Legal Niches

Lieberman Proposes Internet Kill Switch Powers for POTUS

By james_fudge

How would you feel if the president of the United States had the ability to turn off access to the internet in the United States under the guise of a serious security emergency. A new 197 page bill (Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act, or PCNAA) sponsored by Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman would give the president a "kill switch" and force broadband providers, search engines and other web-based companies to comply with orders to shut down services. Those that do not comply under this new bill would be fined.

Under PCNAA, the Federal Government would have the power to force private companies to comply with emergency decrees. These companies would be on a list that is to be compiled by Homeland Security based on their reliance on "the internet, the telephone system or any other component of the US information infrastructure." These companies would be under the command by a new National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications (NCCC) that would be created inside Homeland Security. In other words another layer of bureaucracy.. Read More

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Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on June 16, 2010 (boomark / email).