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Net Companies Consider the "Nuclear Option" To Combat SOPA

Posted by samzenpus on from the in-today's-sopa-news dept.

Atypical Geek writes "Alec Liu of Fox News reports that Amazon, Facebook and Google are considering a coordinated blackout of the internet to protest SOPA, the Stop Online Privacy Act being debated in Congress. From the article: 'Such a move is drastic. And though the details of exactly how it would work are unclear, it's already under consideration, according to Markham Erickson, the executive director of NetCoalition, a trade association that includes the likes of Google, PayPal, Yahoo, and Twitter. With the Senate debating the SOPA legislation at the end of January, it looks as if the tech industry's top dogs are finally adding bite to their bark, something CNET called "the nuclear option." "When the home pages of Google.com, Amazon.com, Facebook.com, and their Internet allies simultaneously turn black with anti-censorship warnings that ask users to contact politicians about a vote in the U.S. Congress the next day on SOPA," Declan McCullagh wrote, "you'll know they're finally serious."'"

5 of 507 comments (clear)

  1. Such an option is going to cause panic... by vikingpower · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...not among politicians, but among all the kiddies who can not communicate anymore but via Facebook. Under-18 Doomsday guaranteed.

    --
    Religous speak to God. Insane are spoken to by God. When all shut up, one can finally hear Shostakovich in peace
    1. Re:Such an option is going to cause panic... by Rakarra · · Score: 5, Funny

      Make it global from day 1. SOPA would be a problem not just for Americans, but for everyone.

      I'm pretty sure that if Google, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Wikipedia all went down for a day, even Washington would realize that SOPA can't stand.

      I'm not sure, you have to balance the dislike for having those sites down... against the amazing productivity gains that would result! If they all went down for a day, we'd have flying cars, cold fusion, and warp drive the next day.

      But I didn't think the actual sites would be down, just the front pages.

  2. Re:Editing fail by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Alec Liu of Fox News reports that Amazon, Facebook and Google are considering a coordinated a coordinated blackout of the internet to protest SOPA, the Stop Online Privacy Act ... *SNIP*

    PIRACY act, it's the Stop Online PIRACY act. Talk about a grammar failure. /GrammarNazi.

    Are you the same guy that keeps pointing out that Micro$oft is not actually spelled with a dollar sign?

  3. Re:Pot calling the kettle black by Chrisje · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have to second what the AC said below. That is the most idiotic thing I've heard in a long time.

    You're really asking us what the difference is between choosing not to say something or having your government making sure you don't say a given thing? If you are a US citizen AND you would say such a thing, I suggest you print out your Constitution and Declaration of Independence and henceforth use it to wipe your ass with.

    Wow.

  4. In our darkest hour -- a savior will return by Krishnoid · · Score: 5, Funny
    They came after his candidacy ... and he stood down.

    They came after his planet ... and he started working to find a solution.

    Then they came after his child.

    Nobody comes after his child.

    GORE

    Summer, 2012.