Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/AJSubscribeIn January 2012, two controversial pieces of legislation were making their way through the US Congress. SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, and PIPA, the Protect Intellectual Property Act, were meant to crack down on the illegal sharing of digital media. The bills were drafted on request of the content industry, Hollywood studios and major record labels. The online community rose up against the US government to speak out against SOPA, and the anti-online piracy bill was effectively killed off after the largest online protest in US history. But it was only one win in a long battle between US authorities and online users over internet regulation. SOPA and PIPA were just the latest in a long line of anti-piracy legislation US politicians have passed since the 1990s."One of the things we are seeing which is a by-product of the digital age is, frankly, it's much easier to steal and to profit from the hard work of others," says Michael O'Leary, the executive vice-president for global policy at the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).The US government says it must be able to fight against piracy and cyber attacks. And that means imposing more restrictions online. But proposed legislation could seriously curb freedom of speech and privacy, threatening the internet as we know it.Can and should the internet be controlled? Who gets that power? How far will the US government go to gain power over the web? And will this mean the end of a free and global internet?Fault Lines looks at the fight for control of the web, life in the digital age and the threat to cyber freedom, asking if US authorities are increasingly trying to regulate user freedoms in the name of national and economic security.Follow on Tumblr: http:/ jfaultlines.tumblr.comFollow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AJFaultLines Follow on Facebook: http://facebook.com/AJFaultLinesFollow on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AJFaultLinesSee all episodes of Fault Lines: http://www.youtube.com/show/faultlinesMeet the Fault Lines Team: http:/ je.me/ZhfAbHAt Al Jazeera English, we focus on people and events that affect people's lives. We bring topics to light that often go under-reported, listening to all sides of the story and giving a 'voice to the voiceless.'Reaching more than 270 million households in over 140 countries across the globe, our viewers trust Al Jazeera English to keep them informed, inspired, and entertained.Our impartial, fact-based reporting wins worldwide praise and respect. It is our unique brand of journalism that the world has come to rely on.We are reshaping global media and constantly working to strengthen our reputation as one of the world's most respected news and current affairs channels.Social Media links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com ljazeeraInstagram: https://instagram.com ljazeera/?ref=...Twitter: https://twitter.com jenglishWebsite: http://www.aljazeera.com/google+: https://plus.google.com/+aljazeera/posts
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