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Anti-SOPA Groups Galvanized by Victory

The unlikely collection of Internet companies and web activists came together last week to kill anti-piracy legislation. With their newly minted clout, what will they conquer next? If you put the folks behind Wikipedia, Reddit and Google together in a room, they may not agree on much. But last week, these sites and multitudes of Web users were spurred to collective action against two Congressional bills (SOPA and PIPA) many claimed would’ve censored the Internet.  

By Lindsey Peacock /

Anti-SOPA lobby | BCBusiness
Rival companies, including Wikipedia and Reddit, came together with Internet users last week to kill anti-piracy legislation. What will the unlikely allies tackle next?

The unlikely collection of Internet companies and web activists came together last week to kill anti-piracy legislation. With their newly minted clout, what will they conquer next?

If you put the folks behind Wikipedia, Reddit and Google together in a room, they may not agree on much. But last week, these sites and multitudes of Web users were spurred to collective action against two Congressional bills (SOPA and PIPA) many claimed would’ve censored the Internet.
 
What’s even more surprising is the unlikely allies quashed the anti-piracy legislation with a single day of online protests.
 
The New York Times poses an important question this morning: What will the assortment of rival companies, Internet users under 30 and digital rights activists do with this newfound power?
 
The overwhelming response against SOPA sent a strong message. The group’s lobbying clout should have opponents quivering. But can any other issue unite them in the same way SOPA did?
 
This generation of Internet whizzes and new media companies may now be realizing they’ve taken certain rights for granted (i.e. free and open exchange via the Internet), and they’re waking up to their own political power. I would imagine that sort of new consciousness won’t stay suppressed for long.