It is no secret that SOPA and PIPA have sparked a worldwide, multi-media controversy. As further amendments have continued to delay the resolution of the bills, new threats have risen as a result. However, in the midst of it all is perhaps a greater moral dilemma.
Kim Dotcom, owner of the multi-billion dollar site Megaupload, is now faced with potentially 20 years in prison for an assortment of crimes. While his involvement in these crimes has not been disputed, many individuals are beginning to question to the integrity of the justice system.
While Dotcom is being made an example of by the global community, thousands of pedophiles and sex offenders are walking free with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Granted, I understand the wide variety of crimes which can lead to a “sex” crime (i.e. urinating in public), however, there are far too many offenders who have brutally assaulted another individual and have not been reprimanded for their acts.
The hypocrisy of the internet is perplexing as individuals such as Julian Assange who have exposed corporations and government agencies are made out to be criminals while Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, is deemed “Man of the Year” after selling users’ private information to corporations for profit.
Often forgotten is Phillip Greaves, the author of “The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure: A Child-Lover’s Code of Conduct.” In 2010, Greaves published this “how-to” guide and sold copies via Amazon.com. Protected by the freedom of speech, the guide explained how to rape and molest young children in great detail and illustration. Additionally, the book featured how to properly groom and prepare children for sexual acts and how to teach them to lie to their parents after. Greaves received two years probation and did not have to register as a sex offender.
Perhaps even more disturbing is the story of Junko Furuta, a 17-year-old Japanese girl who was horrifically tortured for 44 days. Her captors brutally raped and mutilated her for over a month and for their crimes received eight years. They are currently walking free amongst the rest of society.
Similarly, Joran Van Der Sloot, the main suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway recently admitted to murdering Stephany Flores. Van Der Sloot’s infamous ties to international crimes have made the worldwide community aware of the need for unifying policies and cohesion.
While the governments of the world have banded together against piracy, unspeakable crimes are being committed against their citizens. They are more unified against the idea of losing monetary funds than the protection of their people. The cyber world has deeply disturbed the morals and integrity of individuals as the intangible has become more important than the livelihood of those who use the internet.
Dotcom is certainly not the villain that the media has made him out to be when compared to individuals such as Joran Van Der Sloot and Phillip Greaves are victimizing real individuals in the real world.
