You may have noticed that popular sites such as Wikipedia and Reddit have temporarily shut down today in protest of two pending pieces of legislation, SOPA and PIPA. What are these bills, and how do they affect legalization activists?

SOPA stand for H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act, and PIPA stands for S.968, the Protect IP Act. “IP” stands for Intellectual Property, which refers to content that is protected by trademark and copyright laws. This legislation is dangerous because it gives the government the ability to shut down any website that is suspected of violating copyright laws.

The intention of these bills was originally to prevent illegal downloading of movies, TV shows and music. However, SOPA and PIPA are so broadly written that their passage threatens the complete freedom of the internet. Sites based on user submitted content, like Facebook and Youtube, would be the hardest hit by these laws because the government would have the power to shut down entire sites if they contain even one link to copyright infringing content.

The freedom of the internet is vital to the freedom of our country. The freedom of the internet is fundamental to the type of social activism DFW NORML is dedicated to carrying out. In recent years, the internet and social media sites have been essential for the type of widespread organizing needed to plan mass protests and political uprisings. DFW NORML uses the internet and social media sites every day to reach fellow activists, to educate about laws and legislations, and to encourage those who want to change laws to speak out.

We are dedicated to spreading the truth about the failure of prohibition and the need for cannabis law reform. Countless other grassroots groups use social media to work for positive change as well. If SOPA and PIPA pass, we are in danger of losing the largest and most effective platform we have to help us work for change. Of course we do not advocate the violation of copyright laws, but SOPA and PIPA reach too far beyond that goal. They threaten the very freedom of the internet as we know it.

Visit www.AmericanCensorship.org to find out how you can get involved.