On Wednesday, users of popular websites such as Wikipedia and Reddit may notice something different – no content.
The New York Times reports today that several sites are blacking out their content for 24 hours as an online protest against two U.S. Congressional bills they say amount to censorship and will hurt online businesses.
The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) would require search engines and sites to block other sites that offer or publish links to copyrighted material.
Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, offered the Pirate Bay as an example. If the bills pass, Wales says Wikipedia could compose an entry on the history of Pirate Bay, but could not provide a link to the file-sharing site. He says it's a "First Amendment issue."
Wikipedia estimates the blackout of its English site, beginning at midnight Eastern time Tuesday and ending at midnight on Wednesday, will affect up to 100 million people. Users visiting the site will see a banner providing more information on the bills and offering ways to contact their Congressional representative.
Reddit will also blackout its site, and WordPress, the blogging platform site, has built widgets for users to post on their blogs expressing their anti-SOPA sentiments.