Bill Promises To Censor the Internet

Fight the power?

By Chris Richardson · October 30, 2011 · 195 Comments

Get the WebProNews Newsletter:

The PROTECT-IP bill is making its way through the halls of the United States government, and besides an unfortunate name change, the bill has been altered by the House of Representatives in such a way, it would essentially allow the government and/or various corporations that feel infringed upon the ability to censor the Internet in whatever way they see fit.

Should the United States government be allowed to censor the Internet to fit their own whims and desires? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Perhaps that last part is wrapped in some hyperbole, but then again, after reading portions of the updated bill, as well as some of the reactions to it, it’s pretty clear that, if passed, the American public could soon be using a very different version of the Internet than what we’re used to. The sad thing is, besides a small section of informed reactions to the bill, very few in the American public seem to know and/or care about the implications of PROTECT-IP, which, thanks to input from House of Representatives, now goes by the unfortunately-named E-PARASITE Act.

Here’s an embed of the document, although, it’s doubtful anyone outside of the tech/Internet sector will actually concern themselves with it:

E-PARASITES Act
Even search engines like Google are affected by the contents of the bill. When discussing foreign sites that have been suspected of infringement, the bill’s text reads:

INTERNET SEARCH ENGINES
A provider of an Internet search engine shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures, as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within 5 days after being served with a copy of the order, or within such time as the court may order, designed to prevent the foreign infringing site that is subject to the order, or a portion of such site specified in the order, from being served as a direct hypertext link.

Which sounds an awful lot like if a Google search returns a link to a site like The Pirate Bay, they will be asked to remove and/or block the link, thanks to a government order. Over at TechDirt, such governmental actions are being compared to the creation of a Great Firewall of America, obviously taking its queue from China’s iron fist control of Internet content its citizens have access to.

It should also be noted that foreign sites deemed as being an infringement tool are not given any due process to protect/defend the property. ArsTechnica has more:

The bill gives government lawyers the power to go to court and obtain an injunction against any foreign website based on a generally single-sided presentation to a judge. Once that happens, Internet providers have 5 days to “prevent access by its subscribers located within the United States to the foreign infringing site.”

Furthermore, the bill would make programs like the MafiaaFire Redirector, something Mozilla has already successfully backed in the face of Homeland Security pressure, would now be illegal. For those who may not know, when a user tries to access a site that’s been taken down by the ICE squad, those with the MafiaaFire Redirector plugin are redirected to an alternate domain for the ICE’d site.

Under PROTECT-IP/E-PARASITES, such a program would be under attack from the Attorney General:

To ensure compliance with orders issued pursuant to this section, the Attorney General may bring an action for injunctive relief… against any entity that knowingly and willfully provides or offers to provide a product or service designed or marketed for the circumvention or bypassing…

And these scenarios are just some of the nonsense being introduced in the bill that would give the government power to censor the Internet towards its own desires, all in an effort to protect what TechDirt refers to as “a few legacy companies in the entertainment industry refuse to adapt.”

If you are unaware of the implications of PROTECT-IP/E-PARASITE, allow the following video to educate you:

Now, before the replies of “you just want to be able to pirate without worry” start pouring in, it should be noted that I have downloaded before, but that’s not what my perspective is about. If I get caught, I’m not going to blame the site that hosted the torrent/file/content I stole. I did the crime, so I should have to pay the price for being caught, and that’s something I’ve long understood.

It’s not Pirate Bay’s fault I download files, it’s mine, a stance that should clue you in on my position towards censoring the Internet.

The sad thing is, if you walked down the street of any city in America, asking people their thoughts on the bill, it’s doubtful you’d get much in the way of meaningful reaction. Sure, a few would be informed, but by and large, as long as American Internet users can access Facebook and Twitter, as well as throwaway nonsense like TMZ, they don’t seem to be very interested in informing themselves about who is governing the Internet and the intentions behind the rules being passed.

