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Why aren't we invoking the internet bat signal already? [1] [1] http://internetdefenseleague.org/ http://internetdefenseleague.org/

D9u 14y ago
Kind of late now, huh? The "Cat Signal" was activated prior to this debacle as a means to urge netizens to contact their elected representatives and garner opposition to CISPA. My elected representative voted no. Thank you Tulsi!
Udo 14y ago
That already happened. From the IDL release on March 19th: Dear Internet Defense League member, Last year, right on the heels of our historic victory against SOPA, a piece of really nasty legislation almost passed that would have radically undermined online privacy. It was called CISPA. And it raced through the US House of Representatives, passing before any of us had a chance to react. We stalled the bill in the Senate, but now CISPA is back, and we don't want to make the same mistake twice. Before there is *any* movement on the bill, we want to send a strong message to Congress that CISPA shouldn't pass. That's why we're partnering with the Electronic Frontier Foundation to launch an Internet Defense League action starting tomorrow, Tuesday March 19th. Can you participate? If so, get the code for your site here: http://members.internetdefenseleague.org The problem is that online activism seldomly accomplishes anything. But a more pessimistic point of view might also suggest that we don't stand a chance against this, because this shit will come back every year until it passes. It will pass in pieces because they have to hack it up into easily swallowable packets, but it will pass. Online privacy and freedom goes the same way as net neutrality, sadly.
- tocomment 14y ago
  I thought when activated it would black out all of the member sites. And I thought it had some big names like Reddit. But I don't remember anything special happening on March 19th. It must really not be working if someone like me who reads tech sites every day didn't notice it?
  - Udo 14y ago
    The reason this doesn't work is because the blackout would have to be invoked again and again, and sites are reluctant to do this because it disgruntles users. Lobbyists on the other hand have no problem introducing this kind of legislation a few times a year. We're already seeing resistance wearing off, especially since they're trying to be more gradual and fuzzy about introducing legislation that threatens the core of the internet.
- bensw 14y ago
  "If we let them persuade us we didn't actually make a difference, if we start seeing it as someone else's responsibility to do this work and it's our job to just go home and pop some popcorn and curl up on the couch to watch Transformers, well, then next time they might just win. Let's not let that happen"
- scott_s 14y ago
  Released where? I went to their webpage to find information on this, but I couldn't see anything. They said the call is out, but they only link to the member singup page, not actual information on the issue.
  - tocomment 14y ago
    Yeah, it seems like the whole idea really got watered down somewhere along the line.
- sinak 14y ago
  I'd love to have a meaningful conversation about how we can make online activism actually have an effect on Congress. Any takers? It seems to me like we need a new generation of tools that allow people to take actions that matter. Beyond relatively poorly designed click-to-call your congress person tools, we really don't have much right now. I think with better software we can do a lot more, but I'm still trying to figure out exactly what that'll look like. I'd love to hear HN's thoughts.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - visualcsharp 14y ago
    This isn't a tech problem. If you want meaningful change, organize hundreds or thousands of people to march in DC--you know, like they did before the Internet.
  - tocomment 14y ago
    I like your thinking! I have a few ideas. First and foremost I think the internet needs to focus on one issue at a time. Once you divide the activists the whole message gets blurred and no one cares. (Case in point, look at occupy wall street, what exactly did the protesters want??) Point two, it can't involve petitions, those are stupid and counter-productive. Point Three, activists like to be involved. Have a way for people to earn points contacting their representatives or helping the site in other ways and perhaps be able to use those points to vote on what issue to tackle next, or the actions presented for an issue? Really I'm picturing something like a cross between reddit and stack overflow geared towards political action. Power users can vote on issues, have meta discussions in the background, but normal users just see the one issue that's going on at the moment with a simple interface that explains the issue and has 1-3 meaningful actions they can take. My thoughts for the 3 actions could be: Call your representative, Request a pre-addressed envelope be mailed to you so you can write a letter in your own words, or donate money to pay for mailing the pre-addressed letters to people.
    - sinak 14y ago
- straight_talk 14y ago
  And the same way as individual freedoms and democracy ...
- anonymous 14y ago
  I don't really mind fighting the exact same shitty bill each year. Imagine if they start making new, shittier bills when their efforts fail!

