Internet Shut Down

[Janice71dg]

What are your thoughts on s.773, Cybersecurity Act of 2009 , introduced by Senator Jay Rockerfeller ?
Theories abound at this point . My SO interpets it as meaning the entire network will be shut down . I did not read it that way .

[HAVE_A_HEART]

Ok...I will bite..what does it say?

[Janice71dg]

I indexed, ' Obama to shut down internet ' , and got a number of links . If I could cut and paste , I would . This is not a rumor , as I understand the bill has been introduced and is waiting to be passed .
My SO received this info from , ' Campaignforliberty.com. '

[ZenDog]

Yeah. But what does it mean really? That is unclear. The fact that the meaning is unclear is a part of the problem, isn't it?

Part of the bill requires the creation of an advisory panel, that will research and provide advice to the President on the issue of cyber security. So whose interests will be served on this panel?

Some people really freak over the free flow of ideas and information.

[larry kremis]

Most legislation is ambiguous, that way, the supreme court with all it's presidential appointees can interpret the law any way they choose.

[J Lee S]

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s773/show
Lets see if this provides the info.

[Alendar]

Wow, thank J Lee. The power to shut down the internet?? Great.

[Chez moi]

I haven't read it all, but it appears to say there will be a capability to shut down traffic to and from threatened government sites in case of hacking or other cyber-attack. That is surely not the same as shutting down the whole system.

[Alendar]

"...any compromised Federal Government or United States critical infrastructure information system or network..."

Since private banks turned out to be critical infrastructure, I can't see how any part of the internet can avoid being classified as critical. Almost every backbone of the internet must be government funded to some degree.

[larry kremis]

I hope they don't shut down the whole system, I would suffer serious withdrawal symptoms without TBD.

[Chez moi]

If we quit talking politics, maybe they'll leave us alone...?
,-)

[darroll]

Dial up my modem, then we still can shoot the Bull (No Pun intended, Bull)

[ZenDog]

The bill also calls on the Department of Commerce to establish and maintain a clearinghouse on information related to cybsecurity threat and vulnerability information to public and private infrastructure deemed "critical" by the President.

the Department of Commerce?

the Department of Commerce?

Doesn't that strike anyone as just a bit ODD?