With that in mind, when reading about PROTECT-IP, I’m reminded of the following scene from Revenge of the Sith:

However, instead of applause, it seems that apathy or ignorance rules the day. Where are the #Occupy crowds when you really need them? In other news, considering the powerful telecommunications lobbyists, and the sway they have over the US Government, one wonders why Google hasn’t tried to grease the wheels in favor of an uncensored Internet instead of just hanging out with the Net Coalition crew.

How much control is too much? Let us know what you think.

Lead image courtesy.

Top Rated White Papers and Resources

There are 195 Comments. Add Yours.

Like (0) Dislike (0)
Troy Younts
October 30, 2011 at 11:39 am

OCCUPY THE WORLD!

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Greg Lightning
October 30, 2011 at 11:40 am

No No and No…Just one more Commy Socialist move to control us.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
John Melchinger
October 30, 2011 at 11:42 am

…governmental actions are being compared to the creation of a Great Firewall of America, obviously taking its queue from China’s iron fist control of Internet content its citizens have access to. // The 1% in the USA, as all 1%ers ever in power, are afraid that people who know the truth and can discuss it openly will be inconveniently uncontrollable. Every totalitarian government in history eventually fell due to their aversion to and denial of any will of the people for FAIRNESS. Fairness is all that the OWS, the Arab spring and summer, and other current civic actions are looking for. Until the few with power realize that only cooperation and fairness will achieve peace, there will always be varying degrees of unrest and defiance of un-fairness.

The political USA today wrapped in the warped capitalist control movement are not the things I fought for in the sixties as a citizen and in the seventies as a citizen-soldier. My remedy: un-elect the current Congress (every incumbent!) by voting only for independents who swear an oath to serve only 12 years maximum in Congress and to support the US Constitution and all its amendments in a transparent government. Wake up America. Your freedoms are being systematically chipped away, and those who conrtol government count on us being lemmings and following each other to our collective middle class deaths. Freedom is not free; it must be earned.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Renee Marino
October 30, 2011 at 11:45 am

This is a blatant attempt to curtail the free flow of information. The corporate elite are looking to ensure that we have less and less power as citizens. With these types of controls in place they hope to disconnect us, divide us, make it more and more difficult for us to organize and cooperate while they continue to have the upper hand. NO is my response, absolutely NOT.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Bob
October 30, 2011 at 11:56 am

Doesn’t the first Amendment take precedents??? Don’t we as a nation have a lot more issues that are far more important, like unemployment, children going hungry, foreclosures, terror threats, our economy in the toilet? Oh, I’m sorry it is all about sucking the ass of the rich businesses so they can take care of the Senate and Congress. It’s obvious that they no longer care about the people, It’s the what’s in it for me mentality that these morons use that is destroying us. What do they care, they get an amazing retirement and never have to lift a finger again. Isn’t our government wonderful, it is so reassuring to see that they want what is best for us by controlling our every move, thought and spoken word… or text,… or typed. Is Hitler back or what??? Let’s face it, our government is, has been and always will be corrupt unless “We the People” do something about it. Now is the time that something is done to let them know that we count and to get the f**k out of our lives. Remember that action speaks louder than words. It’s time for the action of the people. God Bless America… we sure need it now more than ever.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Alton J. Duderstadt II
October 30, 2011 at 11:57 am

Restricting the Internet in anyway is exactly what dictatorships and third world countries do to prevent access to information. Do we really want to head down this path?