D9u 14y ago

Kind of late now, huh? The "Cat Signal" was activated prior to this debacle as a means to urge netizens to contact their elected representatives and garner opposition to CISPA. My elected representative voted no. Thank you Tulsi!

Udo 14y ago

That already happened. From the IDL release on March 19th: Dear Internet Defense League member, Last year, right on the heels of our historic victory against SOPA, a piece of really nasty legislation almost passed that would have radically undermined online privacy. It was called CISPA. And it raced through the US House of Representatives, passing before any of us had a chance to react. We stalled the bill in the Senate, but now CISPA is back, and we don't want to make the same mistake twice. Before there is *any* movement on the bill, we want to send a strong message to Congress that CISPA shouldn't pass. That's why we're partnering with the Electronic Frontier Foundation to launch an Internet Defense League action starting tomorrow, Tuesday March 19th. Can you participate? If so, get the code for your site here: http://members.internetdefenseleague.org The problem is that online activism seldomly accomplishes anything. But a more pessimistic point of view might also suggest that we don't stand a chance against this, because this shit will come back every year until it passes. It will pass in pieces because they have to hack it up into easily swallowable packets, but it will pass. Online privacy and freedom goes the same way as net neutrality, sadly.

tocomment 14y ago
I thought when activated it would black out all of the member sites. And I thought it had some big names like Reddit. But I don't remember anything special happening on March 19th. It must really not be working if someone like me who reads tech sites every day didn't notice it?
- Udo 14y ago
  The reason this doesn't work is because the blackout would have to be invoked again and again, and sites are reluctant to do this because it disgruntles users. Lobbyists on the other hand have no problem introducing this kind of legislation a few times a year. We're already seeing resistance wearing off, especially since they're trying to be more gradual and fuzzy about introducing legislation that threatens the core of the internet.
bensw 14y ago
"If we let them persuade us we didn't actually make a difference, if we start seeing it as someone else's responsibility to do this work and it's our job to just go home and pop some popcorn and curl up on the couch to watch Transformers, well, then next time they might just win. Let's not let that happen"
scott_s 14y ago
Released where? I went to their webpage to find information on this, but I couldn't see anything. They said the call is out, but they only link to the member singup page, not actual information on the issue.
- tocomment 14y ago
  Yeah, it seems like the whole idea really got watered down somewhere along the line.
sinak 14y ago
I'd love to have a meaningful conversation about how we can make online activism actually have an effect on Congress. Any takers? It seems to me like we need a new generation of tools that allow people to take actions that matter. Beyond relatively poorly designed click-to-call your congress person tools, we really don't have much right now. I think with better software we can do a lot more, but I'm still trying to figure out exactly what that'll look like. I'd love to hear HN's thoughts.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- visualcsharp 14y ago
  This isn't a tech problem. If you want meaningful change, organize hundreds or thousands of people to march in DC--you know, like they did before the Internet.
- tocomment 14y ago
  I like your thinking! I have a few ideas. First and foremost I think the internet needs to focus on one issue at a time. Once you divide the activists the whole message gets blurred and no one cares. (Case in point, look at occupy wall street, what exactly did the protesters want??) Point two, it can't involve petitions, those are stupid and counter-productive. Point Three, activists like to be involved. Have a way for people to earn points contacting their representatives or helping the site in other ways and perhaps be able to use those points to vote on what issue to tackle next, or the actions presented for an issue? Really I'm picturing something like a cross between reddit and stack overflow geared towards political action. Power users can vote on issues, have meta discussions in the background, but normal users just see the one issue that's going on at the moment with a simple interface that explains the issue and has 1-3 meaningful actions they can take. My thoughts for the 3 actions could be: Call your representative, Request a pre-addressed envelope be mailed to you so you can write a letter in your own words, or donate money to pay for mailing the pre-addressed letters to people.
  - sinak 14y ago
straight_talk 14y ago
And the same way as individual freedoms and democracy ...
anonymous 14y ago
I don't really mind fighting the exact same shitty bill each year. Imagine if they start making new, shittier bills when their efforts fail!