Should a bill like this be empowered? What are some good reasons to shut the entire private internet down. A very large communication device. If we are going to let Russians in and look at our nuclear sites then what would a good reason be for shutting the internet down? Just asking. I can't think of any or feel it is getting too 'big brother' to tell us when we can be on a privately owned network. If there is something the gov is worried then they can just shut off the gov websites to the private side, so why need to shut it all down? I know the obvious bad reasons but what would some good ones be? And they haven't covered what any other scenarios may be with this bill. We know how they like to hide things in this transparent administration.
Will the S.773 Cybersecurity Act Shut Down Private Computer Networks?
Sunday August 30, 2009
Recent articles in CNet (Bill would give president emergency control of Internet) and Computerworld (Obama's 'emergency' powers over Internet: Cybersecurity Bill S. 773) are among those raising questions over the goals and scope of bill S.733 in the U.S Congress. Officially known as the Cybersecurity Act of 2009, this bill is still in the early stages of development and review. Based on text of the bill available on GovTrack, S.773 requests that more than USB $1 billion of government funding over the next five years be preserved for research and development programs involving computer and network security including a national awareness campaign and plans to create a "secure domain name addressing system" for the Internet.
One highly controversial aspect of the bill is Section 18 paragraph (2) requesting that the U.S. President "may declare a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic to and from any compromised Federal Government or United States critical infrastructure information system or network" along with paragraph (6) adding that the President "may order the disconnection of any Federal Government or United States critical infrastructure information systems or networks in the interest of national security" Unfortunately, this bill fails to describe exactly what scenarios constitute a "cybersecurity emergency" or what defines "critical infrastructure information systems."
The open-end nature of S.773 will continue to invite criticism until it is further revised at it progresses through Congressional review process. Those interested in computer network and Internet policy issues should watch this bill closely.
Does the country need this?
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