U.S. Government Proposes "Internet Kill Switch"

[Feriluce]

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.

What. The. Fuck.

Who the hell do they think they are? I didn't know US law extended to other contries now. Although most US companies seem to think so (see the hilarious mails on piratebay.org).

 

[cainstwin]

Ofcourse because when people are panicing having no internet will make it better.

You nailed it!
Let's take this fictive(but possible) example:
There's a calamity(a city get's nuked for example).
And you want to be informed, find out what really happened.
But on the Internet, those darn commies will try to feed you false information!
So just let papa US, tell you how everything raps up on the news(if he feels like it), while he's fixing the problem.

I hope you guys get my conspiracy theory point.
I mean the power to turn off the net is awesomely destructive, in the wrong hands. Good news that the US government is 100% good and won't ever do anything wrong. We must trust those nice guys.

Anyway, the only single not so solid argument they could have brought(but they didn't), is still a far fetched one: to stop SKYNET, or aliens that fry us through our communication devices.

Now you've broughgt skynet into the picture everything changes, WE NEED THAT KILL SWITCH!
(that was a joke just in case it wasnt obvious)

 

[ShadowsofHope]

..Yeah, "Cyber 9/11"? Not falling for that one, Leiberman!

Although I live in Canada, the US Government can go and rightfully fuck itself with this. Rather daft to to think they can shut down the entire internet in case of "emergency", it cripples them more than it does anything else.

 

[mrF00bar]

Oh my good lord. I can see it now, so we'll lose words in our language and they'll be able to listen to us threw our TVs. If anyone gets what I'm referencing I will be surprised.

I do, I forget what the book is called though.

 

[theApoc]

I have seen people write some stupid things on discussion boards in my life, but seriously, it is like you idiots are trying to out do one another for the title of biggest internet moron.

If any of you dumbasses had taken the time to read even a little bit of the actual document, you would realize that it does not simply give them a "kill switch" but rather allows the president to declare a state of emergency. Allowing the situation to be assessed and appropriately addressed, just like any other emergency situation. It is no different than enacting the Emergency Broadcast System, Grounding Planes, or closing the ports.

Stop being stupid and do some freaking research.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Oh my good lord. I can see it now, so we'll lose words in our language and they'll be able to listen to us threw our TVs. If anyone gets what I'm referencing I will be surprised.

I do, I forget what the book is called though.

It's definitely 1984. The giveaway is the loss of words in the language.

 

[Purplefood1]

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

we didn't invent it but we put the most work into it out of all the parties involved

 

[USSR]

Oh yeah?

Well the US government can suck my cock.

...
*shakes your hand*

OT-
Hmm..
We can destroy the internet!
But can't stop an oil spill.

 

[Fearzone]

How did this idiot ever get voted into office?

I bet it would get hacked within a day.

 

[SodaDew]

hmmm the US is starting to be more controlled then ever now that one man has the power to shut down the words #1 mean of communication.

 

[ShadowKatt]

Just a power grab, nothing more. Trying to scare the beaurocrats that know nothing of technology save how to play solitaire and look up porn into believing that PCs are weapons of mass destruction. It's just another chip away at civil rights.

 

[magicmonkeybars]

I'm really very interested to see what exactly a 'cyber-9/11' would be like. Seriously, what the hell are they imagining?

Well ironicly killing the internet would be a cyber 9/11.
It's a very bad thing to do on many different levels.
Yay for Lieberman, friend to terrorists everywhere.

 

[hannan4mitch]

Oh my good lord. I can see it now, so we'll lose words in our language and they'll be able to listen to us threw our TVs. If anyone gets what I'm referencing I will be surprised.

George Orwell's 1984?
Big Brother is watching you, and controlling your internets!

 

[GrinningManiac]

On 6 August 1991, CERN, a pan European organization for particle research, publicized the new World Wide Web project. The Web was invented by British scientist Tim Berners-Lee in 1989. An early popular web browser was ViolaWWW, patterned after HyperCard and built using the X Window System. It was eventually replaced in popularity by the Mosaic web browser. In 1993, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois released version 1.0 of Mosaic, and by late 1994 there was growing public interest in the previously academic, technical Internet. By 1996 usage of the word Internet had become commonplace, and consequently, so had its use as a synecdoche in reference to the World Wide Web.

So the APRAnet, or whatever "prototype" there was, dosen't count. Okay then.

I just think to myself regulary - "what's with British inventing and creating absolutely everything in human history from United States to paperclips?"

Firstly, I never claimed that the British invented everything. That's an issue you're clearly carrying over from some previous argument with a completley different person, and that's an issue you need to work out by yourself

Secondly, this thing we're on now? This is the Web, as created by Berners-Lee. The internet is the platform on which this is delivered, a 'networks of networks' if you will.

Also, yes, the ARPA was a prototype internet (in the loosest definition of the word). It was America linking together all it's national radar to protect its communication networks in the event of a crisis. No international internet, no public use, nothing a 'Cyber-Terrorist' could get his claws on, especially considering that there was no wireless or anything that would allow him to 'tap' into the system.

I'm getting a sense of hostility from you, which I don't like. Quite frankly, this argument is finished, not because you or I won, but because I'm not willing to deal with people who sound aggressive

 

[Mr.Mattress]

I am totally against the complete "Turn Off" of the internet, even for 5 minutes, by anyone. While a Cyber 9/11 is possible, I highly doubt it could be done right now. If the president has any control over the internet, he should just be able to ban certain Websites (I am looking at you RevolutionMuslim.com!)

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

You can't do this! The internet is a truly international and global phenomenon. If someone were to shut down America's communications it would be regarded as an act of terrorism or a declaration of war. So why should they be allowed to shut down other countries' internet? It's the same sort of proposal. It's allowing them the right to commit terrorist attacks on other countries.

Does this senator even know what the internet is?

 

[Estocavio]

Think carefully for a second.

If someone was that good at hacking, theyd HACK the fucking kill switch!

 

[somedarnguy]

Ugh, such astounding intellect coming from these government officials... Cyber-warriors, Cyber-spies, cyber-9/11... Seriously? Methinks it is time to just end it all. Bring on the Cybermen.

Spoiler

 

[Lord_Gremlin]

Oh yeah?

Well the US government can suck my cock.

Same here.
That said, I live in Russia and believe in nuclear weapons.

Anyway, the idea is pretty stupid, since it'll be extremely expensive to bring to live and still this "switch" won't be absolute. I'm not surprised US came up with this idea, but I've expected China to be the first...

 

[Ranorak]

Cyber-9/11 already happened.
Twice.

I was called Tubgirl and 2 Girls 1 Cup.