What Does Demand Progress Mean?
Demand Progress is an online grassroots activist group that lobbies to change policies related to the Internet, censorship, civil rights, freedom of speech, government reform and civil liberties. The U.S. political action committee (PAC) serves as a progressive public advocate for issues and decisions that impact the public.
Demand Progress is best known for its sweeping fight against the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in 2011 and 2012.
Techopedia Explains Demand Progress
Based in Washington, DC, Demand Progress’ mission is to garner public interest for leading-edge issues through community activism, volunteer recruitment and online campaigns powered by the people.
In 2010, Aaron Swartz founded Demand Progress. Earlier, Swartz co-founded Reddit, Open Library, watchdog.net, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Jottit. He was also a driving force behind the launch of Creative Commons.
Recent Demand Progress campaigns include:
- The Ten Strikes Bill (S. 978)
- The Internet Censorship Bill (COICA 2.0)
- “Protect Democracy: Fight Internet ‘Kill Switch'” petition
- “Let the Patriot Act Expire” petition
- “Tell Facebook: Stop Censoring Political Speech” petition
- “Protect the First Amendment – Don’t let them outlaw WikiLeaks!” petition