In protest of the two anti-piracy bills making their way through the U.S. Congress, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT-IP Act (PIPA), major websites such as Wikipedia and Reddit voluntarily blacked themselves out today. The sites hope that the blackouts will raise awareness about the potentially devastating effects the proposed legislation could have on the Internet, and drive users to urge their Congressional representatives to vote against the bills. Here’s what an Internet blackout looks like.

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Google

Google writes on its web site: "Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA. The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late."

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