Senate Panel Approves Cybersecurity Bill 269
GovTechGuy writes "A Senate Committee approved a bill that would give the president an emergency 'kill switch' over the Internet, but added some restrictions to the bill. The president may no longer simply assert that the threat remains indefinitely, he must now seek Congressional approval after 120 days. Still, privacy advocates are concerned about the government's ability to shut down private networks. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) 'said she was disappointed to read reports that the bill gives the White House a "kill switch" for the Internet, an authority she says the president already has under a little-known clause in the Communications Act passed one month after the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. ... Collins [argued] the new bill actually circumscribes the president's existing authority and puts controls on its use.'"
Re:Can someone explain? (Score:4, Informative)
From what I understand, they would shut things down at the ISP level.
"What's the point of a modem noise, if you are unable to connect, Mr. Anderson?" sort of thing.
habeus corpus (Score:3, Informative)
The president does not have the power to suspend the constitution , the president does have the power to suspend habeus corpus during rebellion or invasion where public safety may require it. In ex parte milligan supreme court said
that civilians could not be tried by military courts when civilian courts were functioning
Re:not likely to happen (Score:3, Informative)
When I hear people spout claptrap like this, I weep for our public education system. Did you go to public school? Your civics teacher let you down very badly.
I encourage you to read the Constitution. It's not a complete picture of American jurisprudence, but it's a great start. It's also not terribly long, or terribly difficult, and you can easily find read-along guides that will tell you a little bit about what it means.
Good luck.
Re:Good idea in theory... (Score:5, Informative)
Does anyone have a link to the text of the proposed bill?
Ask, and ye shall receive [senate.gov]. Note: PDF link
I found it at this page [senate.gov].
Re:Joe Lieberman (Score:1, Informative)
You guys make me crack up, thinking there's some sort of difference.
Re:Can someone explain? (Score:2, Informative)
I don't see how anybody in America will be able to use the internet to get news or communicate with other Americans in a time of emergency if this should ever go into effect.
Maybe we need an RFC for "IP over Ham Radio?"
Or can the government jam Ham Radio bands if they feel like it as well?
There is one, called Packet Radio. Although as far as I know it's really slow.
Re:A pox! (Score:3, Informative)
But that doesn't give you americans the right to behave as if the Internet was yours.
Yes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET [wikipedia.org] , yes it does.