Protest Via Plugin: Facebook Users Bring The Fight To Lamar Smith's Website

from the sometimes-you-'get'-social-media-and-sometimes-the-social-media-gets-you dept

Wed, Jan 18th 2012 12:05pm — Tim Cushing

As the front mouth of SOPA, Lamar Smith isn't taking any more chances with his website. After the whole "I swear this picture was already here when I got the site" debacle, Smith's new site isn't taking any chances. Why, you can't even send a disgruntled email to the man unless you have a zip code in his district. That would be fine if his legislation only affected the people in the 21st Congressional District of Texas, but not so fine if you're shepherding through a bill that affects not just the contiguous 48 states, but the entire world, if deployed as intended.

But, despite all this lockdown and proper image sourcing, Lamar forgot about the single thing he wants to regulate most: the internet. Like anyone wishing to appear "connected" (and that includes congressmen who don't want to hear from anyone but specific Texans), Smith has installed a Facebook plugin on his site, so that with a quick glance, incoming visitors can see just how well-"Liked" the congressman actually is.

And just like that, all his best laid plans start unraveling:

How's that social media thing working for you now, Congressman? Looks like this whole Facebook protest-by-proxy is just another "gimmick."

By the way, here's a quick link to the Senator's Facebook page as well as a few (hundred!) images that will make your stance on the issue crystal clear. You know what to do.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: blackouts, lamar smith, pipa, protect ip, protests, sopa
Companies: facebook

26 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Dementia (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:14pm

I just used the address and zip code of his San Antonio office. :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:17pm

Tim this is your "My Bad?" moment of the day
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dementia (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:18pm

and that search result shows 220,000,000 results
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:22pm

The captain sinks with his ship.

Now evacuate the USS SOPA in an orderly fashion, please.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John Doe, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:23pm

Now you see why they want to regulate the internet and speech
They can't control the internet so they want the power to regulate it and speech on the internet. Oh sure, this bill on the surface looks like it is about piracy and counterfeiting, but it gives the MPAA/RIAA what they want while at the same time allowing the government to shutdown anyone and everyone they don't like.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:24pm

Re:
Where the USS SOPA = Titanic, yes? We can only hope.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Gwiz (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:29pm

Re:
The captain sinks with his ship.

Well, unless your an Italian cruse ship Captain that is.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ArkahnX (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:42pm

Lamar Smith's Website
Somehow the first thing I read on Lamar Smith's website is this: "Creating Jobs and the President's Plan
We know what will help create jobs in this country �lifting the burden of regulations that is strangling small businesses."

Isn't that exactly the opposite of what he is trying to do with SOPA and PIPA?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:46pm

Epic, I have a screenshot of my profile pic trolling his website that I will cherish forever.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:47pm

Re:
That's exactly what I did when I sent him an email expressing my displeasure with his bill (along with pointing out how ridiculous it was for him to limit his incoming email to only those in his congressional district).
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:53pm

Re: Lamar Smith's Website
No.

Because the general population is evil and needs to be regulated and controlled by the government. Corporations are good and cute, and they need freedom to do whatever they want.

Gee, try not to make such dumb questions next time, ok?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
clouser, 18 Jan 2012 @ 1:05pm

lamar smith
Love this Mike, just brilliant, cool protest strategy
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 1:07pm

Re:
I just thought more people should "Like" Lamar Smith... [devilish grin emoticon]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 1:09pm

Re:
I underexaggerated.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
gorehound (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 1:17pm

I have created a Boycott Big Content Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Big-Content/263292897069799
Just trying to do something about this in my own way as well.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
chad holbrook, 18 Jan 2012 @ 1:26pm

Use the office address
Use the office address in south Texas that all those patent trolls use. That would wrench two issues that I have with Texas.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
johnny canada, 18 Jan 2012 @ 1:41pm

If he only accepts contacts from his local area so should his political funding come from his local area.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DOlz (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:17pm

Re: Re: Lamar Smith's Website
Corporations = Cute harmless bunnies

Everyone Else = A pack of ravenous wolves that want to destroy them.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MahaliaShere (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:44pm

I almost wish I had a facebook account so I could participate with spreading the message... almost. The kind of people I used to be "friends" with are exactly the kind of people who need to be informed about these issues the most... But three months was quite enough for me.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:06pm

Re:
Damnit Mike, you got me to go to Facebook for the first time ever. I even had to temporarily unblock my NoScript Facebook block.

Damn, damn, damn.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ron d, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:20pm

re senator
And now his facebook page is down...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dementia (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:03pm

Re: Use the office address
That office address is in East Texas, not South Texas.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dementia (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:04pm

Re: Re:
That would be Tim, not Mike.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:00pm

Re: Re: Re:
You are correct. Nothing meant against Tim. In my exasperation I made a stupid assumption.

Though it is Mike's website, and it is HIS fault that Tim is posting.

I think I still blame Mike.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 11:27pm

Anyone else who kept refreshing his site hoping for 3 Trollface in a row ?
That shit was almost as addictive as playing slotmachines.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Gary, 19 Jan 2012 @ 10:42am

Re: Now you see why they want to regulate the internet and speech
It's about control and I believe fear of American Spring.
[ link to this | view in thread ]