(Image source: webpronews)

BY EVAN THOMAS

ANCHOR CHRSITINA HARTMAN

It’s official: starting at midnight Wednesday, the English-language Wikipedia will drop offline for 24 hours.
The reason?  To protest -- SOPA -- the Stop Online Piracy Act working its way through Congress.
KNXV has the details.

“It’s a protest over anti-online piracy bills that Congress is considering. Wikipedia says the bills would make Internet censorship easier. Supporters say the legislation would crack down on online thefts of movies, music and other content.”

The English Wikipedia has more than 16 million registered users, and countless unregistered visitors. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales circulated a warning on Monday via Twitter.

“Do your homework early. Wikipedia protesting bad law on Wednesday!”

Speaking of Twitter, not everyone thinks the blackout movement is the right answer.
One Twitter user wondered aloud if the microblog service would follow Wikipedia’s example and go dark for the day.

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo says -- no way.

“Closing a global business in reaction to single-issue national politics is foolish.”

The Next Web agrees, suggesting Wikipedia find an alternative which doesn’t lock anyone out of the site.

“...why not banners explaining that SOPA is bad and encouraging users to speak out against it. This could be done without the removal of a global resource for those in need of it.”

Question is -- will lawmakers on Capitol Hill even pay attention?  Technologizer says, not by themselves...but...

“...how would they react if even a small percentage of us who do care about Wikipedia were moved by the blackout to call our congresspeople and voice opposition to SOPA?”

Wikipedia is one of several websites blacking out in protest. Reddit, Destructoid and LOLcats archive Cheezburger Network will also go dark at midnight on Wednesday.