The backlash against Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook over the company’s support for the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, otherwise known as CISPA, has been fairly quiet. Yes, the new media got ahold of it, but the public reaction has been muted.
Perhaps the only way people will give up their Facebook is when you pry it from their cold, dead hands.
Considering Facebook is supporting a bill, that, on the surface promises better cybersecurity, that’s probably a good enough for them to continue using Facebook while blindly support of Zynga and their “we like that game, so let’s make one exactly like it without giving credit to the original developers” ways. Hopefully, however, there are some that take a closer look at CISPA and realize the threat it poses in relation to intellectual property protection. Furthermore, if/when they do make that realization, their attitude towards Facebook and the company’s support of CISPA will change.
Does that mean a Facebook boycott/blackout is coming? If Demand Progress has their way, then a Facebook boycott may indeed come to fruition. With the new petition page, the activism organization is trying to inform the public about Facebook’s agreement, while discussing why it’s a bad idea. To do so, they feature the following incredible meme image of Zuckerberg, one that takes its cue from Scumbag Steve.
Nifty meme images are the not the only weapon in Demand Progress’ armory, either. To illustrate their point, they offer the following:
What is Facebook thinking? They’ve signed on in support of CISPA — the new bill that would obliterate online privacy, give the military crazy new abilities to spy on the Internet, and potentially let ISPs block sites and cut off users accused of piracy… Internet users were able to push GoDaddy to withdraw its support of SOPA. Now it’s time to make sure Facebook knows we’re furious.
The reason for Demand Progress’ anger is summed up perfectly by a featured quote from the Electronic Fronteir Foundation:
An ISP could even interpret this bill as allowing them to block accounts believed to be infringing, block access to websites like The Pirate Bay believed to carry infringing content, or take other measures provided they claimed it was motivated by cybersecurity concerns.
With that in mind, if Facebook’s support of CISPA continues, will your relationship with that service? Or will you terminate your Facebook account and move on to a life without Facebook smack coursing through your veins?
Conversely, if you’re one of the ones who simply can’t protest and/or leave Facebook, regardless of their CISPA support, what will it take for you stand up against those who support such dangerous measures? Or are you of the mind that, as long as your friends are on Facebook, you see no reason to be anything other than apathetic towards things like CISPA and SOPA?
Let us know what you think. If you’d like to sign the Demand Progress petition, you can do so here.