SOPA Blackouts: Free Speech or 'Abuse of Power'?

The unprecedented wave of "blackouts" and other forms of protest that swept the web on Wednesday was designed to call attention to legislation that critics contend will stifle free speech. But the dramatic move sparked debate over whether the protest itself was appropriate for websites that are often themselves arbiters of free speech online.

Among the thousands of lesser-known websites that blocked access to their content or posted statements against the House's Stop Online Piracy Act and its Senate counterpart, the Protect IP Act, were big names such as Wikipedia, Craigslist, and the online news aggregator Reddit.

But the names not on the list highlight a fine line for companies that depend on neutrality to maintain their credibility. While they oppose the legislation, Yahoo, Facebook and Twitter, whose CEO called the blackouts "foolish," decided to sit the protest out...