Canada’s Own PIPA Problem: Bill C-51

The Montreal Gazette ran a piece on the upcoming Bill C-51 that will be introduced to Parliament shortly.  All Canadians should read the article and be prepared to advise their Member of Parliament of their distaste for laws which enact totalitarianism.  Our country needs to avoid the American trap of limiting freedom in the name of safety!  To quote the Gazette:

Entitled Bill C-51, “an Act to enact the Investigating and Preventing Criminal Electronic Communications Act and to amend the Criminal Code and others Acts,” the law would require Internet service providers (ISPs) to install equipment that would allow them to monitor and preserve the Internet surfing activities of their customers. The providers could then be asked by police to collect and preserve surfing data of anyone suspected in engaging in criminal activity.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Bill+could+allow+police+view+people+surfing+habits/6139134/story.html#ixzz1mBjF2A3h

And for even more analysis of Bill C-51, check out http://404systemerror.com/bill-c-51-investigative-powers-for-the-21st-century-act/

Keeping the Heat on SOPA with Super SOPA Bros

Here’s an axiom: The Interwebs are filled with talented and creative folks.  The many ways that people found to express their distaste for the U.S. Congress’ attempt to censor the great Al Gore Superhighway are evidence of this, and none more so than the many games developed to showcase the epic fail that is SOPA.   In that spirit, be sure to check out the SOPAJam at Ludum Dare, where you discover games such as Super SOPA Bros., SOPA Invaders, or even Congress Chainsaw Massacre.  The multipage list of games submitted by talented game creators can be found here: SOPAJam.  Enjoy, and don’t forget that though they lost this round, the sponsors of the SOPA/PIPA legislation will be back.  They always come back.  Be vigilant!

The Anti-SOPA Internet Blackout

We’ve survived Hitler spoofs, lolcats, and youtube viral videos, but will a group of American lawmakers bring a totalitarian heel down upon the largest surviving bastion of intellectual freedom on Earth?  The two key words you need to know are SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act), of which much has been written.  Please take a moment in your busy schedule to read more on what the US Congress is up to, and why.

If you are a US citizen, let me say without exaggeration that it may be one of the most important bi-partisan issues of your lifetime.  Don’t let it happen!

In just a few short hours from the point I’ve typed these words, a unique and widespread Internet-based protest will shut down significant portions of the the Interwebs, rendering the sites themselves dark with links to information on the American attempt at limiting and regulating the mighty Al Gore.   These sites include the US Wikipedia sites and google’s homepage.  Needless to say, large websites do not take this kind of action lightly, and speaks volumes to the seriousness of the situation.

More information on this can be found here, http://sopacountdown.com or from any casual google search on the topic.