Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is a co-sponsor of PIPA, the sibling legislation for SOPA, the awful one that still contains the provision that would allow our government to shut down websites accused—not convicted of—but accused of copyright infringement. Today, there was quite a large protest outside of her office! 1,000 people and a bunch of Internet luminaries were there.
As it turns out, Sen. Gillibrand has heard the voice of the people! And as such, she has taken to her page on (the SOPA-opposed) Facebook to say…
…’whatever,’ or the political speak for it:
Thank you for all your messages regarding Protect IP. I agree there are real concerns with the current legislation & I’m working to make important changes to the bill. We must work to strike a balance between ending online piracy to protect New York jobs & ensuring Internet freedom so our tech community can continue to flourish.
Those “important changes” have yet to include the omission of its most disturbing provision, the aforementioned one, let alone be specified. Remember, it’s a big political goose-egg to have the bill you co-sponsored fail, which no politician wants.
And before you ask, no: No official press release on her response to the widespread outcry against her legislation. Sen. Chuck Schumer has yet to use (the SOPA-opposed) Facebook to inform his constituents that he doesn’t really care about them, either.
fkamer@observer.com | @weareyourfek