Well not to go too too conspiracy theory on this one but... did it occur to anyone that the ability to shut down any website under the accusation of piracy was really just a method to stop people from assembling online to conduct protests and the exchange of ideas online? Because we've more or less lost that Constitutional right (you need a permit to gather in person, permits are granted by the entities you are likely to be protesting, reasons for denying a permit need not be given - in a disturbing majority of this country at present)?
Controlling the media isn't enough anymore, we have the Internet, but that's just what they are working on getting a better handle on controlling right now. Take these articles and read them, compare them if you will - what the world sees verses what your average overworked not enough time to ferret out other sources of news on the Internet - even the basic BBC stuff - sees:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16642369
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/business/megaupload-shutdown/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/01/19/feds-shut-down-file-sharing-website/
And yes, we all LOL at Fox News... but tragically many people do not.