no single person, organization or government controls the Internet in its entirety. It is more of a concept than an actual tangible entity, and the Internet relies on a physical infrastructure that connects networks to other networks. There are many organizations, corporations, governments, schools, private citizens and service providers that all own pieces of the infrastructure that make up the internet, but there is no one entity that owns it all. How can the US government decide to block access to parts of the internet that the US government does not even own? The SOPA act is a direct violation to people's right to freedom of knowlege and information, And for that violation the United States government is a disgrace to the land of the free, The free that every United States soldier has fought or died for. The United States government is essentually telling the people of the United States that they are free to do as the government tells them. If people do not follow their rules they will arrest them for making an attempt to learn. But the government will tell the media that these people are getting arrested for acts of treason, domestic terrorism, or internet piracy.
As for the United States government. Who gave you the right to regulate the people's right to think outside the box and use the internet as they see fit? If we cut off global internet, shouldn't we also cut off all foreign affairs? Should we hinder globalization completely? Perhaps all other World Trade Centers are acts of terrorism by existing, as they use the Internet for commerce. The ambiguity of this bill should terrify you.

This video likely will not last long on Youtube. As long as you can, download Youtube Downloader, and help us share this message.

If you speak, they have to listen. If they do not listen, Their blatant disregard for the people will not go un-noticed, and is not acceptible. Doing nothing is the worst thing you can do.

We are anonymous.
We are legion.
We do not forgive.
We do not forget.
Expect us!

I have not heard any other mention of this besides this video, but its worrying nonetheless.
I recall there being another topic about relevant things but considering its buried a few pages most likely, i hope this will do as well.

I'd say its worth discussing and spreading the word. If confirmed that its actually true.
Thank God i dont live in the US, for a multitude of reasons, but if each Government is going to look up to the US and and replicate this... Oh boy...

In the somewhat unlikely case this is just a rumor i fell for, feel free to lock it. But i heard of plenty of stupid acts like these before, so...

[BiscuitSlash]

I live in the UK, and it does kinda worry me. Something tells me this is going to be a downhill thing that spreads across the world.

I don't really know what to say really, other than I'm worried....

[Ukiyama]

From what it sounds like it isn't even passed yet... the video gets ya paying attention though  

[CarThief]

Hm, so i read that it hasnt passed yet, still, it doesnt hurt to inform, i suppose. Wouldnt want this to actually pass, i cant bear to imagine the future if this passes and has a domino effect on all other Governments. Might as well remove the internet completely if there's nothing good or reasonably priced!

[Red]

if this spreads to the world i am going to be restricted to retarded chilean websites, nooooooo

i hope this doesn't spread, or ever happen in any country, it seems like a terrible idea.

[Shmeckie]

Even if it does pass, Obama still has to sign it into law, and if he does, in order to go into effect (which would take years) the courts would have to totally ignore it. All of which get increasingly more unlikely as the process goes on.

It's good to let our politicians know that this bill will be political poison and that we're pissed, but don't go getting paranoid; we won't be going all Orwell any time soon.

[Myroc]

Screw SOPA. I'm more worried about the NDAA act.

Not familiar with it? It's called the National Defense Authorization Act and allows the military detention of american citizens or foreigners living lawfully on american soil, for an indefinite period (Read: As long as they want.) without trial, if you are as much as suspected of being part of or supporting terrorism-conducting organizations. It was recently passed.

Even worse? This technically changes nothing. The military has seemingly always had the power to do this, what this actually changes is that they now must detain suspects if ordered to, (at least if I've understood it correctly). Oh, and now the senate is considering repealing anti-torture measures.

And the reason for all this? Those several wars that the US has no reason for fighting, that's sending their economy (and by association the global economy) downhill fast, that the general populace has forgotten the initial reasons they were started in the first place?

The US abandoned any support for democracy ten years ago, and the fact that it's taken this long for people to notice it just enrages me to no end.

[Galaxy Sisbro]

The funny thing is, most of these "political idiots" doesn't know how to use the internet. Also, remember the moment of stupidity when the congress declared pizza to be a vegetable. And, of course, even when the number of people opposing to this bill is outstanding, the government doesn't care in the slightest since it is benefiting them with money.

To me people is exaggerating with this thing. There won't be an internet censorship.

And, your point of SOPA being a supporting terrorism-conducting organizations is a pretty good one.

[CarThief]

Damn, among various reasons of not wanting to be there, such as exessive guns, meaning just about anyone could shoot you for any reason. And of course all this new law stupidity, trying to control an uncontrollable entity (unless ALL countries and providers agree). And now, if i happened to live there and my name matched some terrorist, they could just pick me up with a black van off the street and endlessly poke me for no good reason and make life hell, and if its a misunderstanding, whoops! Doubt there's any compensation for it, either.

And to think they already can pick off any individual off the street if suspected of terrorism, although only temporarely, i believe. Or maybe i just watch too much TV... Oh well.

Reading that thing i can agree a government needs some power, but dont they have enough to employ on those they deem a threat to their country?
Hm, now im dwelling too much on the matter, just hope the world wont become a futuristic craphole with police forces, corrupt officials and stupid laws everywhere in those 10-20 years. :P

[Captain Barlowe]

The darn bill was adjourned yesterday, don't get your pants in a hustle. (Next meeting is this wednesday, if I read right)
Anyways, if the bill passes, so what? Most people are going to protest against it, and since the majority of the internet completely hates this bill (Google, Facebook, whatever), I can only see it fall and collapse after a few weeks, give or take.

[Proto Man]

What has this world come to?

[Orange juice :l]

Welcome to UMERICA, LAND OF THE FREE

WE KNOW WE'RE FREE CAUSE WASHINGTON SAID SO

OH YEAH AND WE'RE CAPITALIST SO FREEDOOOOM

Meanwhile, Congress remains completely separate from the people and only remains in contact with the lobbyists.

[Mendez]

Somewhere in the United States, Al Gore is pissed. And somewhere in Washington, Obama is looking on with a smug smile on his face, knowing that rejecting this bill would help boost his approval rating with the people, securing his re-election in 2012. Also, somewhere in some unknown state, Ron Paul is really pissed off.
If people think this bill will pass, you need to realize that there are plenty of major internet companies that oppose this bill. (source)
It is also clearly obvious that people in this country is greatly opposing SOPA, so I'm sure that we have little to worry about. Brb, watching the bill get rejected and congress failing to overturn the veto.
edit: This is for the people who need a video to know WTF is going on.

[CarThief]

Found another video detailing this subject. Has some interesting things about evil corperate manipulation to gain power. Most frightening thing the video tells about is that if that passes anyone can get sued (and imprisoned) for the smallest of "infringements".

Now i personally dont want the internet to become a futuristic craphole city with the law striking down on anything it doesnt like, as is often depicted in videogames or movies. Let alone risking imprisonment for just using the Internet.

[Mr. Sean Nelson]

'Cause, ya' know, our prisons aren't quite filled up enough already.