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
CaptainCyberzone
October 30, 2011 at 11:58 am

How many laws are to many laws? Unfortunately the majority of people need protection from the parasites and other sociopaths and even from themselves.
As with everything that has been done before some enterprising mind will find a way around or through or over and brag to someone else and before long this “stop action” will be swiss cheese.
Don’t get your thong into a wad … life will go on … the challenge will be met and then it’ll be on to the next.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Dana Wagenhoffer
October 30, 2011 at 12:02 pm

Government needs to back off & stop there nonsense. I would like them to pay attention to the economy & jobs not to whether they can censor the public internet. Once again a couple representatives get bored and decide they must push there morals & values upon the people. Why not try doing your jobs & represent the people.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Imelda O. Suzara
October 30, 2011 at 12:05 pm

I deleted the Youtube videos I have which had been flagged or blocked for copyright reasons. These were of American musicals shown outdoors this summer in Toronto, and using Bacharach music to lyrics I wrote. I suppose as an artist I should respect other artists works although I also do media work. Only the original artist creator and/or producer who funded the work can post/broadcast/publish their own works. No more sharing copyrighted files online.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Paul Axford
October 30, 2011 at 12:05 pm

And so endeth the Internet

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
revolution
October 30, 2011 at 12:07 pm

No way should the government of one country control the information of the whole world… The world is already in the toilet due to American business and influence, it is a country founded for freedom but has been a mental prison and Zoo for caged humans for years now, and it’s influence has done more to destroy the world than help it. Now they seek to limit the freedoms of people world wide by censoring the last free place we have…. This world needs a Revolution!

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Goran
October 30, 2011 at 12:08 pm

You should include the link in your article to the petition:
FightForTheFuture.org/pipa

Reply
- Like (0) Dislike (0)
  Ronald
  October 30, 2011 at 12:55 pm
  
  Friends,
  
  It’s alive! And it’s a nightmare.
  
  The rumors were true: The new Blacklist Bill could effectively destroy YouTube, Twitter, and other sites that rely on user-generated content by making the sites’ owners legally responsible for content their users post.
  
  It also includes provisions that would make it a felony to stream unlicensed content — including cover band performances, karaoke videos, video game play-throughs, and more.
  
  It’s a grab-bag of Halloween goodies for a handful of big corporations — but for us it’s Frankenstein’s monster, cobbled together from half-born bills, set to suffocate free speech and innovation and terrorize consumers and Internet users.
  
  Will you click here to ask your Congressmember to oppose the legislation?
  
  http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/sopa/?referring_akid=a2267854.254388.5hzpqf&source=auto-taf
  
  Thanks
  
  Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Julius The Jules
October 30, 2011 at 12:16 pm

Tell these mother-f***ers no!!! We WILL block this bill, for if this bill passes, the American people should riot! Not just any riot, but a successful riot that will abolish the government completely!

Reply
- Like (0) Dislike (0)
  Musings
  October 30, 2011 at 1:51 pm
  
  They already are starting to riot. No jobs, no help and no funding of anything to even try and help as the greedy Hill (mostly republicans) and Corporations try to take it all.
  
  With the way this bill is written all you would see in an advertisement would be just a white picture with the title on it.
  
  Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Peter Kolar
October 30, 2011 at 12:22 pm

There should be no censorship on Internet, whatsoever!!!

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Russ Hudson
October 30, 2011 at 12:26 pm

This bill is going WAY too far. There is a significant amount of plagiarism and copyright infringement happening on the web – as a writer I know this first-hand, as my work is literally stolen every day and in large numbers. However, I’d rather be stolen from that have my freedoms taken away. This is just another example of the government exercising and more control over the people by fear-mongering.

We must pass this along wherever we can – Twitter, MySpace (that still exists, right?) Facebook, etc. If this bill passes we’ll be less American than we already are.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
J. Hill
October 30, 2011 at 12:28 pm

The eleven most frightening words in the English language, “Hi, I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.”

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Lance
October 30, 2011 at 12:36 pm

Hello I just got censored by webpronews(web_ADs_not_News) on FaceCrook
for trying to post below on YouTube back door advertisement con.
Ignore radio information and READ THE WHOLE PAGE for some real facts.
http://www.nucow.com/JYC.htm You will find JYC on lower part of sitemap also. Time to think different?

