2009-04-14

the power to shut down the internet

A bill recently proposed by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) would give the federal government power to shut down the Internet in case of an emergency. The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 would give the president the ability to "order a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic" and give the government ongoing access to "all relevant data concerning (critical infrastructure) networks without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule, or policy restricting such access." According to the Washington Post the White House has no endorsed the bill but has had a hand in its language. No amendments to the draft bill have yet been submitted. Other than the vague definition of an emergency, there are also privacy concerns with the bill. From the Electronic Frontier Foundation:

The Secretary of Commerce— shall have access to all relevant data concerning (critical infrastructure) networks without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule, or policy restricting such access…


I feel like I've been on an Obama bashing spree, but here's more to add to the list, although not as major as the previous posts. Obama has appointed a 5th former RIAA lawyer for the justice department. The interesting thing with all these things recently is that they're all related. The DOJ has a hand with both the NSA wiretapping cases and Bagram prison. No surprise knowing who's filling the ranks over there.


Apparently Supreme Court Justice Clarance Thomas admits to having an uneasy relationship with the Bill of Rights. “Today there is much focus on our rights,” Justice Thomas said. “Indeed, I think there is a proliferation of rights.”

“I am often surprised by the virtual nobility that seems to be accorded those with grievances,” he continues. “Shouldn’t there at least be equal time for our Bill of Obligations and our Bill of Responsibilities?”

This is quite scary if this is his view on the Bill of Rights, since last time I checked the duty of the Supreme Court is to interpret the Constitution, not brush it aside.

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