The federal government would have “absolute power” to shut down the Internet under the terms of a new US Senate bill being pushed by Joe Lieberman, legislation which would hand President Obama a figurative “kill switch” to seize control of the world wide web in response to a Homeland Security directive.
Lieberman has been pushing for government regulation of the Internet for years under the guise of cybersecurity, but this new bill goes even further in handing emergency powers over to the feds which could be used to silence free speech under the pretext of a national emergency.
[…]
The 197-page bill (PDF) is entitled Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act, or PCNAA.Technology lobbying group TechAmerica warned that the legislation created “the potential for absolute power,” while the Center for Democracy and Technology worried that the bill’s emergency powers “include authority to shut down or limit internet traffic on private systems.”
The bill has the vehement support of Senator Jay Rockefeller, who last year asked during a congressional hearing, “Would it had been better if we’d have never invented the Internet?” while fearmongering about cyber-terrorists preparing attacks.
The largest Internet-based corporations are seemingly happy with the bill, primarily because it contains language that will give them immunity from civil lawsuits and also reimburse them for any costs incurred if the Internet is shut down for a period of time.
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I notice the increasing use of the word “Absolute” in our communication. Absolute in what sense? Does this bill expand the innate power that any government has–or more relevantly just provide another corporate welfare payment to Big Corp?
Just a distraction from the inaction on all other reform issues that is on Congress’s plate.
VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT OF OFFICE!!!
“…legislation which would hand President Obama a figurative “kill switch”…”
– it would have to be figurative. Or imaginary – because reality prevents anyone from actually switching off the internet.
OTOH, why not give President Obama a whole series of switches:
One to outlaw global warming/climate change.
Another one to plug the leak.
And another that magically pays for free health-care for everyone.
Isn’t imaginationland wonderful?
#1 nothing will be any different in any salient way if ALL INCUMBENTS ARE VOTED OUT and replaced with different Ds and Rs.
“VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT” by voting any third party. And no one who ever ran or held office as a R or D should ever be elected again either (if they change parties).
The D and R voters are responsible for how screwed up this country is, not the people they hired.
#3–+&_==I agree short sighted thinking such as you post would not work. But how about VOTING ALL INCUMBENTS OUT OF OFFICE, until Congress became responsive to their voters? Like over 5-6 terms until they really get it?
So far, its about the only thing “we the people” can do as all else requires the approval of Congress to get done–ie not expected.
So==apply all your resources–will change come by doing nothing, or by trying something new?
VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT OF OFFICE! Do it now, and do it often.
Another example of why the USA cannot be relied upon to administer the pastoral care of the internet. Would you hire a nanny who brandishes a machete?
Think of the children…
#5 Sargasso,
At least the kids will be on their best behaviour though.
This is why the warning at the start of South Park needs to be changed.
There is no danger in letting young children view the program – but parental discretion should be advised for elected officials.
Could we just build a giant blue box under a mountain somewhere with a giant on-off switch?
The graphic at the linked site is amusing.
A kill switch is entirely different than licensing/censoring/monitoring the internet that would be a real danger.
Imagine: the internet completely turned off. How often and for what reasons would that happen?
Chicken Little.
A kill switch for the Internet is a necessary evil. The legal ability to shut down or segmenting specific protocols or regions during a cyber-emergency in order to protect the overall infrastructure of the Internet needs to be within the powers of the Federal Government. The internet is just too essential to our daily lives to be ‘unprotected’.
I would much rather have a controlled shutdown of the Internet than a massive uncontrolled failure.
I would go as far as saying that we need automatic triggers that can shut down specific regions or protocols upon detection of malicious behavior, before the problem spreads everywhere.
This country is going to hell really quickly. I am, however, fully prepared to take care of myself, without the silly INTERNET.
And, of course, there should be a concurrent kill switch of broadcast and cable TV, all radio communications, and, of course, the New York Times, and all other press.
1st Amendment? What the fuck does that have to do with the Democrat Agenda????
Faxon/Faxoff (I’d rather have the clap!)==heh, heh. You remind me of the dumb mother who doesn’t quite get calling her son “a son-of-a-bitch” has certain inconsistent qualities.
Going on the internet to proclaim it is silly. Can’t you see it coming?
Flip the ‘net off and watch millions of companies go out of business in a heartbeat. And the economy with it.