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Elaine
October 30, 2011 at 12:39 pm

I agree with Russ Hudson. The internet should not be regulated by a few who want to exercise more control over the people by fear-mongering.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
steve axelrod
October 30, 2011 at 12:44 pm

This is exactly why we created http://www.cryptext.us the cryptext OTP product. It prevents any type of censoring, snooping, eavesdropping and data gathering. Your information that you exchange with other people is yours and should not be censored in any way or used by any type of organization to sell or hurt you

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
ron
October 30, 2011 at 12:45 pm

Publishing the names and address email, photographs, details of the people behind the bill should make them think twice about putting it through, use every legal means this is the tip of the iceberg. point them out in the street to your children there are the people who are going to take away our freedom!…… You got the idea

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Jeovanni
October 30, 2011 at 12:55 pm

If people accepts that we will live like in China, and that’s what they want to do with us, they want to have the conteol over everyone, if we accept that now we will never be able to turn that back!

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Stephen G. Barr, Publisher
October 30, 2011 at 12:55 pm

No, they should not be allowed to censor the internet!!

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
AlanD
October 30, 2011 at 1:21 pm

Do the US government want to create a public backlash akin to what we are seing in North Africa?
Imposing censorship of free speech, for that is the true purpose of this bill, is in direct opposition to the American Constitution. True Americans should see this for what is is – state control of what we say in public, state control of what information can be made available for the public to read. What next? The Thought Police?
This is the not-so-thin end of the wedge.
Beware America, this could be your undoing!

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Mike
October 30, 2011 at 1:29 pm

This kind of collusion by those who do not respect individual rights is why we must be vigilant in sustaining the Second Amendment and our right to bear arms. The day is quickly approaching where individuals who believe in liberty and denounce tyranny will once again raise their voices and tear down the halls of government to proclaim freedom. Those who sponsor or support this type of legislation ought be hung from power poles across the country as an example of what the people will do to those who wish to be kings.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Granitskaerver
October 30, 2011 at 1:29 pm

It’s really disturbing that people allow the powers that be dictate what they can and cannot do.

We are not victims – we are the people of the planet with the real power, so don’t let 1% decide what the 99% are allowed to do.

Stop the bill and all equal tries to make slaves of the majority.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
mike o
October 30, 2011 at 1:32 pm

This is a bill that will hopefully never make it to law. It feels like the worst in censorship as the internet now plays a huge role in the lives of many people.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Richard O
October 30, 2011 at 1:33 pm

NO DAMN WAY!!!!!

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Brandon
October 30, 2011 at 1:36 pm

No!!! This is horrible. There will be backlash if that pass. We should be upset just because its up for vote, wheather it pass or not. There are people in our government that is extremely corupt.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Ruth
October 30, 2011 at 2:02 pm

No unfortunately we should not allow the government to be involved because it would give them a power over our speech. now I do not know just yet what we should do about things like slander & or pornography but maybe if we were given more opportunity to or better help in sewing when someone abuses us on the web that would be better. I one time was accused of copyright over a list of service names on my web site. the host company dropped our site for almost a month. caused us to almost lose our business, its taken now 3 years to regain the loss. We even had some death from it but of livestock so no way to sue because of us not having the money to do so.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
DW
October 30, 2011 at 2:07 pm

This has little to do with piracy and everything to do with preventing sites like wikileaks from being viewed…

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Alan
October 30, 2011 at 2:15 pm

I am a certified computer tech support tech and also own an adult website and others and some off line busuness’s as well. Along with an adult group n Yahoo and I do support some censorship, spam and hackers and some other things have become a bad rap on EVERYONE! But they do tend to hit certain industries more than others too! But it comes down to one thing! If your following the rules and laws and keeping things in perspective you really have nothing to worry about!

Reply
- Like (0) Dislike (0)
  Alan
  October 30, 2011 at 2:23 pm
  
  But I have to agree with many too, there are way too many corrupt people in government too, but like SSI and FIA, etc. if it wasn’t for those abusing the system to begin with years ago, they wouldn’t be cracking down so much now too! But just like the recession and money and job issues, it never seems to get noticed until it’s almost too late! And then everyone finally weants to do something! I know first hand on much of it too, after 3 years my GF went to the judge and was denied SSI and we need to start all over again! And she needs it too, unlike some!
  
