Senators propose granting president emergency Internet power

cnet ^ | 06/11/2010 | declan mcclugagh

[devane617]

A new U.S. Senate bill would grant the president far-reaching emergency powers to seize control of or even shut down portions of the Internet. The legislation announced Thursday says that companies such as broadband providers, search engines, or software firms that the government selects "shall immediately comply with any emergency measure or action developed" by the Department of Homeland Security. Anyone failing to comply would be fined.

[devane617]

OK, so now I know how he is planning to do it...

[The Wizard]

NEVER

[dragonblustar]

Freaking hell.... Dictator for life.

[Westbrook]

Yes, of course, let’s give the pantywaist Fuhrer and his goon minions absolute power over public discourse.

[jessduntno]

“Because there are few limits on the president’s emergency power, which can be renewed indefinitely, the densely worded 197-page bill (PDF) is likely to encounter stiff opposition.”

These idiots need a stiff one all right...

[xkaydet65]

If they can do this. they can institue an ECOMCON from Seven Days in May, and we’ll all be watching Obama productions 24/7.

[Windflier]

Orwellian.

It’ll start Revolution II, if they do this.

[BenLurkin]

Not just no, but — Hell No!

[mnehring]

China?

[basil]

One can only hope that “stiff opposition” steps up to the plate if necessary.

[devane617]

I have been expecting a move like this and I believe using DHS to take over the Internet with or without legislative approval can already be done.

[Thermalseeker]

This dude is literally begging for riots in the streets.....

[FormerACLUmember]

The White House Psycho is one of the last people on earth to have any say on the Internet.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

“It’ll start Revolution II, if they do this.”

People have been saying that a lot over the last few weeks.

[sodpoodle]

“Our economic security, national security and public safety are now all at risk from new kinds of enemies—cyber-warriors, cyber-spies, cyber-terrorists and cyber-criminals.”

Say it isn’t so;(

[Redleg Duke]

Lieberman and Snowe. Figures.

[catnipman]

Hey, just like good ol’ Hugo in Venezuela, right? My question is why stop at the Internet? Why not allow seizure of all television and radio channels too, while we’re at it?

[BuckeyeTexan]

There will be blood. Count on it.

[DBrow]

“This dude is literally begging for riots in the streets...”

But if this passes, the riot will be organized via mimeograph, not Twitter, and nobody who was not there would ever hear about it.

Revere got good mileage out of his Boston Massacre etchings, but at that time communication was just as slow for the colonists as it was for the Crown.

[Crimson Elephant]

This has been in the pipeline for years, but called conspiracy theory...just like a lot of things.

People are asleep until it is too late.