Wikipedia along with other sites, such as Reddit and Boing Boing, will be going dark on Wednesday January 18 2012 to protest Internet Censorship.
Specifically two U.S. bills are being protested SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act). SOPA and PIPA are meant to stop the illegal copying and sharing of movies, music and other forms of digital media on the Internet.
Major Internet companies and users say the bills would give government agencies the role of policing the online world.
Some of the biggest names online, including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, have vocally opposed the two proposed legislative bills that would aim to police the web and contradict the ideal of an open Internet.
Wikipedia’s founder, Jimmy Wales, says his site will go dark for the day on Wednesday, joining a budding movement to protest the two bills.
“If you want an Internet where human rights, free speech and the rule of law are not subordinated to the entertainment industry’s profits, I hope you’ll join us,” said Cory Doctorow of Boing Boing.