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Obama may get power to shut down Internet without court oversight

Cold Highway

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The Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act was introduced last year by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in an effort to combat cyber-crime and the threat of online warfare and terrorism.

But critics argue that if the law really changed nothing, it wouldn't be necessary. And they point out that the Communications Act of 1934 only gives the president the ability to shut down communications during times of war, whereas the proposed bill would allow it during times of "national cyberemergency," a concept evidently left to the president to define.

Got to love the newspeak coming out of Washington. Does the first amendment mean nothing to these people?

Obama may get power to shut down Internet without court oversight | Raw Story
 
Non sense, the internet industry and everything so tightly associated with it are not just going to be shut down one morning.
 
I thought he was already granted this?

I'm wrong - somewhere- somehow - I have misread something. *rare* but it happens.
 
S3480 is on the Senate docket (Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 698.)

Here's the 'summary'

Official Summary
6/10/2010--Introduced.Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of 2010 - Establishes in the Executive Office of the President an Office of Cyberspace Policy, which shall:
(1) develop a national strategy to increase the security and resiliency of cyberspace;
(2) oversee, coordinate, and integrate federal policies and activities relating to cyberspace security and resiliency;
(3) ensure that all federal agencies comply with appropriate guidelines, policies, and directives from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), other federal agencies with responsibilities relating to cyberspace security or resiliency, and the National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications (established by this Act); and
(4) ensure that federal agencies have access to, receive, and appropriately disseminate law enforcement, intelligence, terrorism, and any other information relevant to the security of specified federal, military, and intelligence information infrastructure. Requires the President to appoint a Director of Cyberspace Policy. Provides for access by the Director to specified cybersecurity-related information. Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA) to establish within DHS a National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications (NCCC), which shall be headed by a Director, who shall:
(1) work cooperatively with the private sector and lead the federal effort to secure, protect, and ensure the resiliency of the federal and national information infrastructure; and
(2) work with the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection to coordinate the information, communications, and physical infrastructure protection responsibilities and activities of NCCC and the Office of Infrastructure Protection. Transfers to NCCC the National Cyber Security Division, the Office of Emergency Communications, and the National Communications System. Establishes within NCCC the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), which shall:
(1) collect, coordinate, and disseminate information on risks to specified federal information infrastructure and security controls; and
(2) establish a mechanism for engagement with the private sector. Requires the NCCC Director to:
(1) establish a program for sharing information with and between NCCC and other federal agencies;
(2) develop guidelines to protect the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. persons and intelligence sources and methods;
(3) establish a program to promote and provide technical assistance relating to the implementation of best practices and related standards and guidelines for securing the national information infrastructure; and
(4) identify and evaluate the cyber vulnerabilities to covered critical infrastructure on a continuous and sector-by-sector basis and issue regulations establishing risk-based security performance requirements to secure covered critical infrastructure against cyber vulnerabilities. Authorizes the President to issue a declaration of a national cyber emergency to covered critical infrastructure. Requires the President to then notify the owners and operators of the infrastructure of the nature of the emergency, consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods. Requires the NCCC Director to take specified steps, including immediately directing the owners and operators to implement required response plans and to ensure that emergency actions represent the least disruptive means feasible to operations. Terminates such an emergency measure or action 30 days after the President's declaration, with 30-day extensions authorized if the NCCC Director or the President affirms that such measure or action remains necessary to address the continuing emergency. Requires each owner or operator of covered critical infrastructure to certify to the NCCC Director whether the owner or operator has developed and implemented approved security measures and any applicable emergency measures or actions required for any cyber vulnerabilities and national cyber emergencies. Sets forth civil penalties for violations. Requires the DHS Secretary and the private sector to develop, periodically update, and implement a supply chain risk management strategy designed to ensure the security of the federal information infrastructure. Sets forth provisions regarding the information security authority and functions of the NCCC Director and executive agency responsibilities. Requires NCCC to annually oversee, coordinate, and develop guidance for the effective implementation of operational evaluations of the federal information infrastructure and agency information security programs and practices to determine their effectiveness. Authorizes the NCCC Director to order the isolation of any component of the federal information infrastructure if:
(1) an agency does not implement measures in an approved risk-based plan; and
(2) the failure to comply presents a significant danger to the federal information infrastructure. Establishes in the executive branch a Federal Information Security Taskforce, which shall be the principal interagency forum for collaboration regarding best practices and recommendations for agency information security and the security of the federal information infrastructure. Requires each agency with an Inspector General appointed under the Inspector General Act of 1978 to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the information security program and evaluations. Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the NCCC Director to assess the readiness and capacity of the federal workforce to meet the needs of the cybersecurity mission of the federal government. Requires the OPM Director to develop and implement a comprehensive workforce strategy that enhances the readiness, capacity, training, and recruitment and retention of federal cybersecurity personnel. Requires the head of each federal agency to:
(1) develop a strategic cybersecurity workforce plan as part of its performance plan; and
(2) measure and collect information on indicators of the effectiveness of the recruitment and hiring of a workforce needed to fulfill the agency's cybersecurity mission. Requires the OPM Director, in coordination with:
(1) the NCCC Director, to develop and issue comprehensive occupation classifications for federal employees engaged in cybersecurity missions; and
(2) the NCCC Director, the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense (DOD), and the Chief Information Officers Council, to establish a cybersecurity awareness and education curriculum that shall be required for all federal employees and contractors engaged in the design, development, or operation of agency information infrastructure. Amends HSA to direct the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, in coordination with the NCCC Director, to carry out a research and development program for the purpose of improving the security of information infrastructure. Directs the DHS Secretary to establish a National Cybersecurity Advisory Council to advise the NCCC Director.
 
