Wednesday's SOPA Blackout Day appears to have had its intended effect — a flood of attention was focused on the issue all week, and the Senate's website had trouble handling the influx of traffic from concerned citizens. A number of politicians have started withdrawing support for SOPA and PIPA, and the bills are now even being criticized by politicians from abroad. Neelie Kroes, VP of the European Commission, tweeted today that she was "glad [the] tide is turning on #SOPA; don't need bad legislation when should be safeguarding benefits of open net."

It's a strong and unambiguous position for a foreign politician to take regarding US policy, but Kroes helps manage the "Digital Agenda" for the EC and has worked to combat piracy without restricting a free internet. In a second tweet, Kroes said that "Speeding is illegal too: but you don't put speedbumps on the motorway." While it's hard to say how much influence foreign objections can have on these bills, it's worth noting that SOPA outrage is catching the attention of political leaders beyond our borders.

Image credit: Neelie Kroes (Flickr)