Blackout provokes US lawmakers to jump the anti-pirate ship

Yesterday’s Internet blackout on anti-piracy legislation made an impact. Eight U.S. lawmakers withdrew their support for the controversial Stop Online Piracy and Protect I.P. Acts. Most prominently Republican Marco Rubio who co-sponsored the Senate bill.

The legislation targets the sharing of pirated copyright material internationally. Those found guilty could face up to five years in prison.

Critics of the legislation include major online sites Facebook and Google, but it was Wikipedia that made the largest statement by blacking out its website for all of Wednesday. They say the bills would infringe on the free and open Internet. The US News website Politico said seven thousand other sites also participated in the blackout. 

According to the BBC, the U.S. Senate could vote on one of the Acts as early as next week.