U.S. Government Proposes "Internet Kill Switch"

[Ganthrinor]

Oh, the Irony.

The Interet evolved from a communications array designed as a back-up for use "in times of crisis".

I rofl at this. I rofl greatly.

 

[SilverUchiha]

I hate my government. It hasn't been the same in years, decades even. I missed it back when it was run by intelligent people who wanted something good for this country and weren't just striving to acquire power or keep it despite their actions potentially being bad for the citizens of the country...

 

[A123A123]

Okay everyone, listen up. Too much is at stake to look the other way this time. If we ignore this bill these bureaucrats in Washington will take away the one place left where there is true free of expression. Register at http://protect-the-net.proboards.com and lets figure out a way to stop this bill. Exercise you right to free speech will you still can.

 

[tsb247]

Oh, Lieberman! What zany right-wing paranoid fear-mongering will you bring us next? And, more importantly, what civil liberties crushing solution will you propose?

Gut miranda rights? Check. Deny accused criminals other basic rights? Check. Pave the way for a government seizure of the internet? Check.

You may want to check that. Senator Liberman is in fact a Democrat.

 

[craddoke]

Oh, Lieberman! What zany right-wing paranoid fear-mongering will you bring us next? And, more importantly, what civil liberties crushing solution will you propose?

Gut miranda rights? Check. Deny accused criminals other basic rights? Check. Pave the way for a government seizure of the internet? Check.

You may want to check that. Senator Liberman is in fact a Democrat.

100% factually wrong. See my longer response above for the real story.

Edit: Also, why couldn't a Democrat be conservative (although Lieberman is not a Democrat)? Or vice versa? Have we really become that small-minded?

 

[Nopraptor]

I think that Liederman guy saw die hard 4 a few times too much
CRAZY SOD that he is

 

[tsb247]

OT: Is this just for the US? Cus I'm questioning why they would have any right to turn off British internet, considering A) They HAVE no right and B) We technically invented it

Uhhh... Yes and no.

The British invented the first modern web server (Sir Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in 1989), but they did not develop all of technology that went into it. Research ARPANET, a DARPA funded network that went online in the US in 1969. However, I will concede that ARPANET used packet switching - a British invention.

If anything, the internet was a collaborative effort that took place over a 20-or-so year timeframe.

 

[Keepitclean]

I don't really care what the US government does, so long as they don't turn off my internet I'm cool with it.

I'm pretty sure they don't have any right to turn off my internet bieng outside the US and all. Then again, the US government hasn't got a the best track record for observing others rights.

 

[tsb247]

Oh, Lieberman! What zany right-wing paranoid fear-mongering will you bring us next? And, more importantly, what civil liberties crushing solution will you propose?

Gut miranda rights? Check. Deny accused criminals other basic rights? Check. Pave the way for a government seizure of the internet? Check.

You may want to check that. Senator Liberman is in fact a Democrat.

100% factually wrong. See my longer response above for the real story.

Edit: Also, why couldn't a Democrat be conservative (although Lieberman is not a Democrat)? Or vice versa? Have we really become that small-minded?

His own website states that he is registered as an Independent Democrat. All this means is that he is no longer directly tied to the larger party as a whole. He still caucussed with the Democrats after 'leaving', and he probably will again. He is not a true independent in the full sense of the word.

He still associates with the Democrats. In fact he refers to himself as an, "Independent Democrat, capital, 'I,' capital, 'D.'"

EDIT: http://lieberman.senate.gov/index.cfm/about-joe/biography

 

[Legion3321]

In my opinion, this is simply a power grab, america is attempting to assert its authority over that which has no hierachy of command (the internet). This is a underhanded insulting move by the Americans, attempting to make a kill switch for the internet that would cripple businesses around the world, if this bill passed, the americans could effectively take over the world, simply threatening to turn off the internet and destroy a nations economiy if it disagreed with them.

No one would dare challenge them, and so it would be a beach-head for other bill/legislations to be passed, gaining more control over other countries, via the net.

Its time we understand that the internet, although not neccesarily a physical weapon, can be the most dangerous thing around.


To be short. The internet; Fuck off, its ours. - Net Users.
Note: This may not make sense to many people, its past midnight and im tired as hell. Take what you want from this post.

 

[craddoke]

Oh, Lieberman! What zany right-wing paranoid fear-mongering will you bring us next? And, more importantly, what civil liberties crushing solution will you propose?

Gut miranda rights? Check. Deny accused criminals other basic rights? Check. Pave the way for a government seizure of the internet? Check.

You may want to check that. Senator Liberman is in fact a Democrat.

