[Wikimedia-l] Update on the CISPA drafting process, and its significance to the Wikimedia movement.

[Alec Meta]

On Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 8:37 AM, Jussi-Ville Heiskanen
<cimonavaro at gmail.com> wrote:
> There have been drastic changes to the CISPA language, (and
> here "drastic" is an understatement).
...
> At this point I think *any* action by Wikimedia would be misinterpreted.
> There is no-longer any text there that would affect Wikimedia directly.

I think we should take our cues from the American Library Association.
  Wikimedia is really an outcrop of the Public Library movement.   If
the librarians oppose it, we are on solid ground opposing it to.
Indeed, we can justify our opposition merely by pointing to the ALA's
position--   Librarians are like the Military in the US-- everyone
loves librarians.

Going full black may not be justified, but releasing a statement of
some kind (or a small banner of some kind) might be appropriate.

Also, remember that we are a global organization.  If the US
'legitimizes' universal cyber-surveillance, it could have deep
ramifications for our readers editors living under authoritarian
regimes.  Even if the US is a good steward of these new powers, non-US
users are unlikely to be so lucky.

The language is reportedly in flux.  I strongly suggest taking our
cues from the ALA.   If they librarians oppose it, let us oppose it
too.