The Cyber Security Act of 2009

Federal Authority Over the Internet? The Cyber Security Act of 2009

Essentially, the Act would federalize critical infrastructure security. Since many of our critical infrastructure systems (banks, telecommunications, energy) are in the hands of the private sector, the bill would create a major shift of power away from users and companies to the federal government. This is a potentially dangerous approach that favors the dramatic over the sober response.

One proposed provision gives the President unfettered authority to shut down Internet traffic in an emergency and disconnect critical infrastructure systems on national security grounds goes too far. Certainly there are times when a network owner must block harmful traffic, but the bill gives no guidance on when or how the President could responsibly pull the kill switch on privately-owned and operated networks.

Furthermore, the bill contains a particularly dangerous provision that could cripple privacy and security in one fell swoop:

"The Secretary of Commerce— shall have access to all relevant data concerning (critical infrastructure) networks without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule, or policy restricting such access… "

Federal Authority Over the Internet? The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 | Electronic Frontier Foundation

S. 773: Cybersecurity Act of 2009 (GovTrack.us)

jfar said:

Nothing suprises me anymore what they will do over there.

Yes, our new administration is keeping it very interesting indeed, can anyone say George Orwell?

what kind of emergency warrants such an action? when the towers fell, the internet was like a swarm of bees, but that was mostly people trying to find out what was going on, if they didnt have a tv, or a radio for details. i think it would be pretty stupid to shut down the largest, fastest source of information, when information is exactly what people need, in a situation like that. mind boggling.

Also, when testing this "counter measure" for whatever reason. wouldn't a nation wide shut down lose millions of companies and retailers countless dollars, further crapping on the already disgraceful economical situation? In ten minutes, sites like ebay, would lose millions (guesstimication).

idk, maybe it's out of the bounds that my inferior logic can understand. or it's just a dumb*** idea. one of the two.