The PIPA (PROTECT IP Act) and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) memes emerged from the massive 2011-2012 global protest against proposed U.S. legislation that threatened to grant the government and corporations broad powers to censor the internet. The visual language of the meme is defined by 'CENSORED' bars, blacked-out logos, and the 'STOP SOPA' banner. These memes were instrumental in the first major digital grassroots movement, leading to a massive internet blackout on January 18, 2012, involving sites like Wikipedia and Reddit. Today, they are used to symbolize opposition to overreaching digital surveillance and the defense of net neutrality and free speech online.