Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Ted Deutch Are Sponsoring the Bill That's Upsetting the Internet

If you go to Wikipedia's website today, you may cry after finding it's not giving out information today. The Google logo is also blacked out on that website, and Reddit and other sites are also blacking themselves out today.If you're looking for someone local to blame for any of your...

By Matthew Hendley

January 18, 2012

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If you go to Wikipedia's website today, you may cry after finding it's not giving out information today. The Google logo is also blacked out on that website, and Reddit and other sites are also blacking themselves out today.

If you're looking for someone local to blame for any of your internet-related problems, look no further than Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Ted Deutch.

That's because they're two of the 30 cosponsors of a House bill titled the "Stop Online Piracy Act" -- and the Senate side's bill, the "Protect Intellectual Property Act" -- which nerds have been freaking out about for weeks and the rest of the world is discovering today.

(But seriously, just Google "Wikipedia blackout workaround" if you really just can't handle all this.)

The thought, at least among the technology world, is that SOPA sucks.

The critics say it goes beyond its intention of stopping online piracy and, sparing you the technical mumbo-jumbo, gives the Justice Department and copyright holders unheard of power.

Click here for an infographic from the people behind "American Censorship Day" on how they believe SOPA and PIPA work, and/or check out the video below:

In Google's announcement of making its statement with the blacked-out logo, it explains that legislators could "order the blocking of sites using methods similar to those employed by China."

Google's a fan of the OPEN Act, as you'd have to suspect people working for Google know a little more about the interwebs than a congressman from Texas (Rep. Lamar Smith is SOPA's sponsor).

Moral of the story: Wasserman Schultz and Deutch may be getting a few calls to their offices today.

For bill texts, click here for SOPA and here for PIPA.

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