Bill would give president emergency control of Internet

[lovuian]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10320096-38.html

Internet companies and civil liberties groups were alarmed this spring when a U.S. Senate bill proposed handing the White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from the Internet.

They're not much happier about a revised version that aides to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, have spent months drafting behind closed doors. CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.



The new version would allow the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for "cybersecurity professionals," and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.

"I think the redraft, while improved, remains troubling due to its vagueness," said Larry Clinton, president of the Internet Security Alliance, which counts representatives of Verizon, Verisign, Nortel, and Carnegie Mellon University on its board. "It is unclear what authority Sen. Rockefeller thinks is necessary over the private sector. Unless this is clarified, we cannot properly analyze, let alone support the bill."

Representatives of other large Internet and telecommunications companies expressed concerns about the bill in a teleconference with Rockefeller's aides this week, but were not immediately available for interviews on Thursday.

A spokesman for Rockefeller also declined to comment on the record Thursday, saying that many people were unavailable because of the summer recess. A Senate source familiar with the bill compared the president's power to take control of portions of the Internet to what President Bush did when grounding all aircraft on Sept. 11, 2001. The source said that one primary concern was the electrical grid, and what would happen if it were attacked from a broadband connection.

more...
Why do I feel this Bill will pass and healthcare won't

[Laelth]

1. k&r for exposure. This is important.

And this bill stinks.

I am more worried now than I have been since November.

:dem:

-Laelth

[lovuian]

2. Jena Longo, deputy communications director for the Senate Commerce

The president of the United States has always had the constitutional authority, and duty, to protect the American people and direct the national response to any emergency that threatens the security and safety of the United States. The Rockefeller-Snowe Cybersecurity bill makes it clear that the president's authority includes securing our national cyber infrastructure from attack. The section of the bill that addresses this issue, applies specifically to the national response to a severe attack or natural disaster. This particular legislative language is based on longstanding statutory authorities for wartime use of communications networks. To be very clear, the Rockefeller-Snowe bill will not empower a "government shutdown or takeover of the Internet" and any suggestion otherwise is misleading and false. The purpose of this language is to clarify how the president directs the public-private response to a crisis, secure our economy and safeguard our financial networks, protect the American people, their privacy and civil liberties, and coordinate the government's response.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10320096-38.html

[babylonsister]

3. Take a deep breath

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200908280043


Take a deep breath

August 28, 2009 8:03 pm ET by Jamison Foser

Matt Drudge is currently blaring this lead headline: "BILL WOULD GIVE OBAMA 'EMERGENCY' CONTROL OF INTERNET."

That links to this CNET article. Now, I'll admit I don't know much of anything about the issue. Maybe the article is spot-on. But I do know something about Declan McCullagh, the reporter whose byline appears on the article. He's the guy who started the "Al Gore claimed he invented the Internet" nonsense that helped elect George W. Bush.

So before you get too worried about Drudge's alarmist headline, maybe you should take a deep breath, consider the source -- and wait for a better one.

[Uzybone]

5. thanks for trying to douse the stupid hysteria

[babylonsister]

6. It's always good to know who's spreading the trash around. nt

[Laelth]

7. Admittedly, I am not fond of either the author or the source.

I am still worried.

:dem:

-Laelth

[flyarm]

8. I have seen it in numerous publications and my inbox has been filled with emails about it! eom

[babylonsister]

9. Of course you are. nt

[lovuian]

10. thanks I didn't know

sorry if its wrong

[Anakin Skywalker]

4. Maybe He Will Shut Down All the

porn sites if enough people like the Phyllis Schaflys and Brent Bozos of the world complain?

[WeDidIt]

11. As far as I'm concerned, fuck it. If the Repukes don't like it, they can fight it

I'm officially finished fighting my own party any more.

[WePurrsevere]

12. Link to the actual Senate Bill as it is ATM & Part About President & Internet....

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.00773:

Here's the pertinent section... emphasis is mine to show the part that seems to be at the crux of the article posted. Please note the "emergency control of the internet" in this Bill is specifically geared towards "any compromised Federal Government or United States critical infrastructure information system or network"

SEC. 18. CYBERSECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY.

The President--

(1) within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, shall develop and implement a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy, which shall include--

(A) a long-term vision of the Nation's cybersecurity future; and

(B) a plan that encompasses all aspects of national security, including the participation of the private sector, including critical infrastructure operators and managers;

(2) may declare a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic to and from any compromised Federal Government or United States critical infrastructure information system or network;

(3) shall designate an agency to be responsible for coordinating the response and restoration of any Federal Government or United States critical infrastructure information system or network affected by a cybersecurity emergency declaration under paragraph (2);

(4) shall, through the appropriate department or agency, review equipment that would be needed after a cybersecurity attack and develop a strategy for the acquisition, storage, and periodic replacement of such equipment;

(Con't a the link)

To actually shut down the whole internet would be extremely difficult. There's not one big switch really, there are lots of smaller ones from what I understand. Also the internet is so integrated into so many things now banking, communications, etc that to shut it totally down would not only be difficult but would probably cause a LOT more trouble then it's worth.

FWIW.. from what I understand from reading the OP so far the wording may need to be tweaked to make everyone happy but the civil rights groups are not actually objecting to this concept.. just the wording.