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Lamar Smith, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives, is the author of the Act, which calls for tough new measures to tackle online piracy, such as forcing ISPs to block access to websites and requiring firms like PayPal to stop taking payments for allegedly infringing websites.

 

The proposals have garnered a lot of opposition, including from big names like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia and Reddit, the latter of which is proposing a blackout day in protest. These firms, and dozens like them, claim that SOPA will result in widespread internet censorship, which will cripple the internet, stunt the internet economy, and lead to substantial job losses.

 

 

"It is amazing to me that the opponents apparently don't want to protect American consumers and businesses," Smith told Reuters. "Are they somehow benefiting by directing customers to these foreign websites? Do they profit from selling advertising to these foreign websites? And if they do, they need to be stopped. And I don't mind taking that on."

 

Some have criticised Smith for his hypocrisy in opposing the awarding of more powers to the federal government, while proposing that the government should have sweeping powers over the internet, seen by many as the last free marketplace.

 

Smith said he would fight for the Act and believes it will be passed. It will likely faced further opposition, however, and popular opinion and protests might help avoid the introduction of internet censorship in the US.

 

Source: Reuters