6-19-2010 Washington DC:
Newly proposed legislation would give the federal government authority to seize and even switch off the Internet during a national crisis.
The bill, put forward Thursday by Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., would allow the Department of Homeland Security to issue emergency orders to companies providing services such as search engines, software and broadband Internet, according to CBS. Companies that didn't comply would face a fine.
"The Internet can also be a dangerous place, with electronic pipelines that run directly into everything from our personal bank accounts to key infrastructure to government and industrial secrets," Lieberman said. "Our economic security, national security and public safety are now all at risk from new kinds of enemies: cyberwarriors, cyberspies, cyberterrorists and cybercriminals."
Governments worldwide are increasingly aware of the threat posed by cyberattacks. In 2007, the Baltic state of Estonia was paralyzed by a cyberattack that froze the websites of businesses and government agencies for days. Estonia now hosts NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.
Lieberman's bill also calls for the creation of a National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications within the Department of Homeland Security, CBS reported. The center would monitor the "security status" of websites and broadband providers to provide "situational awareness of the security status" of Internet within the United States.
The National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications would also be able to require certain Internet companies to share information with the federal government.
There's something in the proposed legislation for the private sector, too: Companies would have immunity from civil lawsuits for compensation related to actions they took on orders from the federal government.
However, the bill has been fiercely criticized online by Internet freedom advocates.
"This legislation should be met with resistance until it fails," journalist blogger Jamie DeLoma wrote. "Implementing the proposed plan would do nothing more than cause chaos and limit the information available."
The ideas in the proposal are not entirely new. In August, technology website CNET obtained a pair of draft Senate proposals that would have allowed the president to declare a "cybersecurity emergency" and "order the disconnection" of certain networks and websites. ..Source.. Hugh Collins
June 19, 2010
Bill Would Let Feds Take Over Internet During Crisis
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This is the first step in the Obama Administration's plan to censor the in internet. This is an attack on the 1st. Ammendment, and I agree with Mr. DeLoma in saying that this should be opposed with every ounce of effort we can muster. What's next? Are they going to censor what we can watch on TV, or listen to on the radio. There's already talk about the FCC voting to decide if they have the authority to control Sirrius and XM radio.
It's hard enough to get accurate and truthful information on any subject, let alone all the new rules and regulations they keep throwing at us RSO's. Does anyone out there know of any place other then this blog that keeps us as up to date? Do you think that this blog won't be one of the one's censored, because I can almost guarentee that it will. Why? Because it provides information that allows RSO's to avoid all the little Government traps written into the AWA.
I've finally got my voting rights back, and you can be sure that I'm going to exercise them this November. I'm also going to be writing to my congressmen and my senator. This bill has to die, and die quickly.
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