2012 Year in Review: Technology Pictures 2012 Year in Review: Technology Websites go dark to protest SOPA and PIPA The Internet sent a loud message to Congress in a coordinated blackout of websites on Jan. 18. to protest the anti-piracy bills, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA). It was reported that 75,000 websites took part in the protest. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. and House Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas ultimately shelved both bills in the Senate and the House.