SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) is the latest attempt to censor the internet. Fueled by the U.S. government and corporations, it will allow ISPs to censor websites they don’t deem ‘fit’. This will include illegal downloads but also extreme opinions and personal blogs, shifting the power of the internet from the individual to major corporations. It will also tremendously hurt video gamers.

The European Union has luckily decided to support freedom of speech and oppose SOPA. These are very good news but the war is not yet won. While some petitions aim to convincing the White House that the people want a free, uncensored web, some initiatives are more aggressive; Forbes recently reported of a group of users attempting to build a new internet platform which big brother will not be able to control.

When the radio was invented, it allowed open communication in a way never before seen. Individual ham radios began broadcasting thoughts that were sometimes too extreme for the authorities, which in term decided to limit radio waves and thus preventing anyone but financially capable companies from utilizing the device. If we don’t act quickly, the same will happen with the internet.