100% factually wrong. See my longer response above for the real story.

Edit: Also, why couldn't a Democrat be conservative (although Lieberman is not a Democrat)? Or vice versa? Have we really become that small-minded?

His own website states that he is registered as an Independent Democrat. All this means is that he is no longer directly tied to the larger party as a whole. He still caucussed with the Democrats after 'leaving', and he probably will again. He is not a true independent in the full sense of the word.

He still associates with the Democrats. In fact he refers to himself as an, "Independent Democrat, capital, 'I,' capital, 'D.'"

EDIT: http://lieberman.senate.gov/index.cfm/about-joe/biography

Exactly - it makes a world of difference. If he were still a Democrat, he wouldn't be senator - Ned Lamont would be. He is a self-serving opportunist with a tendency towards reactionary conservative positions, especially in regards to national security and the censorship of media.

 

[Atmos Duality]

In my opinion, this is simply a power grab, america is attempting to assert its authority over that which has no hierachy of command (the internet). This is a underhanded insulting move by the Americans, attempting to make a kill switch for the internet that would cripple businesses around the world, if this bill passed, the americans could effectively take over the world, simply threatening to turn off the internet and destroy a nations economiy if it disagreed with them.

This measure as proposed threatens Americans as much as it does the rest of the world.
Economies aren't one-way relationships; the rest of the world could very easily cut our businesses out in protest.
Think a bit before you pin it on all Americans; because you can bet your ass I'm protesting this.

 

[Legion3321]

In my opinion, this is simply a power grab, america is attempting to assert its authority over that which has no hierachy of command (the internet). This is a underhanded insulting move by the Americans, attempting to make a kill switch for the internet that would cripple businesses around the world, if this bill passed, the americans could effectively take over the world, simply threatening to turn off the internet and destroy a nations economiy if it disagreed with them.

This measure as proposed threatens Americans as much as it does the rest of the world.
Economies aren't one-way relationships; the rest of the world could very easily cut our businesses out in protest.
Think a bit before you pin it on all Americans; because you can bet your ass I'm protesting this.

Well i am in a way pinning it all on Americans, since anything that happens to America will somehow affect another country elsewhere. Although i agree that an outside Nation could cripple Americas economy, they would not only be doing so to America, they would do so to every economy everywhere.

But my point was that this kill-switch could be changed to affect singular countries and not the Planet as a whole. Therefore it could be used as a weapon forcing others into submission.
Once again, i will say its past midnight and im very very tired.

 

[burninglondon]

Problem: Cyber (can we please retire this overused word?) security around some government databases is not as good as it could be.

Solution: Shut down the entire internet?

This is a lot like saying, "We're getting a lot of prank phone calls, so we decided to tear out the city's phone lines and cell towers rather than, say, screening our calls or getting a new phone number."

 

[AvsJoe]

*shivers*

Well, way to go Joe Lieberman. I defended you for so long in political discussions and this is how you repay me? Congrats dude, you lost a supporter. I hope you rot in a special sauna built just for you somewhere near the bottom of Hell.

 

[Bobzer77]

Oh yeah?

Well the US government can suck my cock.

Damn right!

How amazingly self-centred of them... That would disrupt internet commerce the world over!

I'm all for increased levels of security online... but that's just going way too far.

It would disrupt internet commerce the world over but it would cripple any internet business in the U.S. The moment they try this they are going to see businesses fleeing their country like rats on a sinking boat.

Is America still calling itself a democracy? Because from what I've seen it's more of an electoral dictatorship....

 

[AnAngryMoose]

I think the US government is slipping into a state of paranoia by the sounds of things...

 

[ShadowKatt]

Alright, I'm going to weigh in on this. The proposed legislation says that it will "compel" ISP and communication service providers to comply with the internet kill switch. What that is is basicly newspeak for "Take over". By saying that companys like AT&T and Verizon refused to comply, the government will use its authority to remove the heads of the company and control all communications across the nation. It would be another step towards the end of all first ammendment rights in this country, as well as several others as they could monitor communication worldwide.

 

[AnneSQF]

Can't the US government have their own internet free from cyber-hackers and cyber-terrorists? I don't want anyone to be able to kill the cyber-internet. And someone I can't even vote on. Only Americans can do that. Shouldn't this be a UN thing?

 

[Atmos Duality]

Shouldn't this be a UN thing?

If the UN had even an ounce of worth, then this kill-switch issue wouldn't even exist as a global threat.
I'm hoping that Congress sees this as the security and ethical breach that it is, and shoots it down.

Then again, we did get the Patriot Act from these assclowns..