BREAKING: Obama may get power to shut down Internet without court oversight

A bill giving the president an Internet "kill switch" during times of emergency that failed to pass Congress last year will return this year, but with a revision that has many civil liberties advocates concerned: It will give the president the ability to shut down parts of the Internet without any court oversight.

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.

Critics said the bill would allow the president to disconnect Internet networks and force private websites to comply with broad cybersecurity measures. Future US presidents would have those powers renewed indefinitely.

According to a report Monday at CNET News, the bill will be back on the Senate agenda in the new year. But a revision introduced into the bill in December would exempt the law from judicial oversight. According to critics, this change would open the law to politically-motivated abuse by any administration, no matter how narrowly the law is interpreted.

"The country we're seeking to protect is a country that respects the right of any individual to have their day in court," Steve DelBianco, director of the NetChoice coalition, which represents online companies such as eBay and Yahoo, told CNET. "Yet this bill would deny that day in court to the owner of infrastructure."

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It will give the president the ability to shut down parts of the Internet without any court oversight

What parts? Who has the say of what "parts" are closed down? Only Presidential authority?

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 cybermergency," a concept evidently left to the president to define.

Good find OP

He has to be president first. OBONGO IS NOT PRESIDENT.

Dem troll
1/10

Thanks. This will be interesting to see if it ever happens...they must want civil war.

Its for our own safety people, relax.

He isn't a real president, not even close. This piece of shit kenyan con-man is carrying out direct orders from his scumbag NWO thug handlers. This obvious piece of info should be clear to all by now, if it isn't, you need to fire up the MRI machine and check for MAJOR BRAIN DAMAGE.

there is no excuse to shut down the internet ever it is needed more in emergencys

to shut it down is only for control and to keep people from not having access to help, aids, family in times of need

Uh yes, there is "an excuse" : ipv6, already next month.
It was on the news here only a few days ago.
They will blame the bits ´n bytes ofcourse.

Let him shut it down. Think things are chaotic out on the streets now; just wait until all the savages get unplugged! Bring it!

It's for the children.

What kind of monster could be against anything that's for the children?