Today, Congress is holding hearings on two bills that could establish the first institutionalized censorship of the Internet. The Protect-IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) are meant to fight foreign websites dedicated to copyright infringement or counterfeiting. But in practice, they give corporations broad powers to shut down web content sites that they don’t like.
In response, the blogging site Tumblr is working with Mobile Commons to mobilize people to call their US Representatives and voice their opposition. Go to Tumblr’s Protect the Net page now, submit your phone number and address, and you’ll receive an automated phone call from Tumblr founder David Karp, giving you the talking points, and connecting you with your representative.
Advocacy phone calls are one of the most effective ways to influence Congressional opinion and effect real change. While Tumblr doesn’t have a history of advocacy, they recognize the importance of these bills, and are therefore working to provide people the tools to speak out on this vital issue.
They’re also joining an array of internet pioneers like Facebook, Google, AOL, Twitter and many, many more. Read their open letter to Congress and learn more about the issue. Then go to Tumblr to Protect the Net.