No Wikipedia today

Anyone who wants to use the English-language Wikipedia site today might have to look somewhere else for the information they need.

Wikipedia and many other sites are blocking their content for 24 hours to protest two bills that – if they become laws – could negatively affect how the internet works. The bills – called SOPA for "Stop Online Piracy Act" and PIPA for "Protect Intellecutal Property Act" – are meant to stop online piracy of copyrighted material, like music, books and movies, especially on foreign websites.

Many media companies in the US support the two bills – they say online piracy hurts Americans because the people who produce music and movies aren't getting paid for it.

Wikipedia says that while they don't want people to be able to get copyrighted material illegally, these two new laws could stop free expression and damage the way the internet works for users all over the world. Last month Google manager Bob Boorstin said that the law could mean the end of YouTube. "YouTube would just go dark immediately. It couldn't function."

Although Google still works today, the company is asking its American users to tell their representatives in Congress not to vote for SOPA and PIPA.