What would happen if all the ISP's simply switched off the internet for a day? As a protest, a strike against SOPA if you will.
Or if Google simply shut down it's service for a day? And Youtube, and Facebook et al.
It's an outlandish proposition, but not as outlandish as SOPA.
Governments need to understand that they don't control the internet. The people that do could switch off their parts of it, and in these tricky economic times, a co-ordinated strike by the major players would send a very clear message.
"Back off, or we'll grind the country to a halt and it'll cost you billions".
These politicians are playing dirty tricks. Their mind was made up a long time ago. They'll not be beaten by due process and fairness.
Poetic, but trust me it wouldn't work. All it would do is push 90% of the country to back the government more. The average Joe already fears the amount of control computers systems have over his life. Both parties would play that fear like a piano.
It's one thing to strike when you are the "poor downtrodden factory worker", it's entirely another thing when you are a bunch of "rich white collar smarties trying to control the world".
Then don't do a site like Google. Maybe wikipedia, or something educated people use, that will make news in a more correct way: it's being done as a statement, etc.
Sadly, "educated" people aren't the people you need to make aware of this.
By "educated", I'm not inferring that that "un-educated" people are stupid or ignorant, simply un-aware of the issue by virtue of not being part of "that world". I would hazard a guess that people with a passion for Wikipedia are probably the kind of people who already know what SOPA is and why it's a batshit crazy idea.
I don't think a company like Google could do that even if the top brass wanted to. It wouldn't fly with share holders, would likely be a breach of fiduciary duty etc. It's another great sounding idea that just won't happen.
Not commenting on whether or not this is an effective idea, but it won't be a breach of fiduciary duty as it actually protects shareholder interests in the long(er) term.
Or if Google simply shut down it's service for a day? And Youtube, and Facebook et al.
It's an outlandish proposition, but not as outlandish as SOPA.
Governments need to understand that they don't control the internet. The people that do could switch off their parts of it, and in these tricky economic times, a co-ordinated strike by the major players would send a very clear message.
"Back off, or we'll grind the country to a halt and it'll cost you billions".
These politicians are playing dirty tricks. Their mind was made up a long time ago. They'll not be beaten by due process and fairness.