Cybersecurity Act of 2009
In the past I voiced my concern over the media blackout of coverage on H.R. 1955 and S. 1959 the Violent and Radicalized Homegrown Terrorist Prevention Act. I showed the frighting relation between Naomi Wolf’s End of America speech and the attempt to pass this bill.
One of the 10 tipping points Naomi Wolf mentions is being able to cut communications. That’s just the kind of power the government is now aiming for with the Cybersecurity Act of 2009.
Once again the mainstream media including NPR have remained chillingly silent over this bill. How can people fight against the passage of this bill, if they don’t know it exists. Perhaps that is the point.
I would like to thank WordArc for a mention in relation to this bill: “OBAMA WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE INTERNET?“
CDT.org: Cybersecurity Bill Proposes Unprecedented Government Power Over the Internet
A cybersecurity bill introduced today in the Senate would give the federal government extraordinary power over private sector Internet services, applications and software. The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 would, for example, give the President unfettered power to shut down Internet traffic in emergencies or disconnect any critical infrastructure system or network on national security grounds. The bill would grant the Commerce Department the ability to override all privacy laws to access any information about Internet usage in connection with a new role in tracking cybersecurity threats. The bill, introduced by Sens. John Rockefeller and Olympia Snowe, would also give the government unprecedented control over computer software and Internet services, threatening innovation, freedom and privacy. CDT President and CEO Leslie Harris said, “The cybersecurity threat is real, but such a drastic federal intervention in private communications technology and networks could harm both security and privacy.” April 01, 2009
eWeek.com: Bill Would Grant President Unprecedented Cyber-security Powers
The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 introduced in the Senate would allow the president to shut down private Internet networks. The legislation also calls for the government to have the authority to demand security data from private networks without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule or policy restricting such access.
NetworkWorld.com: Bill would give Obama power to shut down Internet, networks during cyber attacks
Federal legislation introduced in the Senate this week would give President Obama the power to declare a cybersecurity emergency and then shut down both public and private networks including Internet traffic coming to and from compromised systems.
The proposed legislation, introduced April 1, also would give the President the power to “order the disconnection of any Federal government or United States critical infrastructure information systems or networks in the interest of national security.”
Some critics of the bill say that phrase needs to be more clearly defined.
cnet.com: A bill to shift cybersecurity to White House
Forthcoming legislation would wrest cybersecurity responsibilities from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and transfer them to the White House, a proposed move that likely will draw objections from industry groups and some conservatives.
CNET News has obtained a summary of a proposal from Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) that would create an Office of the National Cybersecurity Advisor, part of the Executive Office of the President. That office would receive the power to disconnect, if it believes they’re at risk of a cyberattack, “critical” computer networks from the Internet.
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