This was the year that was 2012.

(From Computeractive)

Byline: dinah greek

January

Wikipedia took its English-language website offline for 24 hours in protest against proposed US anti-piracy laws, Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act. The bills called for internet censoring to stop films, TV shows and music from being shared illegally on file-sharing sites. Critics argued that they would have given copyright-holders excessive powers to control the internet. The European Union proposed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, which prompted MEP Kader Arif to walk out in protest, saying he would he would no longer take part in "this masquerade". All bills have been shelved amid public and industry outcry.

The Computeractive team went to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show, which was dominated by smartphones, tablets and ultrabooks - although 3D television, a major theme of years past, had been side-lined by talk of smart TV.

February

Web blocking …