Senator Harry Reid Caves: PIPA Postponed

After a day of widespread online protests against a pair of bills in Congress, 122 members of Congress came out against them. Now make that 123 (and counting).

Both bills have now been tabled. Hearings on the Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA) had already been cancelled, but the Senate’s Protect IP Act (PIPA) was still scheduled for a vote. This morning the sponsor of the bill, Senator Harry Reid tweeted: “In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday’s vote on the PROTECT IP Act”

Support for the bills as written has crumbled in a matter of days. Even all four Republican presidential candidates at the most recent South Carolina debate all spoke out against the draconian measures the bills would institute. As Newt Gingrich said when asked why he was against the bills: “I’m for freedom.”

Read all our SOPA-PIPA coverage here.

Update: It seems as though Senator Chuck Schumer has decided to chime in, as well.