Uploaded November 2016 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
In 2011 the US government tried to enact more sweeping online copyright protections. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) would have provided copyright holders with new and more powerful mechanism for restricting access to websites that posted copyrighted content. Ad networks could be prevented from working with infringing sites, search engines could have been forced to remove them from search results, and internet service providers could have been forced to block their users from accessing them. Opponents, however, found many aspects of the bill to criticize, particularly its limits on free speech and the way that it would enable and even require internet censorship. Despite bipartisan support, after online protests led by many prominent websites, the bill was shelved.
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://www.bluegroup.systems) production.
In 2011 the US government tried to enact more sweeping online copyright protections. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) would have provided copyright holders with new and more powerful mechanism for restricting access to websites that posted copyrighted content. Ad networks could be prevented from working with infringing sites, search engines could have been forced to remove them from search results, and internet service providers could have been forced to block their users from accessing them. Opponents, however, found many aspects of the bill to criticize, particularly its limits on free speech and the way that it would enable and even require internet censorship. Despite bipartisan support, after online protests led by many prominent websites, the bill was shelved.
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://www.bluegroup.systems) production.
