Big Govt. Wants Control Over the Internet Now | TigerFan.com

Rex_B · Aug 28, 2009

Sad Sad Sad

Bill would give president emergency control of Internet | Politics and Law - CNET News

Internet companies and civil liberties groups were alarmed this spring when a U.S. Senate bill proposed handing the White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from the Internet.

They're not much happier about a revised version that aides to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, have spent months drafting behind closed doors. CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.

The new version would allow the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for "cybersecurity professionals," and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.
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LaSalleAve · Aug 28, 2009

All about control, if they control the internet, they control the only way to get legit news and information left on the planet.

mobius481 · Aug 28, 2009

Scariest piece of legislation I've seen in a while. This is what the N Koreas and Irans of the world do, not the rest of us.

Krypto · Aug 28, 2009

oops I did not see this thread. I will delete mine.

Agreed. Just flat out scary language.

Bengal Buddy · Aug 28, 2009

Scary isn't the word. Unconstitutional may be a better one. If Congress is stupid enough to pass such a bill it will end up in the courts. Personally I don't think the Demos have the votes for it, but just allowing it to get that far is scary.

Krypto · Aug 28, 2009

The feedback comments for the article crack me up. That first guy is an idiot.

LaSalleAve · Aug 28, 2009

so, if this passes, who's coming with me to amsterdam?:lol:

mobius481 · Aug 28, 2009

LaSalleAve said: ↑

so, if this passes, who's coming with me to amsterdam?:lol:
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I'll go. Amsterdam is an awesome place. You can exercise your vice (doobies), and I can exercise mine (gamblin).

MLUTiger · Aug 28, 2009

It certainly sounds ominous. Anyone read S.773 yet? I found a summary:

4/1/2009--Introduced.
Cybersecurity Act of 2009 - Directs the President to establish or designate a Cybersecurity Advisory Panel to advise the President.
Defines "cyber" as: (1) any process, program, or protocol relating to the use of the Internet or an intranet, automatic data processing or transmission, or telecommunication via the Internet or an intranet; and (2) any matter relating to, or involving the use of, computers or computer networks.
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) develop and implement a system to provide cybersecurity status and vulnerability information regarding all federal information systems and networks managed by the Department of Commerce; and (2) provide financial assistance for the creation and support of Regional Cybersecurity Centers for small and medium sized U.S. businesses.
Requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish cybersecurity standards for all federal government, government contractor, or grantee critical infrastructure information systems and networks.
Makes NIST responsible for U.S. representation in all international cybersecurity standards development.
Directs the Secretary to develop or coordinate a national licensing, certification, and recertification program for cybersecurity professionals and makes it unlawful to provide certain cybersecurity services without being licensed and certified.
Requires Advisory Panel approval for renewal or modification of a contract related to the operation of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
Requires development of a strategy to implement a secure domain name addressing system.
Requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support specified types of research and to establish a program of grants to higher education institutions to establish cybersecurity testbeds.
Amends the Cybersecurity Research and Development Act to expand the purposes of an existing program of computer and network security research grants.
Requires the NSF to establish a Federal Cyber Scholarship-for-Service program.
Requires NIST to establish cybersecurity competitions and challenges to recruit talented individuals for the federal information technology workforce and stimulate innovation.
Requires the Department of Commerce to serve as the clearinghouse of cybersecurity threat and vulnerability information. Grants the Secretary access to all relevant data concerning such networks notwithstanding any law or policy restricting access.
Directs the President to: (1) develop and implement a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy; (2) on a quadrennial basis, complete a review of the cyber posture of the United States; and (3) work with representatives of foreign governments to develop norms, organizations, and other cooperative activities for international engagement to improve cybersecurity.
Requires the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress an annual report on cybersecurity threats to and vulnerabilities of critical national information, communication, and data network infrastructure.
Establishes a Secure Products and Services Acquisitions Board to review and approve high value products and services acquisition and establish validation standards for software to be acquired by the federal government.
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MLUTiger · Aug 28, 2009

and here is the full text in pdf format: http://www.govtrack.us/data/us/bills.text/111/s/s773is.pdf