U.S. Government Proposes "Internet Kill Switch"

[eSineM]

U.S. Government Proposes "Internet Kill Switch"
 


A bill sponsored by U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman would give the
 President a virtual "kill switch" that would allow him to effectively
turn off the internet during times of crisis.
The proposed legislation [PDF format] would
compel any internet providers, search engines or software companies, at
the discretion of the U.S. government, to "immediately comply with any
emergency measure or action developed" by the Department of Homeland
Security. Lieberman, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee,
said the measures would allow the government to "preserve those networks
 and assets and our country and protect our people." Any company that
failed to follow orders would face presumably stiff fines.
"For all of its 'user-friendly' allure, the internet can also be a
dangerous place with electronic pipelines that run directly into
everything from our personal bank accounts to key infrastructure to
government and industrial secrets," Lieberman
 said. "Our economic security, national security and public safety are
now all at risk from new kinds of enemies - cyber-warriors, cyber-spies,
 cyber-terrorists and cyber-criminals."
To counter those potential cyber-shenanigans, the bill would give a
newly-formed National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications the
authority to monitor the "security status" of private websites, ISPs and
 other net-related business within the U.S. as well as critical internet
 components in other countries. Companies would be required to take part
 in "information sharing" with the government and certify to the NCCC
that they have implemented approved security measures. Furthermore, any
company that "relies on" the internet, telephone system or any other
part of the U.S. "information infrastructure" would also be "subject to
command" by the NCCC under the proposed new law.
"We cannot afford to wait for a cyber-9/11 before our government
realizes the importance of protecting our cyber-resources," said bill
co-sponsor Senator Susan Collins.
Lieberman is apparently attempting to make the bill more
cyber-palatable by offering immunity from cyber-lawsuits resulting from
anything "related to a cyber-vulnerability" after the President has
declared a cyber-emergency. Nonetheless, the cyber-bill is expected to
meet with stiff cyber-opposition; the Center for Democracy and
Technology pointed out that it "includes authority to shut down or limit
 internet traffic on private systems," while the lobby group TechAmerica
 worried that its relatively few cyber-limitations raised cyber-serious
cyber-concerns about "the potential for absolute power."
Cyber-Source: ZDNet