Let's all be clear here. SOPA is less about piracy and more about censorship.
The internet has evolved into becoming our only defense against people in power ( be they governments or corporations ) conspiring to keep the status quo by keeping information from us. SOPA is their attempt at confiscating this wonderful tool we have for organisation and spreading information.
This discussion is part of a larger debate as to the balancing act of affording unchecked power to a selected group of people. Keep in mind, the ideal of democracy allowing the replacement of these powers DOES NOT WORK in real life. THIS is the real root of the problem. This entire debate reminds me of the Lokpal bill debate going on in India. Essentially asking – How do you police the police?
That's just conspiracy talk. So the same U.S. government that created the internet, and opened it up to the public, is now trying to censor it? I think the politicians are acting honestly and with good intent: their goal is to prevent this tool for communication for being used for criminal purposes, and yes, digital piracy is a crime.
The government doesn't act as a collective unit. It is made up of individual actors, however, it is entirely possible that by making decisions with the best of intentions, they end up gifting certain elements a magic wand to censor any and all activity that may threaten their power.
It's true, you wouldn't call the guys who created the atomic bomb mass murderers, however that doesn't change the disastrous consequences of their actions!
The internet has evolved into becoming our only defense against people in power ( be they governments or corporations ) conspiring to keep the status quo by keeping information from us. SOPA is their attempt at confiscating this wonderful tool we have for organisation and spreading information.
This discussion is part of a larger debate as to the balancing act of affording unchecked power to a selected group of people. Keep in mind, the ideal of democracy allowing the replacement of these powers DOES NOT WORK in real life. THIS is the real root of the problem. This entire debate reminds me of the Lokpal bill debate going on in India. Essentially asking – How do you police the police?