Cyber world war blackouts

So, the Texan Congressman Lamar Smith who first introduced SOPA has derided the blackout protest as a “publicity stunt”. He’s absolutely right. The puzzling thing is how can a politician be so dismissive of something as powerful as publicity? After all, public opinion is how politics works isn’t it?

Just a publicity stunt? Oh yes…

Wikipedia, WordPress, Google and hundreds more high-profile sites have joined the blackout protest against Protect IP and SOPA. This video pretty much sums it up:

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Millions have signed Google’s petition or got social media buzzing with Anti-SOPA sentiment. Not to mention all forms of media (new and old), petitions and phone calls.

In just a few days, a piece of previously unopposed legislation has seen supporting congressmen distance themselves and talk about the need to reform flaws in the bill. That, ladies and gentleman, is the result of a mere publicity stunt.

Blackout is a phrase associate with war. So are accusations of propaganda, censorship and threats to liberty. The battle lines are drawn… traditional entertainment moguls desperately attempting to repel the seemingly unstoppable digital insurgency spearheaded by Silicon Valley. Let’s see how you can go beyond naivety about the power of online PR further…

How to lose a PR war

1. Be sure that your opponents have the drop on you

The element of surprise is a well-known military asset which allows smaller forces to overcome more powerful ones. To be absolutely assured of defeat the best way is to not even realise you’re in a PR war. All that chatter on that internet thing… it’s not like it could effect governments is it?

2. Always underestimate the opposition

Especially if they’re those meek bunch called ‘the people’. History loves generals so full of confidence they can’t contemplate defeat, even as their heads literally rolled. Farmers are gentle country folk, don’t worry about where angry mobs get their pitchforks. Let them eat cake.

3. Be sure to arm your opponents

Be generous with the ammunition. Don’t worry about a thing – in this day and age what are the chances of something coming back to bite you? If you can open your mouth wide enough to put one foot in, then why not see if you can’t get both in there? For example… if you’re defending copyright (say you’re Lamar Smith), use unattributed images on your site.

4. Don’t waste time planning

Monitoring the situation? Making contingency plans? Reacting and managing crises? Why spend your time worrying about what others are doing or about things that might not even happen? Military history would be filled with this kind of bold strategy if only generals who followed it had survived to write about it.