Anonymous Calls for CISPA Internet Blackout Day

Summary

In a throwback to January 2012, when internet giants united against SOPA and PIPA, today's digital landscape faces a new threat with CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. Following its passage in the House, Anonymous has rallied for an internet blackout to protest this legislation, which could undermine online privacy by allowing companies to share user data with the government without warrants. While the White House has indicated it may veto the bill, public outcry remains crucial as government control over the internet grows. The video calls for viewers to engage in the conversation and make their voices heard against CISPA.

Takeaways

• 😀 The internet community united on January 18, 2012, to protest SOPA and PIPA.
• 😀 Major websites like Reddit, Google, and Wikipedia participated in the protests.
• 😀 The protests were effective, leading to the withdrawal of proposed legislation.
• 😀 Anonymous is calling for a similar protest against CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act.
• 😀 CISPA passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 288 to 127.
• 😀 The bill permits communication service providers to share user data with the government without a warrant.
• 😀 Concerns have been raised about the vague language in CISPA that threatens user privacy.
• 😀 The Electronic Frontier Foundation warns that CISPA could allow corporations to bypass privacy contracts with users.
• 😀 The White House has indicated it would veto CISPA if it reaches President Obama's desk.
• 😀 Public protests are essential to express concerns over government actions related to cyber security.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the internet protest on January 18, 2012?

The protest aimed to oppose SOPA and PIPA, two proposed bills that threatened internet freedom and privacy, with numerous websites participating in a blackout.

What is CISPA, and why is it being protested?

CISPA stands for the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, which allows the government to access personal online data. It is protested because it threatens privacy by enabling corporations to share users' personal information without warrants.

Which organizations joined the 2012 protest against SOPA and PIPA?

Major websites such as Reddit, Google, Mozilla, Wikipedia, Flickr, Twitter, and Tumblr participated in the protest.

How did the public respond to the protest against SOPA and PIPA?

The protest was effective, leading to a significant outcry that resulted in the proposals being shelved.

What specific powers does CISPA grant to the government?

CISPA allows the government to access and share personal data from users' emails, text messages, and cloud storage without needing a warrant.

What did the Electronic Frontier Foundation say about CISPA?

The Electronic Frontier Foundation highlighted that CISPA's vague language could allow for extensive sharing of personal data, undermining existing privacy contracts between users and companies.

What potential consequences did the speakers foresee if CISPA were passed?

They expressed concerns about the loss of privacy, likening the situation to 'Big Brother' surveillance, where user rights could be disregarded.

What stance did the White House take regarding CISPA?

The White House indicated that it would veto CISPA if it reached President Obama's desk, suggesting a level of opposition to the bill.

How did the passage of CISPA differ from the earlier bills SOPA and PIPA?

While CISPA passed with significant support in the House, corporations were less opposed to it compared to the widespread backlash against SOPA and PIPA.

What was the call to action for viewers at the end of the video?

Viewers were encouraged to voice their opinions on CISPA in the comments and to report on any websites participating in the blackout.