Some of the web firms including Reddit, Mozilla and WordPress are backing mass protests against internet surveillance activity by the US National Security Agency (NSA) through its secret programmes that emerged in June 2013.
Led by the Internet Defence League, which is a 30,000-member group of Internet activists and websites, the Restore The Fourth campaign will include websites that support anti-NSA messages on their homepage and links directing users to CallForFreedom.org.
The campaign would advise visitors to call members of Congress and also coordinate street demonstrations in over 75 cities including liberal groups, conservative groups and libertarian groups alike.
The website cites a line from the Fourth Amendment which pledges, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures".
Fight for the Future co-founder Tiffiniy Cheng was cited by the Mashable as saying that the NSA programmes that have been exposed are blatantly unconstitutional, and have a detrimental effect on free speech and freedom of press worldwide.
"This is going to be our biggest protest since SOPA [Stop Online Piracy Act], and it should be no surprise," Cheng said.
"You can’t disregard people’s privacy, invade their personal lives on a daily basis, and not expect them to fight back."
The secret move carried out by the US NSA was revealed by Edward Snowden, who provided confidential documents that apparently revealed extensive attacks against China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom.
