Today Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg voiced his personal opposition to the proposed SOPA/PIPA legislation, joining the ranks of fellow Internet powerhouses Google, Wikipedia, Craigslist and Reddit.
“The Internet is the most powerful tool we have for creating a more open and connected world,” writes Zuck. “We can’t let poorly thought out laws get in the way of the Internet’s development.”
Facebook is full of images and videos, many of which violate copyrights. Users peruse the news feed and their friends’ walls for content. When they find images or videos that they “like,” they share them to their walls and their friends’ walls. They’re not thinking about whether or not this content violates copyrights, and what posting it to their wall would even mean. No, Facebook users are too busy thinking about what they “like.” In 2011 alone, Facebook users shared 30 billion pieces of content every month.
Many people use Facebook to express themselves creatively. Freedom of expression doesn’t usually coincide with copyright laws, especially for artists who use appropriated imagery in their work, which is currently being protected under Fair Use law but would be wiped out completely if SOPA/PIPA passed.
Facebook’s Washington DC office echoes Zuck’s statement while acknowledging the fact that much content on Facebook violates copyright laws. “Facebook takes online piracy and copyright infringement very seriously, but we believe the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) are not the right solution.”
