CISPA has just lost one of their most powerful backers – Microsoft.

Woo!

Microsoft say that any law must allow them “to honor privacy promises” they make to their customers.

And since CISPA is about complete control (let’s not pretend otherwise) of online communication, data gathering ‘on tap’, it doesn’t leave any room for that old-fashioned ‘privacy’.

Good move from Microsoft. I can only hope that other big players do the same, out of common decency for their clients, if not for the good of all (including themselves, ironically).

Despite the uproar, despite the protests, despite the world’s biggest online companies blacking out their websites… the CISPA bill was passed through the US house, because Mr Obama threatened a veto.

Nice.

So now we have a cyber law, an excuse to take down any website that doesn’t adhere to the a b or c that the self-appointed referee proclaims is ‘the way’.

Can you see the opening here? Can you see the megalomaniacs rushing toward it?

We may as well just give Hollywood the right to suppress the copyright laws until forever (they’re having a good try now).

The bill was rushed through of course, whist any useful bill requires 5 years or so to hit the mainstream.

It’s here now, anyway.

CISPA is watching you.

Finally, the much anticipated Google Drive is here.

But what took them so long!

As of now you can join the list and get notified when it becomes available to you.

It was clear 12 months ago that Google is favouring localising their search engine as much as possible – a move that hurts online retailers and information marketers who’s success depends on their global reach.

Localisation makes no sense on the World Wide Web.

I would suggest segmenting search: having a dedicated local search engine to cater for genuine searchers of local providers, thus protecting the larger portion of searchers who are not interested in local sources.

If I search for a carpet online, I don’t need the provider to be a local seller. On the contrary, I expect to have the choice of the best carpet sellers on the globe. And why wouldn’t I? If I’m using the World Wide Web, I expect to have access to whoever wants me to discover them.

Localising search engine results is crazy. If the first three pages of my search returns local carpet sellers… how much choice can I possibly have?

An to add a twist of irony, my local carpet dealers may be sourcing the carpets from Asia.

This is not about the middleman (most e-tailers are middlemen and women) but rather about having to pay inflated costs to cover my local carpet sellers brick and mortar costs (rent, storage, light, wages etc) when I could be buying from an e-tailer anywhere in the world (even next door to me, but without a physical local shop) who does not have these extra costs to pass on to me.

There is nothing wrong with the local market – we need that as much as a the virtual market – but if I want something from my local carpet seller, I’ll be visiting him (or her) in person.

Giving me a bunch of local results every time I search for something takes away from my experience (Google are big on user experience, are they not…) and makes it much harder for me to reach anybody I want when and where I want.

This video beautifully shows what will take place if nobody does enough, and this law is passed.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

* Thanks to WordPress for posting this video.

Visit their website and add yourself to the fight: http://wordpress.org/

Tim Berners-Lee, the man himself, is opposed to this unthinkable proposal by the US congress.

Earlier today, Berners-Lee retweeted a post against the Protect Intellectual property Act (PIPA). The retweet stated: “We need you to stand with the Internet and kill PIPA.” The post came from the pressure group, act.demandprogress.org/act.
Source: http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240113528/Tim-Berners-Lee-supports-campaign-against-US-PIPA-and-SOPA

Google also are against the US congress’s proposal to legislate the Internet. Their US portal – google.com – apparently shows a blank banner or strip in support.

Eric Schmidt said that Google would not support the bill if it were to be passed. He said: “”If there is a law that requires DNSs to do X and it’s passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President of the United States and we disagree with it then we would still fight it.” … “If it’s a request the answer is we wouldn’t do it, if it’s a discussion we wouldn’t do it.”
Source: http://www.ghacks.net/2011/05/19/google-stands-against-protect-ip/

Google has signaled that the company is prepared to oppose the major film and music companies as well as Congress and the president of the United States on a controversial bill designed to thwart online piracy.
Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20063963-261.html

Another blogging community joins the fight:

See here: http://www.livejournal.com/

Internet giant WordPress joins the fight.

See here: wordpress.org

Internet censorship will affect you wether you are a casual Internet user, or a business owner.

On January 24th, the U.S. Senate will vote on the PROTECT IP Act to censor the Internet, despite opposition from the vast majority of Americans.

Don’t let this happen.

What can YOU do?

Add your name here: https://blacklists.eff.org/