If you’re reading this, there’s a huge probability that you found this because you were randomly looking up articles and found wikipedia to be mostly black, and containing a message you probably haven’t fully understood yet.

To the U.S., January 18, 2012 is the designated protest date by most online companies which are opposing the internet bill being passed to the senate: House Bill 3261, The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and S.968, the Protect IP Act (PIPA) which is in essence, meant to stop illegal trading of copyrighted products, be it media, or tangible items, online. However, in as much as the bill meant well to protect corporations, it also has the ability to put a stop on millions of websites if abused by lawmakers, and has the capacity to silence free speech. If you have the time, you can read this one-pager here.

Now while this is being deliberated in the U.S. for now, websites are now pulling down their opperations for 24-hours to create awareness this January 18th. Some of the confirmed participants are Google, WordPress, Reddit, and more.

Now, despite the excitement of people who are aware of what this message would bring, this would however not just create awareness to people in the U.S.–anyone who’s dependent on the internet would realize that in fact, this does not just concern the U.S., but has the potential to influence worldwide users. This will affect online-trading, livelihood, and worse–free speech. This may block access to pages which used to fuel our knowledge, taste, and lifestyle. No more new discoveries. It can be massive censorship. And before you even get started with this is only for the U.S., you can bet your ass it will happen to all the countries which trades with the United States. There’s a capacity to influence and intimidate if no law is replicated here.

A few weeks ago, I remember personally calling a local radio station (Magic 89.9) and asking if they are familiar of the on-going bill deliberation, and although the DJs are usually current-events familiar, they found themselves not educated about this scenario. In about a few hours more, however, this will trigger curiosity from the world. Because honestly–who doesn’t use Wikipedia?

This is one of the best ways to trigger the world. And now we ask, how will this affect us?



This is Wikipedia before the blackout 6 hours earlier:

English Wikipedia Site is set to blackout at 12mn of January 18, which is estimated 1PM Manila time. This is the most recent screenshot:

I can almost imagine it now, and it’s a very sad concept.

What do you think, Filipinos? How is this going to affect us and the free-speech of the world?