The bill, titled Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act, has been unanimously approved by the US Homeland Security committee and will be put to a vote on the Senate floor shortly.
Lobby groups and academics quickly rounded on the bill, which seeks to grant the President broad emergency powers over the internet in times of national emergency.
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Any internet firms and providers must "immediately comply with any emergency measure or action developed" by a new section of the US Department of Homeland Security, dubbed the "National Centre for Cybersecurity and Communications".
The critics said that, rather than combat terrorists, it would actually do them "the biggest favour ever" by terrorising the rest of the world, which is now heavily reliant on cyberspace.
Australian academics criticised the description in the bill's title of the internet as a US "national asset", saying any action would disrupt other countries as most of the critical internet infrastructure is located in the US.
This week, 24 privacy and civil liberties groups sent a letter raising concerns about the legislation to the sponsors, including that it could limit free speech and free inquiry, Computerworld reported.
"We are concerned that the emergency actions that could be compelled could include shutting down or limiting internet communications," the letter reads.
But the architects of the plan, committee chairman Senator Joe Lieberman and Senator Susan Collins, have this week released a "Myth v. Reality" document that hits back at these criticisms.
They say the threat of a catastrophic cyber attack is real and not a matter of "if" but "when". Cyber crime was also costing the US economy billions of dollars annually and the bill would "modernise the government's ability to safeguard the nation's cyber networks from attack and will establish a public/private partnership to set national cyber security priorities".
The senators rejected the "kill switch" claim, arguing that the President already had authority under the Communications Act to "cause the closing of any facility or station for wire communication" when there is a "state or threat of war".
They said under the new bill the President would be far less likely to use the broad authority he already has under current law to take over communications. It would provide "a precise, targeted and focused way for the President to defend our most sensitive infrastructure".
Any action would be limited to 30-day increments and the President must use the "least disruptive means feasible" to respond to the threats. Action extended beyond 120 days would need Congressional approval.
The bill would not give the President the authority to take over the entire internet, target specific websites or conduct electronic surveillance.
"Only specific systems or assets whose disruption would cause a national or regional catastrophe would be subject to the bill's mandatory security requirements," the senators wrote
for more information about internet control please visit http://www.smh.com.au
1 comment:
These power leaches (American Government) do nothing but dismantle the American Constitution, ultimately for corporate agenda, at the cost of the hardworking American citizens, I'm not even American I'm Canadian, and we Canadians see your political corruption as clear as day, why can't the American society? Federal Reserve Bank, are you kidding me, talk about economic rape, they charge you to print your countries money. (Didn't Abe Lincoln die for the cause of having America print Americas money) (At no interest actually) Not pocket change but billions annually on interest alone, lets reduce healtcare due to lack of funding, but build 800 fastfood restoraunts not to mention billions at war with the terrorist. (Which is anybody who doesn't agree with corporate political ageda) Wake up, the worlds laughing at you. I do realise it's not directly the citizens fault because your governments insane propaganda machice, and terrible education system (Soon they'll be charging you to go to public school if they are not already) but it is the citizens fault for taking it. Words to live by...If it doesn't make sense its not true, and if you wanna find the truth find who had the most to gain they are one in the same. I have a grade 10 education, but Im smarter then most, simply by following logic. Follow your logic and take back what's yours, your country. One last thing how can the C/O of Goldman Sacks earn $49 000 000 last year, and your country not be able to afford healthcare. Here's the kicker Goldman Sacks C/O made $49 000 000 last year but Goldman Sacks as a company only paid $15 000 000 in taxes, where's the logics in that? Ask your Congress Rep. that and watch'em sweat, Who do you think covered the rest...You did!!! If you continue to take they'll continue to do it to you... A word from the wise.
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