Canadians would be affected if online privacy laws proposed south of the border get passed by Congress, free speech and privacy advocates say.
The laws – The Stop Online Piracy Act and the PROTECT IP Act, known as PIPA and SOPA – would require Internet Service Providers to block access to any site accused of posting, or linking to, copyrighted content. It would also force search engines from removing the offending sites from their databases and prevent advertisers from giving the site their business.
Critics say the law would make media companies judge and jury of copyright infringement, rather than having the process resolved in court. They also say it’s a blatant attack on freedom of expression.
“The goal in many ways of SOPA is to reach beyond the borders of the United States,” said Michael Geist, a University of Ottawa law professor and copyright expert. “It’s Canadian sites and sites around the world that would find themselves a target for these kinds of actions.”
The proposed law would do this because, Geist explains, it is written so any website domain name registered in the United States is treated as if it were a U.S. page — The Gazette’s website included.
Because Canadian and U.S. copyright laws differ, a website could be taken down for breaking U.S. provisions, without running afoul of Canadian law.
In the U.S., there were protests in the streets of New York City., Seattle and San Francisco on what was known as Black Wednesday. Internet companies such as Wikipedia and Reddit shut down parts of their websites for the day, and provided links to anti-SOPA and PIPA sites, as well a way for people to advocate on behalf of open Internet and free speech.
Sharon Polsky, the chairperson of the Canadian Association of Professional Access and Privacy Administrators, said she’d like to see similar protests going on here. She said not only would PIPA and SOPA affect the Canadians, but there is a slew of other legislation being prepared by the Conservative Government that would violate the privacy of most Canadians.
“Canadians have not taken up the gauntlet and made themselves aware of the laws that will affect their personal freedom,” Polsky said.
Subject: Introduction to SOPA PIPA ... GENERAL KNOWLEDGE !! 
Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:06 pm
