This Is What a Wikipedia Blackout Looks Like

Just a few moments ago, Wikipedia went dark for the first time in its history for a planned protest of the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and its Senate version, the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA.)

When visitors land on Wikipedia’s main page, they’re still prompted to search as usual. But instead of a result, they’re greeted with an ominous, grayscale page that reads:

Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge

For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia. Learn more.

Contact your representatives.

Beneath that is a field prompting users to enter their zip codes and get the information to contact their local representatives to express support for blocking SOPA and PIPA, respectively. (SOPA is in the House, PIPA in the Senate.) It will be interesting to see how Wikipedia’s popularity influences constituent mobility, but Wednesday overall should be telling in how well internet action translates to real-life protest.

Have you contacted your local lawmakers to voice your opposition to SOPA and PIPA?

Comments

comments

Tags: PIPA, SOPA, Wikipedia Blackout

About the Author

Kim LaCapria Kim LaCapria is a writer and editor based in New York. A longtime information junkie, she began blogging full-time at the Inquisitr in 2009. Prior to that, she worked as a marketing assistant in the cosmetics and skincare industry. In addition to her writing for fortytwotimes, she also writes for Medacity and The Inquisitr. Kim is also a contributor for SocialNewsDaily, Indyposted, and TotallyMoney. In the past, she contributed to Lipstick and Luxury and managed social media accounts and blogs for several small and mid-sized businesses.