he wouldn't dare shut down the internet. in that case everyone would have to get off their asses and look to the real world for something to do. and in the process many would discover the absolute **** of a society we have out there and then they'd wanna change it. this is the last thing any self respecting central planner wants. trust me, it's in his best interest that the internet is turned on and we're sucking up the instructions as quick as our meager bandwidth can feed it to us.
 
Unlikely it will pass the GOP controlled House
 
You obviously underestimate the power that is the federal government.

On one hand you constantly complain about the private sector being far more efficient than the government at virtually everything, on the other you say the government is capable and all-powerful. And then you Libertarians wonder why we don't take you seriously.
 
did no one actually READ the bill, or even the summary?
...immediately directing the owners and operators to implement required response plans and to ensure that emergency actions represent the least disruptive means feasible to operations.

I could be wrong, but I'd bet the President shutting off the Internet would not qualify as least disruptive means feasible to operations... meaning he couldn't do it, per this bill.
 
That should be illegal, unless there is a national emergency.
 
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You know, Bush tried the same thing when he was in office, and Liberals raised so much hell over it that the plan was dropped. Where is the Liberal outrage now? The idea is just as repugnant now as it was then, but should a "D" after one's name give him a pass? Hell no!

... but it does...
 
is there anything in the summary I just posted that indicates the President could just 'shut the Internet off'?

Is there anything in that summary that says he can't? From a constitutional standpoint, that is.
 
he wouldn't dare shut down the internet. in that case everyone would have to get off their asses and look to the real world for something to do. and in the process many would discover the absolute **** of a society we have out there and then they'd wanna change it. this is the last thing any self respecting central planner wants. trust me, it's in his best interest that the internet is turned on and we're sucking up the instructions as quick as our meager bandwidth can feed it to us.

I bet that's what the Egytians and Iranians said, too.
 
You know, Bush tried the same thing when he was in office, and Liberals raised so much hell over it that the plan was dropped. Where is the Liberal outrage now? The idea is just as repugnant now as it was then, but should a "D" after one's name give him a pass? Hell no!

When you consider that there are probably more Tea Party folks in the United States than there are Egytian rebels in Egypt, you bet your ass it gives him a pass.

Obama is watching and learning from recent events around the world.
 
Is there anything in that summary that says he can't? From a constitutional standpoint, that is.

There is nothing in a McDonald's menu that says you can't order filet mignon either. DO YOU KNOW HOW LEGISLATION WORKS?!?!?!? For ****s sake learn to read a ****ing bill.
 
Is there anything in that summary that says he can't? From a constitutional standpoint, that is.

strawman.

We are not arguing what Obama can do without the bill even being a factor... we are arguing what Obama can do if the bill becomes law.

I have read the bill. There is nothing in it that gives Obama the authority to just shut the internet off. Nothing.

I think Obama is the worst president we've had in 40 years... and even I think whining about this bill allowing him to shut off the internet is a crock of ****.
 
There is nothing in a McDonald's menu that says you can't order filet mignon either. DO YOU KNOW HOW LEGISLATION WORKS?!?!?!? For ****s sake learn to read a ****ing bill.

Are you even a member of this forum?
 
Never happen.....the smart move is to control the spread of information, not cut it off. Besides, once the fun sites are cut off, the people will be on the streets. Not what the govt wants. A better place for our moronic masses is sitting in front of their computers in their jammies.
 
strawman.

We are not arguing what Obama can do without the bill even being a factor... we are arguing what Obama can do if the bill becomes law.

I have read the bill. There is nothing in it that gives Obama the authority to just shut the internet off. Nothing.

I think Obama is the worst president we've had in 40 years... and even I think whining about this bill allowing him to shut off the internet is a crock of ****.

I worry more about what limits a bill has. I don't see anything in this bill that prevents the government from shutting down the internet in a time of, "emergency".
 
I worry more about what limits a bill has. I don't see anything in this bill that prevents the government from shutting down the internet in a time of, "emergency".

So the argument has morphed from 'this bill gives Obama the authority to simply shut off the internet', to 'this bill doesn't specifically prevent Obama from shutting off the internet'.

Sorry, but that dog won't hunt.
 
Are you even a member of this forum?

5 years in October. How long you been here again? Glad to see you can't read a bill though.
 
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