SOPA: Kill the Internet

Two days ago, ten thousand websites protested against the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, known as SOPA, which seeks to control and stop piracy on the Internet. In an unusual fact, some covered their owners, others "hung" messages to declare their opposition to the project and others, like Wikipedia, suspended their services for 24 hours.

The main idea of the act is that, which was exhibited in the United States Congress aims to, among other things, investigate, prosecute and disconnect from the world wide web pages or companies that are accused of uploading content without permission, which is subject to copyright laws within and outside the country.

Many people do recognize the need for legislation in this respect and are aware that there are private individuals and companies who profit from the pirated content they get from the web, while ignoring the issue of legal implications: respect copyright and intellectual property. And, no doubt, deeply hurt the original work of video, musical, and literary products.

We believe that the investigation, prosecution, and trial of suspected cases of piracy and violation of copyright is the responsibility of each individual Government in accordance with the laws of each country, or based on agreements previously signed between various nations.

The digital switch was visibly an issue that goes beyond the voluntary suspension of services on the web. Raised, from our point of view, two questions: What law prevails in Internet issues: freedom of expression or copyright? And where interference begins and ends each government to protect these rights?

Both are civil rights, and as such implied duties, but from there to the U.S. Congress to decide which is the best policy beyond its geographic boundaries, there is still much to discuss and evaluate. Just think of the consequences that this rule could lead to businesses who are legitimately constituted.

Hence the strong opposition of digital empires like Google, Facebook, and Twitter, which would take the brunt of the possible adoption of SOPA, would have to verify the accuracy of its users who share links across the web, or blocked in any country, on behalf of an order issued by the Department of Justice of the United States.

This raises another concern: an initiative such as SOPA does not break with the essence of the spirit of the Internet and its purpose of sharing information? Of course, without infringing intellectual property or gaining compensation for sharing pirated files, the Internet is mainly recognized for that use.

Open debate is valuable and necessary, but as such scenarios require time, reflection, and analysis. This is a soup that still needs to be cooked, and if collective, it will turn out to be much better.