Join EFF and websites across the world in protesting the dangerous censorship legislation currently pending in Congress. 

On January 18^th, EFF will join websites across the world in standing up against the proposed blacklist bills (SOPA in the House and the PROTECT IP Act in the Senate).  EFF is calling on websites to be part of the protest by blacking out their logos, posting statements opposing the bills, and linking to our action center.  Websites are also encouraged to follow the powerful examples of Reddit, Wikipedia and others by “blacking out” their entire site for a day. If you do choose to take down your website in protest, please be sure to post a message about why you oppose the blacklist bills and consider linking to the EFF action center so site visitors can take the next step and contact Congress.

On the 18^th, EFF will censor our banner logo and black out the background of eff.org. We’ve also created a new activism platform at http://blacklist.eff.org. Sites are encouraged to direct traffic here so users can contact Congress to make their voices heard in opposition to this misguided censorship legislation.

The blacklist bills are dangerous: if made into law, they would hamper innovation, kill jobs, wreak havoc on Internet security, and undermine the free speech principles upon which our country was founded. But deep-pocketed lobbyists are trying to ram this legislation through as quickly as possible, hoping elected officials will turn a blind eye to the widespread opposition to these bills. We can’t let that happen.

January 18^th is just the beginning. We’re also gearing up for a day of action on January 23^rd  when the Senate will be back in session and getting ready to vote on the Protect-IP Act, SOPA’s sister bill.  We’re calling on digital activists and Internet users everywhere to call Senators on the 24^th and voice their opposition to this censorship legislation. Despite the chorus of opposition from human rights advocates and the tech community, Senators are still trying to push through this dangerous censorship bill. We need all hands on deck to make sure that doesn’t happen.

If you love the interactive, speech-friendly, decentralized digital world of the Internet as much as we do, then please join us in fighting these dangerous bills.

Useful links for the black out day:

EFF’s action center for contacting Congress.

Fight for the Future’s petition to the State Department (great for individuals outside of the United States)

EFF’s activism toolkit for fighting the blacklist legislation

EFF’s one-page guide about the blacklist bills (PDF). Print it out and leave copies in local coffee shops and libraries, or stop by the offices of elected officials and leave them a copy.

If you are on Facebook, RSVP to our Senate call in day on January 23rd to protest the PROTECT-IP Act.

CDT’s list of voices opposing the blacklist bills.

On Twitter, please use hashtags: #SOPA, #PIPA, #Blacklist, #SOPABlackout, #J18