There's been plenty of concerned coverage around the world about the legislation some fear would give President Barack Obama the powers to seize control of and even shut down the Internet. Others are denying the legislation gives the President an Internet kill switch.
The politician behind the bill, US Senator Joe Lieberman says this sort of legislation is critical for our times. "Our economic security, national security and public safety are now all at risk from new kinds of enemies, cyber- warriors, cyber-spies, cyber-terrorists and cyber-criminals," Lieberman said. "The need for this legislation is obvious and urgent".
Trade association TechAmerica has expressed concern in this statement, pointing out that the global interconnected nature of the Internet makes this just about impossible but that the Bill has the potential for "absolute power".
Now, some of these concerns might be overblown. The TPM Muckraker blog argues that the president already has the authority to shut down communications networks, but that authority has nothing to do with this bill. Rather, it's part of the 1934 Communications Act.
Still, the legislation does raise questions as to whether there is adequate protection for the public.
Last week, the Center for Democracy and Technology and 23 other groups sent a letter to Lieberman which said: "The government can compel companies that own or operate critical infrastructure systems to take those undefined actions for 30‐day periods that may be renewed indefinitely. While the bill makes it clear that it does not authorize electronic surveillance beyond that authorized in current law, we are concerned that the emergency actions that could be compelled could include shutting down or limiting Internet communications that might be carried over covered critical infrastructure systems." It argues that the bill "should also be amended to require an independent assessment of the effect on free speech, privacy and other civil liberties of the measures undertaken to respond to each emergency the President declares. It is imperative that cybersecurity legislation not erode our rights."
The debate over this legislation makes us realize several things. First, it shows deeply dependent we have all become on the Internet. Secondly, it also tells us that America is still deeply traumatized by 9/11.
But then, if World War Three broke out, if terrorists were hitting major cities, the last thing people would be thinking about would be an Internet shut down.
no comment untill now