Companies Praised for “Blackout” to Oppose Laws Undermining Online Speech

Google, reddit, Wikimedia, and other online services were widely recognized for standing up for freedom of expression by serving as ringleaders for an online “blackout” in opposition to two highly controversial 2012 Congressional bills, the Stop Online Privacy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act. The bills, nominally designed to combat copyright infringement, were described by critics as “damaging free speech, Internet security, and online innovation.” After the blackout helped shelve both bills, the press praised the companies for leading the fight and standing up for freedom of expression.