Bill in Process to Give President 'Emergency' Power of the Web

We Recommend ^ | August 28, 2009 | Mike

[ClassicLiberal]

CNET Reports: ”Internet companies and civil liberties groups were alarmed this spring when a U.S. Senate bill proposed handing the White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from the Internet.[…]

CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.

The new version would allow the president to “declare a cybersecurity emergency” relating to “non-governmental” computer networks and do what’s necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for “cybersecurity professionals,” and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.”

This bill is supposed to protect our national cybersecurity; as Jay Rockefeller states, “from our water to our electricity, to banking, traffic lights and electronic health records.” Umm I’m pretty sure we already have people in charge of protecting that information in those sectors. I’m also sure it is not in the best interest of the affected parties to allow themselves to be hacked. It makes sense, the government wants to protect the internet infrastructure because Lord knows if it gets hacked we are all f’d, but what does not make sense is why they would need to take it over. Many jobs already exist purely to negate cyber-attacks in private concerns such as health records and banking information. Any other attacks, say, on our military is already invested by the Pentagon… a government agency. So please, excuse me for being a bit skeptical on this bill.

[MNJohnnie]

*******This comment deleted by Presidential Emergency Decree*******

[dalebert]

need to stop this fast.....gov will never turn it loose once they get it.

[pepsionice]

I would suggest one moment of analysis before we go making a decision on this. Go back and examine the invasion of Georgia by Russia. Go and note all of the internet warfare that was conducted. If you think the US won’t be targeted and threatened by Russia or China....you are betting on the wrong horse. We will have to take down the internet...one way or another...when they finally decide to screw with us. We can give the President the power...or he’ll just use executive power to do so. Personally, I’d rather have some rules on how this work and let this pass.

[dalebert]

i dont trust the gove to do anything wisely

[Buckeye McFrog]

our systems of commerce that power the economy are so internet dependent, that if it were shut down our economy (such as it is) would stop dead in it’s’ tracks and we’d be toast anyway...whether by Obama decree or ChiCom hackers.

[Yo-Yo]

Shhh. Don't tell anyone, but the President can already do the same thing with telephone service, and has had that ability since Woodrow Wilson. There is also a companion power over wireless telephone service.

http://gets.ncs.gov/

[Oldpuppymax]

Only the American people can stop this fascist from destroying the nation and taking our liberty. Depending on the republican party or “conservative” politicians is a waste of time.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[backhoe]

One problem is, we aren't using the correct word to describe the situation we are facing-

Here it is:

[Grunthor]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2326614/posts

[KingLudd]

Sorry, but in our current state, we’re not going to do jack if Russia or China screw with us. You’re thinking about the old U.S.

[KingLudd]

Remember the U.S. spy plane that one of our own personally delivered intact to China? The pilot got a medal or something. Really unbelievable.

[dforest]

You need to rethink what you just posted. Our biggest threat at this time is from within. And...they all know it.