Yes, apparently very big names in internet technology are talking about doing just that.
Imagine what it'd mean if for a day, a week, or more when people went to Google they got a big, obvious warning that their was an effort to get rid of Google, to restrain them, to turn Google into a kind of cop, etc. Imagine nice, location-based service being used to tell them just what Congressperson to call, and some helpful numbers.
Imagine it happening on several big sites like, say, Amazon.
This is a subject, that, apparently, has been broached among SOPA opponents. The nuclear option.
Will it get to that? In my opinion, no. Partially because SOPA seems to be on the rocks, partially because SOPA is now an embarassment that is easier to make go away and then bring back.
But the fact it's even being discussed is important:
- It shows that some companies/sites/orgs are willing to even consider the threat. That's huge – it's essentially turning their entire business model into a lobbying model. Discussing that is alone revolutionary.
- It could be done easy. Here's the funny thing with these internet businesses – they can turn their sites into protest sites with a few coders, a day of work, and little effort. This is equvalent to a restaurant change being able to completely alter their signage, restaurant layout, and employee greeting within 24 hours worldwide. The internet-based businesses can adapt a lot quicker to get their message out as the site is the source of contact.
- If something like this happened, rather oddly, it may bring up Net Neutrality issues big time. That could, ironically, be a win-win for some companies – but means the nuclear option can get used once. Which is kind of assumed.
- In no way do I think a lot of politicos or lobbyists get what the nuclear option would mean. I've often talked about things going "meme" recently, and these sites could indeed create a meme-system about SOPA, Protect IP, and more. These companies can influence thought very quickly, and that's not being considered by politicians.
- A nuclear option like this would work once, and then politicians (and SOPA supporters) would essentially freak out. At that point unless they were cowed (which I'm not sure would happen), it'd likely result in open political warfare – then again, that may play to the advantage of the anti-SOPA crowd.
- Keep in mind this option could be used for other political reasons in the future.