DNS Blocking
It’s not just for totalitarian states anymore.The senate is getting ready for a procedural vote for a bill that allows DNS blocking of web sites. The Senate version of this bill is the “Protect IP Act” of 2011 (PIPA, S.968) and the House version of the bill is the “Stop Internet Piracy Act” (SOPA, H.R. 3261). This is the same type of blocking used by Iran, China and Syria. In an effort to crack down on internet piracy, the US government is putting into place unconstitutional, blanket infringements upon free speech. This law allows for blocking of completely legitimate, unaffiliated and unsuspecting websites because they share an IP with a piracy site. That’s kind of like being summarily locked out of your apartment and all of your belongings confiscated because the kid over in 4A was dealing drugs. The people who are voting on this bill probably don’t understand that. We have to educate them! Now! Before January 24th!
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Find your senators: US Senate Contact Page
Write a letter: (Sample below)
Dear Senator _________,
Please DO NOT vote in favor of the senate version of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA, H.R.3261), The Protect IP Act of 2011 (PIPA, S.968). The vast majority of internet sites share IP addresses just as the vast majority of city dwellers share apartment buildings. Shutting down offending IPs will arbitrarily deny other, innocent, citizens of their ability to engage in free speech. Blocking an entire IP because a single site has illegal material on it is analogous to being summarily locked out of your apartment and all of your belongings confiscated because the kid over in 4A was dealing drugs. SOPA/PIPA is far too broad. Please vote no.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
TOWN, STATE
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