  Reply
- Like (0) Dislike (0)
  Alan
  October 30, 2011 at 2:31 pm
  
  It’s also kind of hard to feel sorry for those who have lost it all and living beyond their means to begin with too! I am a recovering addict of almost 3 years and have worked my ass off to get to this point and not stopping either! Be thankful for what you got and don’t take things for granted!
  
  Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Paul Callaghan
October 30, 2011 at 2:15 pm

Why do governments try to impose 1950s responses to a 21st century problem? (As if freedom of speech is a problem!?) The NZ govt has already tried to do something similar which has apparently had absolutely no effect on internet usage here. Stop wasting money cozying up to the big corporations and get on with something we would all like to see – sustainable jobs and a fairer distribution of wealth. Isn’t that what governments are elected for?

Reply
- Like (0) Dislike (0)
  DW
  October 30, 2011 at 2:22 pm
  
  “a fairer distribution of wealth. Isn’t that what governments are elected for?”
  
  Um – that’s Socialism and Communism…
  
  Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
PeterCC
October 30, 2011 at 2:16 pm

Or is this TPTB doing some “tidying up” before the big debt for land swap, after which everything, but eveything that made America such a great nation will be history. Go for it guys, resist this, and end the fed. ( A comment from Africa.)

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Donald Duck
October 30, 2011 at 2:16 pm

False identity to protect my US Permanant Residency, but basically, US Government is so paranoid of a revolution from within that its scared of being the last to know there’s a quiet revolution. People of America wake up!! Please…………………

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Thomas Tripp
October 30, 2011 at 2:17 pm

If the government censors the internet, it does not respect the American freedom of speech under the Constitution of the United States of America. They will censor what THEY don’t like and allow what pleases them. The Holy Bible could be banned from the internet. It’s a very bad bill, a bad name, a bad idea and a sympton indicating the wrong direction of the USA and its government.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Alec Ward
October 30, 2011 at 2:21 pm

“….as long as American Internet users can access Facebook and Twitter, as well as throwaway nonsense like TMZ, they don’t seem to be very interested in informing themselves…..”

I think that goes for most Internet users worldwide.

With inequality of incomes widening and the chances of reasonable employment levels a long way off, the likelihood of an increasing ‘occupy’phenomena seem ever more likely. I presume this bill will be able to take down any site which is supporting this movement.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Jay
October 30, 2011 at 2:26 pm

And so begins Censorship of the world. Everyone is so tied up in their own little worlds that nobody gives a s*** about anything anymore.

This bill will pass because the ignorance in America is so overgrown that we are all screwed. They will succeed and we will all die if we don’t stand up and do something. Let us join those OWS and start protesting everything that’s wrong rather than focus on one issue. We need to be 10 steps ahead of our so called government. They don’t care about you and will keep taking your freedoms and liberty until there’s nothing left.

After that, get ready for the Concentration Camps and Nazi America.

I would do something if I was in a seat of power but their is nothing I can do. It doesn’t matter what we say or do, these politicians are just going to sit back and laugh when you try to solve the problem and get there way almost every time.

Anyone can write an 80 page bill and hide any rule they want and guess what. You wont see it unless you read very carefully because its one or a couple sentences in a big paper. Talk about abuse of power.

Bills should be limited to just a few pages because no one has time to read that many bills that have that many pages.

This is just another power grab that dooms us all. Once they censor the internet we have no other way of real communication. Then they will feed us even more lies once its censored.

Why Cant we the American People vote for this rather than rely on all of the power tripping Politicians make up our minds for us. I thought this was a democracy.