Obama said a few weeks back he doesn’t know how to use an iPad. Any wonder how he’d sign if this came before him?
re:2 Chuck… you one funny guy. 🙂
It’s times like these that I’m very happy Lieberman doesn’t have access to the red button to launch missiles.
In reality you could only “shut” off the Internet in the United States. This would be done by disconnecting the major NOCs (Network Operations Centers) and under sea cables. That would still leave the NOCs in other countries up and running.
Someone really needs to do something about LIEberman. There is never a antisemitic gun nut around when you need one.
#12 Faxon –
You are right. What the fuck does this have to do with the first amendment? Absolutely nothing.
But it does have plenty to do with the ability to protect a basic infrastructure of our country.
I guess that under your logic there should be no way to protect the electric grid, the water supply, the telephone system.
I said “your logic”… silly me…
Sen. Rockefeller is right, no internet makes it much easier for him and his NWO friends to control the slaves.
#12 Faxon,
my understanding is that it’s already in place in those other media outlets (Emergency Broadcast System).
Expect the cell phone network to be on the same kill switch if Israel is any example.
Plus, as all new routers have the “secret sauce” built in (was that from “Cranky Geeks” or “No Adgenda”?), I’m guessing POTUS could shutdown the Internet World Wide.
Power may not have limits, but it does have consequences.
Once again, Lieberman treating the United States like it’s Gaza.
I have a better idea – make vulnerable targets install their own kill switch. The idea that a government can “shut off” what has become a necessity in many cases, is ridiculous. Think of how much we’ve grown to depend on it – for news, phone, whatever. Lieberman really needs to find something else to do with his time – he’s certainly not doing anything to help his country.
Awake said, on June 17th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I guess that under your logic there should be no way to protect the electric grid, the water supply, the telephone system.
Yeah, we wouldn’t want those filthy terrists poisoning all the pixels on the Internet. Our eyes might get burned or something.
Don’t panic. The 1st Amend loving Dems and Obie Admin would NEVER pass something like this…
I find it interesting.
I would think this is another back door, to taking your rights away for owning a Computer.
Just like the one passed about Laptop searches at the borders. Which has been Limited to COPY ONLY and hand it BACK to the person.
And WHY would they need to search your data as you go across the border? COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT? Terrorist activity?? Invasion of PRIVACY?? Finding Pictures and sites you Patronize with Illegal materials??
This will lead to Internet laws WORSE then Australia has been TRYING to do in the last 10 years.
Sure… give the government the ‘off switch’ to the only true forum of free speech left. That sounds like a great idea… to a Fascist maybe.. Can someone tell me one good reason to have a kill switch for the internet? Joe Lieberman has the technology skills of a lemming and Jay Rockefeller is an elitist… and you trust these guys?
Cyber attacks and so called ‘bully hate speech’ are only excuses to give the Feds more power over the internet. I say let the private sector Sys Admins do their jobs(who are infinitely more competent and fair than any government agency), not the government bureaucrats. The internet has survived many massive attacks just fine thus far hasn’t it? When was the last time the internet was ‘down’? It was designed from it’s conception to be redundant, reliable, and de-centralized.
# 5 sargasso has a point… “Would you hire a nanny who brandishes a machete?” That is what you get much of the time with nanny state control. Any government that takes away basic freedoms and achieves absolute power in history ALWAYS goes bad and the citizens suffer greatly. We are no different.
My God, how can many of you trust a government that already has given itself the pseudo-legal power to intimidate, torture, imprison, and kill anyone in the States with indiscretion, and no guarantee of a trial? And now they want an internet kill switch? I’m almost certain that Lieberman and Rockefeller would just say “shut up slave” to any protest and go about their business.
I have this undeniable fondness for basic human freedom and the Interwebitubes that I just can’t seem to shake.
With all the interconnection, I wonder just how anyone is going to accomplish this. Gonna shut down the telcos, too? How about Canada and Mexico? Does this include Puerto Rico and the Bahamas? Makes me want to buy a satellite interconnect right now. Screw the legislation.
All this power for the President and government… what could possibly go wrong?
I am glad I still have this software:
Wildcat! is a bulletin board system (BBS) software package developed in 1986 by Mustang Software to create a dial-up BBS operating under DOS. By the release of Version 4 it was the basis for over 50,000 bulletin boards worldwide.
Would it be possible to create our own network? You know, like the old FidoNet?
How could it be linked? With hacked WiFi maybe?
It’s a crazy idea, I know.