Wikipedia & Other Sites Will Go Black at Midnight
By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: January 17, 2012
When the clock strikes 12 tonight, some of the Internet's biggest websites will go dark.
The Wikipedia community says it will black out the English-language Wikipedia for 24 hours to protest the anti-piracy bill.
The anti-piracy bill is slowly making its way through Congress.
Websites like Wikipedia say the proposed legislation if passed can seriously damage the free and open Internet.
But many Central New Yorkers Eyewitness News spoke with has mixed emotions about the bill.
"Wikipedia revolves around the research methods of students," says one Utica College Student.
The Stop Online Piracy Act or SOPA and the Protect IP Act or PIPA are under consideration in Congress.
Both bills are aimed to crack down on copyright infringement. But, some Internet companies fear these bills will betray U.S. Policy and advocacy of Internet freedom.
That's why Wikipedia and other websites like Reddit plan to shut down as a way to protest the proposed legislation.
If both bills pass, it will allow the government to temporarily shut down websites that violate copyright laws.
One Utica College student says the anti-piracy laws will be pointless.
"No matter what you do people are going to look for different ways of obtaining information. People will find a way to actually get it," says Anthony DeLarosa, a senior at Utica College.
But, other students like Amanda Massey say the bills seem appropriate.
"I feel that if people don't pay for music and other things it can hurt other artists and others. You can search anything free but I feel you have to pay for everything," says Amanda Massey, a junior at Utica College.
The proposed bill was designed to protect the film and music industry.
Wikipedia says everyone should have access to educational material on a wide range of subjects - even if they cannot pay for it.
