[HWR_14]

In 2012 a coordinated action by 100,000 sites (including major platforms like Reddit, Wikipedia and Google) all went dark for 24 hours to protest SOPA, which was successful in killing the bill. Some only changed the color scheme and added a message but others shut down.

[tekknik]

> which was successful in killing the bill

the protests had no bearing on the outcome of the bill. most of us didn’t even know they were taking place.

[evolve2k]

Sorry what?! I was in Australia and even from here it was obvious it was happening. Maybe go back refresh your mind on old HN posts. Sorry not meaning to be rude but the digital protests of the day were very significant. Lots of media coverage and site blackouts and banners and average punters waking up to the interruption. Stacks was going on. You can even watch Internets Own Boy doco where it’s covered.

[tekknik]

having lived through that period and relying on the internet to do my day job i didn’t notice.

also if you look at the history of the bill, there is no mention of public opinion at all. They shelved the bill due to lack of agreement.

[lolinder]

Well, speak for yourself, not "most of us". On 01/18/2012 the HN front page was basically nothing but SOPA/PIPA content:

https://news.ycombinator.com/front?day=2012-01-18

As for your claim they had no effect, that's not what the sources from the time say—on the day of the protests 13 senators announced their opposition, including 5 former co-sponsors:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/01/pipa-support-col...

When you lose five co-sponsors in one day and that day happens to coincide with the internet shutting down, I don't find it very credible to try to claim that there was internal dissent all along.

[cableshaft]

I very much noticed. It was all over pretty much every major site. I'm surprised to hear of anyone online that day that didn't notice.