Not anymore because no one gives a flying f***.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Ryan
October 30, 2011 at 2:30 pm

Why is everyone surprised?
This government has ripped our Constitution to shreds and thrown it in our faces.
“The merger of state and corporation is fascism” – Mussolini

Reply
- Like (0) Dislike (0)
  Jay
  October 30, 2011 at 2:33 pm
  
  Well Said Sir.
  
  Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Mike
October 30, 2011 at 2:32 pm

Great, I’ll shut down my site, stop my internet service, and just use my computer to play games on. The people running this government are starting to piss me off!

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
T
October 30, 2011 at 2:32 pm

Gov’t by the corporations, for the corporations. Does this surprise anyone? Just as the suckpreme court allowed pacs and corps the ability to donate unlimited funds to their favorite gov’t employees (congress etc.), we the people will find ourselves in the dark as more info becomes censored.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Mike
October 30, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Government exists for two reasons … for the few privileged individuals to acquire wealth and power. It is a necessary evil. Want to minimize the evil, minimize government. Lock ‘n load, my friends. Time is of the essence.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Jamie Shipman
October 30, 2011 at 3:13 pm

absolutely not. we have freedom of speech. however most sites have moderators who should have the right to remove offensive material from their website, when it is owned by them.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Lydia Shelley
October 30, 2011 at 3:20 pm

This is actually what ANON is against, and why Anonymous joined Occupy Wall Street. Any restrictions or infringements in freedom, online or off, are cause for concern. But when language which purports to be for one purpose is just used to get a foot in the door to enact further restrictions, it is not just techies and search engines that should be concerned. The last thing we want is to end up with an Orwellian age in which only approved “truth” is allowed to be published… censorship of any sort is a slippery slope.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Joseph Keiper
October 30, 2011 at 3:27 pm

Just another way for the government to dumb down the masses and perpetuate the status quo. If they have control of the Internet they can control information. Information is power and they don’t want you to have it! Three things man needs: Food, Water, Information. Without those, we are doomed.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Bruce Rogers
October 30, 2011 at 3:45 pm

Next, they’ll be in your bedroom – stop bloody Governments from Nanny Stating us all – we are grownups, not toddlers. Leave the Internet alone!!

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Oliver
October 30, 2011 at 3:51 pm

Any way affected non-US citizens can protest?

This is worse than China, ffs who’s making up these bills? Companies in the US have enough power to remove infringing content, don’t you think?

Anyway, I remember some domain bill that never passed, let’s hope the same happens here.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Robert
October 30, 2011 at 4:02 pm

Saw the headline and I thought this article was about Bill Gates censoring the Internet.

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Paul X
October 30, 2011 at 4:03 pm

VPN services will become very popular. Not a bad result…

Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Enough is Enough
October 30, 2011 at 4:05 pm

Contact your senators NOW

http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

Tell them NO WAY! This US Government is out of Control, thanks to buttheads like this HUSSEIN OBAMA. STOP IT NOW

Reply
- Like (0) Dislike (0)
  Guest
  October 30, 2011 at 4:31 pm
  
  @Enough is Enough you BONE HEAD it’s the House of Representatives controlled by the REPUBLICANS that are the buttheads.
  
  Jeez some people !
  
  Reply
  - Like (0) Dislike (0)
    Sagatom
    October 30, 2011 at 5:27 pm
    
    It’s the entire government that is power hungry and out of control. Until we elect representatives and senators and presidents, who are not professional power hungry politicians, and who will respect and follow the Constitution, we will be subjected to Government control and censorship.
    
    Reply
Like (0) Dislike (0)
Tony
October 30, 2011 at 4:08 pm

“free market” capitalism only works when you corner the market and eliminate the competition.
The communist system IS already doing this…wait a minute…!?

Reply
- Like (0) Dislike (0)
  Tony
  October 30, 2011 at 4:12 pm
  
  P.S. on a personal note webnewspro, BANK OF AMERICA? Really…be carefully whose paying the bills…I’m just saying
  
  Reply