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SOPA Countdown

A live counter of the time since the January 18, 2012 internet blackout — the protest that stopped SOPA and PIPA.

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sopacountdown.com remembers the January 18, 2012 internet blackout — the protest that stopped SOPA and PIPA — with a live counter of the time since. It also has a general countdown timer and a New Year countdown. Free, in your browser.

Note for the record: SOPA never passed. The blackout is widely credited with defeating it.

Why it still matters

The SOPA/PIPA blackout is a defining moment in internet history — a rare case of the online public halting major legislation. Our guides cover what the bills proposed, how the protest was organised, and the legacy it left for digital-rights activism.

From our guides

Browse all articles →
SOPA & PIPA explained What SOPA Would Have Done to the Internet A factual look at what SOPA would have done to the internet: DNS blocking, search delisting, payment and ad cutoffs, and the security and free-speech risks critics warned about. 6 min read SOPA & PIPA explained What Was PIPA? The PROTECT IP Act Explained A clear explainer on the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA): the Senate anti-piracy bill of 2011, what it proposed, how it differed from SOPA, and why it was ultimately shelved. 6 min read SOPA & PIPA explained What Was SOPA? The Stop Online Piracy Act Explained A factual explainer on the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA): what the 2011 bill proposed, who supported and opposed it, the criticisms it drew, and why it never became law. 6 min read The 2012 blackout Why SOPA Failed: How the Internet Won An analysis of why SOPA failed: the coordinated blackout, broad tech-industry opposition, technical criticism, and public pressure that collapsed the bill in days. 6 min read Countdown timers How to Make Your Own Countdown Timer A step-by-step guide to making your own countdown timer for any date, event, or cause, with practical setup tips, sharing ideas, and inspiration from the SOPA anniversary. 6 min read Internet activism Internet Activism After SOPA: The Movement It Sparked How internet activism grew after SOPA: the tactics, campaigns, and organizations that emerged from the 2012 blackout and reshaped the ongoing fight for digital rights. 6 min read Digital rights history The Legacy of the 2012 SOPA Blackout How the 2012 SOPA blackout left a lasting mark on digital rights: the tactics it pioneered, the movements it inspired, and the questions it left unresolved. 5 min read Digital rights history Timeline of SOPA: From Introduction to Defeat A complete timeline of SOPA and PIPA, from their introduction in 2011 through the January 2012 blackout to their defeat, with every key date and event explained. 6 min read

Frequently asked questions

Did SOPA actually pass?
No — it was shelved days after the January 18, 2012 blackout and never became law. The counter marks the time since that protest.
Is sopacountdown.com free?
Yes — free, no signup, no download.
Can I make my own countdown?
Yes — use the countdown timer for a custom duration, or watch the New Year countdown.