If you’re taken aback by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s clamping down on Internet/social networking communications, consider that the so-called Internet “kill switch” bill isn’t dead in this country. From The Daily Caller (warning: there is a vulgarity at the bottom of the story):
First proposed in June 2010 by independent Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act would give unprecedented emergency powers to the federal government. At a conference last week, Brandon Milhorn, Republican staff director and counsel for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said that the Senate was revisiting the bill, which would conceivably empower the executive branch to demand that ISPs disable their networks or block access.
According to CNET’s Declan McCullagh, “The revised version includes new language saying that the federal government’s designation of vital Internet or other computer systems ‘shall not be subject to judicial review.’ Another addition expanded the definition of critical infrastructure to include ‘provider of information technology,’ and a third authorized the submission of ‘classified’ reports on security vulnerabilities.”
CBS News also wrote about the “kill switch” bill a few days ago.
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31
2011 At 9:17 am, Eric Weaver Said:
A good technological solution would be for us to figure out how to leverage existing privately owned network infrastructure to be able to provide peer-to-peer connectivity in a network where no central control is possible. It can be done, technologically, and MUST be done if we think that we are also in line for having a government-controlled “kill switch.” There is no apparatus of government that can shut down everything, if we develop alternatives that do not require commercial ISPs. It won;t be as pretty or have the same resources available, but it can be done.
The “kill switch:” Talk about a tool for infringing on our liberties of free speech and free association! I venture that free association must by definition include the right to free virtual association via telephone, data, and other services, and not just meeting at the town square.
31
2011 At 9:33 am, Bubba Warbux Said:
Amateur Radio operators across the globe have set up packet radio data networks via their free, over-the-air frequency assignments. In an emergency as described, there would still be ways of getting news out, even if the vast majority of citizens didn’t have direct access. Ham radio’s motto has long been, “When all else fails, amateur radio succeeds.”
31
2011 At 5:12 pm, Eric Weaver Said:
I know. K4WVR here.
There is TCP/IP over packet as well, but most is pretty low speed. I will admit to not being as current as I ought to be on high speed packet, though…