It's my life, you're just along for the ride!

Congress is currently debating the Stop Online Piracy Act, an effort  to stem copyright violations through federal legislation. But do lawmakers and American citizens, really understand what SOPA’s effect will be if passed?

Here are five things to know about the controversial bill as Tumblr takes a stand for “Web Censorship Day,” including how its vague language and encouragement of censorship could create online monopolies and how it will change sites like Google and services like PayPal.

via SOPA Should Be Stopped: 5 Things To Know About the Controversial Bill – Entertainment & Stars.

Imagine a country where the government is able to shut down Web sites at the slightest provocation, where elected representatives invoke fears of “overseas pirates” to defend the interests of domestic industries, and where Internet companies like Google must cave in to the demands of government censors or risk being shut down.

No, we are not talking about China, North Korea or Iran — we are talking about the United States, where legislators in both the House and Senate are attempting to push through new anti-piracy legislation by year-end that would benefit Hollywood at the expense of Silicon Valley.

via SOPA’s ugly message to the world about America and internet Innovation – Ideas@Innovations – The Washington Post.

Today, Congress holds hearings on the first American Internet censorship system.

This bill can pass. If it does the Internet and free speech will never be the same.

Join all of us to stop this bill.

via American Censorship Day November 16 – Join the fight to stop SOPA.

Congress may not want to hear from opponents of the Stop Online Piracy Act at today’s hearing, but that hasn’t stopped a broad coalition of (often fierce) competitors representing the Internet’s giants from placing an ad in today’s NYT, signed by Google, Facebook, Mozilla, Zynga, eBay, Twitter, Yahoo, LinkedIn, and AOL.

via Internet giants place full-page anti-SOPA ad in NYT – Boing Boing.

It’s called the Stop Online Piracy Act. It’s currently being discussed by the House Judiciary Committee. And a similar measure has already passed the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Either the people behind the bill don’t realize the horrible possibilities it would leave open, or they’re doing it on purpose. I’m not sure which possibility is more frightening.

via Stop SOPA – ComPost – The Washington Post.

The battle over controversial anti-piracy legislation reached fever pitch on Wednesday, as opponents of the House bill launched an advertising blitz ahead of a morning hearing.Supporters meanwhile brought union leaders, Hollywood, retailers and the law enforcement officials to a hearing during the day to argue for lawmakers to pass the legislation.Web giants Google, Facebook, eBay and AOL ran full-page advertisements in newspapers, including The Post, asking lawmakers to reconsider the legislation. Internet service providers, including Verizon, are also expressing concern with the bill.

via Battle over Stop Online Piracy Act reaches fever pitch – Post Tech – The Washington Post.