With over 75,000 websites participating in the protest against SOPA and PIPA, 15 U.S. Senators (including sponsors) have dropped support for the proposed SOPA and PIPA acts. Real notice was taken when Wikipedia, Reddit, Newsboiler, BoingBoing, WordPress, Mozilla, and other sites suddenly went offline as part of the overall plan of protest. Many people, including college students, were forced to find out more about the proposed acts after their essential services went all black.
According to Google’s Policy Manager, Derek Slater, over 4 million people signed the petition via a link posted on their search home page. At least 13 million people read the message as well. The EFF has also tallied up statistics saying that over 250,000 placed calls to their respective state representatives. The effects of the protest were clear given how many government websites died under the load of traffic spikes. As a result of all this, various Senators who were once pro-SOPA/PIPA have now switched sides.
Senator Roy Blunt (Republican – Missouri) – “We can find a solution that will protect lawful content. But this bill is flawed & that’s why I’m withdrawing my support. #SOPA #PIPA”
Senator Olympia Snowe (Republican – Maine) – “Sen. Snowe would not vote for #PIPA in current form, says spokesman. Entire ME delegation opposes proposed Internet regs”
Senator Marco Rubio (Republican – Florida) – “In recent weeks, we’ve heard from many Floridians about the anti-Internet piracy bills making their way through Congress. On the Senate side, I have been a co-sponsor of the PROTECT IP Act because I believe it’s important to protect American ingenuity, ideas and jobs from being stolen through Internet piracy, much of it occurring overseas through rogue websites in China. As a senator from Florida, a state with a large presence of artists, creators and businesses connected to the creation of intellectual property, I have a strong interest in stopping online piracy that costs Florida jobs.
“However, we must do this while simultaneously promoting an open, dynamic Internet environment that is ripe for innovation and promotes new technologies.
“Earlier this year, this bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously and without controversy. Since then, we’ve heard legitimate concerns about the impact the bill could have on access to the Internet and about a potentially unreasonable expansion of the federal government’s power to impact the Internet. Congress should listen and avoid rushing through a bill that could have many unintended consequences.
“Therefore, I have decided to withdraw my support for the Protect IP Act. Furthermore, I encourage Senator Reid to abandon his plan to rush the bill to the floor. Instead, we should take more time to address the concerns raised by all sides, and come up with new legislation that addresses Internet piracy while protecting free and open access to the Internet.”
Senator Jim DeMint (Republican – South Carolina) – “I support intellectual property rights, but I oppose SOPA & PIPA. They’re misguided bills that will cause more harm than good.”
Senator Tom Coburn (Republican – Oklahoma) – “The theft of intellectual property is a significant problem but I cannot support SOPA/PIPA legislation as it stands. Letter several of my colleagues and I sent to Senate Majority Leader Reid stating our concerns.”
Senator John Boozman (Republican – Arkansas) – “Over the past few weeks, the chorus of concerns over Congressional efforts to address online piracy has intensified. I can say, with all honesty, that the feedback I received from Arkansans has been overwhelmingly in opposition to the Senate bill (S.968, the PROTECT IP Act) in its current form. That is why I am announcing today that I intend to withdraw my support for the Protect IP Act.
“I will have my name removed as a co-sponsor of the bill and plan to vote against it if Majority Leader Reid brings it to the floor in its current form.”
Senator Jeff Merkley (Democrat – Oregon) – “Protecting IP is important, but we need to carefully tailor the solution. #PIPA and #SOPA don’t cut it.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski (Republican – Alaksa) – “Senator Murkowski says PIPA was envisioned as a way to fight intellectual property theft online, but says the bill raises serious concerns about civil liberties. Senator Begich also issued a statement, saying that The theft of intellectual property and copyrighted material is a serious problem and solutions should strike an online balance between creativity, property protection and Internet freedom.”
Senator Scott Brown (Republican – Massachusetts) – “I’m going to vote NO on #PIPA and #SOPA. The Internet is too important to our economy.”
Senator Mark Kirk (Republican – Illinois) – “Freedom of speech is an inalienable right granted to each and every American, and the Internet has become the primary tool with which we utilize this right. The Internet empowers Americans to learn, create, innovate, and express their views. While we should protect American intellectual property, consumer safety and human rights, we should do so in a manner that specifically targets criminal activity. This extreme measure stifles First Amendment rights and Internet innovation. I stand with those who stand for freedom and oppose PROTECT IP, S.968, in its current form.”
Senator Orrin Hatch (Republican – Utah) – “That’s why I will not only vote against moving the bill forward next week but also remove my cosponsorship of the bill. #utpol #tcot #PIPA”
Senator Ben Cardin (Democrat – Maryland)
Senator John Cornyn (Republican – Texas) – “Texans have soundly rejected the ‘pass now, learn later’ approach that we saw with Obamacare, and the potential impact of this legislation is too far-reaching to ram it through Congress in such an abrupt way.
“Stealing content is theft, plain and simple, but concerns about the internet and free speech necessitate a more thoughtful, deliberative process.”
Senator David Vitter (Republican – Louisiana) – “I won’t be supporting the Protect IP Act (PIPA or SOPA as it’s called in the House of Representatives) because, though I’ve been pushing hard on both internet freedom and national security concerns, they still haven’t been fully addressed. It’s a real mistake to press forward with a flawed bill now. It will only endanger ever properly dealing with the very real problem of internet piracy.”
While they have expressed a change of support, the faith of PIPA at least won’t be known when it goes up for debate. Let’s hope more senators change their mind and vote against the bill. The overall consensus is that Internet freedom cannot be compromised just to tackle piracy.
Google plans to continue its protest all day tomorrow and many other big names are still spreading the word (without a major blackout though). There are still many sponsors and politicians pushing for the bill, so let’s see what happens from here.
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