Cybersecurity Act of 2009 gives president ability to shut down internet

**Rockefeller** · 04-15-2009, 10:59 AM

The Cybersecurity Act of 2009, currently working its way through Congress, would give the President and a key member of his cabinet unprecedented authority over the Internet, according to the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF). Introduced by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), the bill would give the President the power to shut down the Internet in an emergency and disconnect key infrastructure systems on grounds of national security. As currently crafted, the legislation does not stipulate specifically when or how the President could shut down all Web activity. The bill also contains a provision that would allow the Secretary of Commerce to gain access to all relevant data concerning Internet networks “without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule, or policy restricting such access,” according to EFF. This could overrule current laws such as the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, or the Privacy Protection Act, as well as financial privacy regulations.

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**south** · 04-15-2009, 05:38 PM

Hmmm...

Thanks Justin!

**Donald Aquilano** · 04-15-2009, 05:41 PM

Scary stuff. It won't pass I hope.

**500,000** · 04-15-2009, 07:03 PM

...

**HarveyJ** · 04-16-2009, 11:32 PM

Anyone notice that this is yet another bill from Snowe about shutting down the internet... Anyone might think she has some technophobic issues.

Also amazingly stupid of them. If htey knew anything about how the net works, they'd know that it's designed to the circumvent black spots.
Which means that whilst everything in the US may shut down (absolute chaos of a substantially larger order of magnitude than any cyber-attack could have), everyone else will be fine.
And if they mean the entire world, you can bet your arse that no one else will stand for that, considering how much economic activity is 100% reliant on the internet now.

**Focus** · 04-17-2009, 01:43 AM

What is wrong with this f*cking Snowe b*tch..I am tired of her ongoing bullsh*t lol

Can we hurry up & vote her dumba$s out or something?

**Makis77** · 04-17-2009, 02:45 AM

I guess this internet shutdown case voted by US Congress applies on people using internet and living in the US.

**denny007** · 04-21-2009, 01:12 AM

Time to make internet LESS dependent on the USA.

**Bill Roy** · 04-21-2009, 02:47 AM

The part about the President having the power to shut down the internet in times of a National Emergency (that would at best mean in the USA) is nothing more, in my opinion, than prudent. Whether the President be Democrat or Republican the President must have the power to defend his/her country (the USA) during such times (a national emergency).

What I think is abhorant is the fact that the Secretary of Commerce could be placed above the law, this really is going back to the Bush ways that I would have thought Americans had had a stomach full of. No one should be above the law whether elected or not.

I also think that this Snowe must really think that scaring people with part-truths shows that she is the archtypical old politician where you use keywords to make people think you know what you are on about. Wouldn't it be fun to have her interviewed by members here where we could ask her about the basics of the internet and then publish her answers!

**Raider** · 04-21-2009, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by Focus

What is wrong with this if*cking Snowe b*tch..I am tired of her ongoing bullsh*t lol

Can we hurry up & vote her dumba$s out or something?

Jay Rockefeller must be a "f*cking b*tch" too, he to introduced it remember?.

I despise Olympia Snowe as well... In case you forgot, She was one of two deciding votes for the $787 BILLION that your pal Obama wanted and signed off on.

It's time she come out of the closet and openly admit she's a Liberal Democrat.... Supporter of abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research and amnesty for illegal aliens, Who is she trying to kid?

Make the transition to the Democrat party Olympia, now is the time.

Originally Posted by BILLBO

Whether the President be Democrat or Republican the President must have the power to defend his/her country (the USA) during such times (a national emergency).

Who are trying to fool Billbo? If a Republican was Prez right now, all we would be hearing from you guys is how terribly wrong this is for the country.

It's time you put your Obama pom poms away.

**Bill Roy** · 04-21-2009, 04:13 AM

Raider, I specifically stated 'Whether the President be Democrat or Republican the President must have the power to defend his/her country (the USA) during such times (a national emergency)' because I believe these words to be true.

If you wish to try and make a politically nieve comment that can only be equated with the fact that you believe that the POTUS should not have the power to defend the USA by whatever means at his/her dispossal then just say so. It would be strange to hear a Republican saying that a POTUS should not be able to defend the US!

Now, I will restate that it is my belief that 'Whether the President be Democrat or Republican the President must have the power to defend his/her country (the USA) during such times (a national emergency).' This is not a party political point, indeed I believe it is in the essence of the oath of office that a POTUS swears upon his/her inaugeration.