There is a bill In Congress That Would Allow Governmental Shutdown of Websites?

 

A bill giving the government the power to shut down Web sites that host materials that infringe copyright is making its way quietly through the lame-duck session of Congress, raising the ire of free-speech groups and prompting a group of academics to lobby against the effort.

A bill titled "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA)" was introduced in Congress this fall by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT). It would grant the federal government the power to block access to any Web domain that is found to host copyrighted material without permission.

Critics say the bill is both a giveaway to the movie and recording industries and a step towards widespread and unaccountable censorship of the Internet.

Opponents note that the powers given the government under the bill are very broad. Because the bill targets domain names and not specific materials, an entire Web site can be shut down. So for example, if the US determines that there are copyright-infringing materials on You Tube, it could theoretically block access to all of 

You Tube, whether or not particular material being accessed infringes copyright.

If this passes, then you know what’s next, China-style censorship for content the government doesn’t like.

 

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