Senate Proposal Could Put Heavy Restrictions on Internet Freedoms

FoxNews ^ | Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | James Osborne

[Joiseydude]

A proposed bill that would give the president widespread power to shut down the Internet in the event of a cyberattack could have sweeping implications on civil liberties. The days of an open, largely unregulated Internet may soon come to an end.

A bill making its way through Congress proposes to give the U.S. government authority over all networks considered part of the nation's critical infrastructure. Under the proposed Cybersecurity Act of 2009, the president would have the authority to shut down Internet traffic to protect national security.

The government also would have access to digital data from a vast array of industries including banking, telecommunications and energy. A second bill, meanwhile, would create a national cybersecurity adviser -- commonly referred to as the cybersecurity czar -- within the White House to coordinate strategy with a wide range of federal agencies involved.

[Nick Danger]

[neocon1984]

There seem to be almost as many drama queens on this site as there are on the libbie sites. Makes we wonder about some of the newer Freepers.

Calm down. We have a long road ahead of us.

[Buckeye McFrog]

an emergency would be ten points down in the polls with a week and a half to go till the second Tuesday in November...

[bamahead]

Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

[Sudetenland]

Ain't it the truth. How many of the self-righteous Right stayed home because they couldn't vote for McCain?

I was there until I awoke to just how bad Obama was, then I gagged down my gorge and voted for "The Maverick"...I wasn't thrilled, but I did it and I don't regret it.

[Sudetenland]

“Useful idiots” are always the last to see it coming. Thomas Shuman (Yuri Bezminov) spoke to that point very clearly.

[Mojave]

Will he get to shut down our phones too?

[Sudetenland]

Huh...yeah that’ll happen with this Congress...in your dreams (and mine).

[Steamburg]

I think that is the same question the signers of the Declaration of Independence once ask themselves.

[upchuck]

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va, who introduced the bill earlier this month with bipartisan support...

His co-sponsors are Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Bill Nelson, D-Fla. What the hell is "bipartisan" about that??

"I know the threats we face." Rockefeller said in a prepared statement when the legislation was introduced.

BS Jay. Even the absolute best in the industry admit they don't know all the threats.

Take your power grab and shove it!

[Ike]

They’ll take my mouse from my cold, dead hands...

[mojitojoe]

Olympia Snowe is one of the co-sponsors of the bill! THROW HER OUT OF THE PARTY NOW!
____________
It’s time to have a week long tea party in front of her house.

[timetostand]

It seems to me that they will be able to scatter and isolate any real opposition!! They have their plans do we?

[Don Corleone]

And when did the internet become part of "the nation's critical infrastructure?"

Ask ALgore..he invented it!

[April Lexington]

It is a good idea to let Americans vent freely on sites like Free Republic and DU (for morons only). If this method of forum is taken away, frustrations might end up being vented in more tangible ways. That would not be good.

Our First Amendment freedom of speech must be protected at all costs, lest we fall further into the abyss of fascism. It is the great pressure valve of our republic (which, by the way was founded on revolution - the shootin kind- in 1775 and tested by revolution - the shootin kind- in 1861). Let the people speak...please!

[April Lexington]

Plus... Gandhi didn't need no stinkin internet!

[Don Corleone]

There’s no perfect solution, but at least the SC justices aren’t campaigning for office or in position to vote to bestow vast sums of taxpayer money on their cronies and campaign donors.

How naive!

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

At this rate Russia will be freer than we are by the next election cycle. God help us!

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[SkyPilot]

Under the proposed Cybersecurity Act of 2009, the president would have the authority to shut down Internet traffic to protect national security.

I would love to see the "script" Obama and his criminals are using. Everyday is just more bad news. By "Day 206" I expect the Concentration Camps should be open.