The Internet Defense League meme originates from a real-world protest movement launched in 2012 by organizations like Fight for the Future and Reddit. Modeled after the Bat-Signal from Batman, the 'Cat Signal' was designed as a rallying cry for websites to unite against legislation that threatened internet freedom, such as SOPA and PIPA. While it began as a serious tool for activism, the iconic glowing cat silhouette quickly became a symbol of internet culture's collective power. Today, users employ the template to defend niche online communities or to ironically signal for help when a specific website or service is experiencing changes.