Wikipedia has blacked itself out. Google is doing its bit. So are numerous other sites. Kanika Sikka and Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri give you the lowdown on the draconian internet law, which if passed, will change the face of the internet.

Why is Wikipedia blacked out today?

Wikipedia is staging a public protest today to garner support for its opposition to the anti-piracy measures proposed in the United States Congress.

The move is to protest against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) Bill, which is aimed at combating issues like illegally copied films and TV content and and the proposed PROTECT IP Act (PIPA).

In a statement, Wikipedia said if the proposed legislation is passed, it 'would be devastating to the free and open web.'

Over 1,800 Wikipedians discussed the proposed actions the community wanted to take against SOPA and PIPA and came up with the decision to blackout the site for 24 hours, like other websites opposing the laws.

In his statement, the executive director of Wikimedia Foundation said, "Our concern extends beyond SOPA and PIPA: they are just part of the problem. We want the Internet to remain free and open, everywhere, for everyone."

In the pic: Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation