Bill could give President control of internet.

2009-08-28 16:27:08

#1

-Whiteroom-: Pineapplewhat; +572|6947|BC, Canada

Just saw this over at tomshardware:

Dude over at tomshardware wrote:
Now here's a scary thought: the President of the United States taking control of the Internet. Yet that's the "emergency" power a Senate bill plans to provide if passed, offering the President a "kill switch" by seizing private networks and shutting down online traffic during a cybersecurity emergency. A revision to the bill appeared today, months after the bill was first drafted by Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, and then slammed for "dangerous government intrusion."

The new revision of the Cybersecurity Act of 2009, according to Fox News, is supposedly improved over the original draft. Yet the "troubling language" found in the original bill has now been replaced by "vague language" that may still provide the same super powers to the President. "The current language is so unclear that we can't be confident that the changes have actually been made," said Larry Clinton, president of the Internet Security Alliance, a organization that represents the telecommunications industry.

CNET has a thorough article in regards to the new draft, reporting that the bill will permit the president to "direct the national response to the cyber threat," and the White house will be able to engage in "periodic mapping" of private networks deemed to be critical. "If your company is deemed "critical," a new set of regulations kick in involving who you can hire, what information you must disclose, and when the government would exercise control over your computers
or network," CNET reports.

Dont like the sounds of that very much.

link: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Cybersecuri … -4532.html

Last edited by Nic (2009-08-28 16:27:42)

2009-08-28 18:01:26

#2

xBlackPantherx: Grow up, or die; +142|6631|California

Reminds me of "Live Free or Die Hard". The president having the ability to sever cybernetic ties in the event of an emergency. Tbh I couldn't really think of an cybernetic emergency so large to require this but I'd like to maybe read this bill though.

2009-08-28 18:22:43

#3

ATG: Banned; +5,233|6817|Global Command

I look at it thusly; obama has got balls. He is not hiding.

With bush and clinton we got the impression that we were free, but really they sowed the seeds of the big government take over.

With obama it's straight up; " we are here to fuck you up and take your ass over. All for the banks and nothing but debt for you ".

He is out in the open. Let's give him credit for that.

2009-08-28 18:27:30

#4

xBlackPantherx: Grow up, or die; +142|6631|California

ATG wrote:
I look at it thusly; obama has got balls. He is not hiding.

With bush and clinton we got the impression that we were free, but really they sowed the seeds of the big government take over.

With obama it's straight up; " we are here to fuck you up and take your ass over. All for the banks and nothing but debt for you ".

He is out in the open. Let's give him credit for that.

Was this bill put up by Obama? No. Wasn't it already "slammed" shut by the Senate before? Yes.

Are you simply bashing him because you can? Yes.

2009-08-28 18:45:27

#5

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6889|132 and Bush

Control over certain servers in the event of a cyberattack.

This is the Cnet article that started it all..
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10320096-38.html

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-08-28 18:50:09

#6

Doctor Strangelove: Real Battlefield Veterinarian.; +1,758|6756

Kmarion wrote:
Control over certain servers in the event of a cyberattack.

This is the Cnet article that started it all..
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10320096-38.html

So basically it just extends his invasion/rebellion powers to the internet.

That's fine.

2009-08-28 18:53:22

#7

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6889|132 and Bush

Doctor Strangelove wrote:
Kmarion wrote:
Control over certain servers in the event of a cyberattack.

This is the Cnet article that started it all..
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10320096-38.html
So basically it just extends his invasion/rebellion powers to the internet.

That's fine.

Those powers are handed back to congress asap. I think the problem here is the language.. er lack of it. It's rather vague.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-08-28 19:03:29

#8

ATG: Banned; +5,233|6817|Global Command

xBlackPantherx wrote:
ATG wrote:
I look at it thusly; obama has got balls. He is not hiding.

With bush and clinton we got the impression that we were free, but really they sowed the seeds of the big government take over.

With obama it's straight up; " we are here to fuck you up and take your ass over. All for the banks and nothing but debt for you ".

He is out in the open. Let's give him credit for that.
Was this bill put up by Obama? No. Wasn't it already "slammed" shut by the Senate before? Yes.

Are you simply bashing him because you can? Yes.

Sheesh dude. I gave the guy credit for being straight up.

2009-08-29 04:05:51

#9

Chorcai: Member; +49|6936|Ireland

America the land of the not so free and deeply paranoid.

2009-08-29 10:46:43

#10

(T)eflon(S)hadow: R.I.P. Neda; +456|7117|Grapevine, TX

Aye Chorcai

When you read details of the bill, you’ll understand why Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, spent months squirreled away behind closed doors drafting a new, revised, more authoritarian version of this chilling bill.

Here’s how cnet.com reports the story:

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.”

C’mon, relax. ObamaNet will only occur during emergencies. Like when the President wants to hold another prime time press conference. Or when decides to name himself Emperor For Life. Or other stuff.

2009-08-29 11:50:33

#11

Harmor: Error_Name_Not_Found; +605|6837|San Diego, CA, USA

This is Fascism...

Funny that there's no uproar if George W. Bush tried to do something like this.

2009-08-29 15:15:52

#12

Chorcai: Member; +49|6936|Ireland

Harmor wrote:
This is Fascism...

Funny that there's no uproar if George W. Bush tried to do something like this.

Wouldn't go that far but the US is becoming so insular and inane now.

2009-08-29 15:51:55

#13

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|6699|'Murka

There are currently no laws that provide for protection of critical infrastructure networks. Networks that are centers of gravity for our nation--both governmental and private.

It's a sticky wicket, to say the least. How do we provide for the protection of those critical infrastructure while maintaining private freedoms?

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

2009-08-29 17:25:48

#14

Turquoise: O Canada; +1,596|6693|North Carolina

FEOS wrote:
There are currently no laws that provide for protection of critical infrastructure networks. Networks that are centers of gravity for our nation--both governmental and private.

It's a sticky wicket, to say the least. How do we provide for the protection of those critical infrastructure while maintaining private freedoms?

Pretty much. I'm glad you're being consistent about this.

I'm not a fan of the Patriot Act, but I'm also not a fan of this legislation either.

Still, I can see where you're coming from. In a way, I agree with your rationale here and with the one you have for the Patriot Act (and FISA in general).

Last edited by Turquoise (2009-08-29 17:26:20)

2009-08-29 18:22:31

#15

Spark: liquid fluoride thorium reactor; +874|6963|Canberra, AUS

Vague language is never good in a law like this. Makes people justly nervous.

The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
^{~ Richard Feynman}

2009-08-29 21:14:32

#16

Harmor: Error_Name_Not_Found; +605|6837|San Diego, CA, USA

Let him try to use that power and see the backlash from it. If you think people are pissed now about Health care, wait til they learn that all their emails and internet traffic is being monitored.

Actually if there was a true internet attack I think the DOJ should allow us to download and install applications to our computers to make a giant botnet against the intruders (I would replace my SETI program with that if it had kewl graphics).

2009-08-29 21:32:38

#17

ATG: Banned; +5,233|6817|Global Command

Harmor wrote:
This is Fascism...

Funny that there's no uproar if George W. Bush tried to do something like this.

I call bs.

2009-08-29 21:56:50

#18

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6889|132 and Bush

Chorcai wrote:
America the land of the not so free and deeply paranoid.

Wait.. so we are not really free but we're paranoid for thinking so?

Spark wrote:
Vague language is never good in a law like this. Makes people justly nervous.

That was my point as well. 55 pages for a bill? That's got to be a record of some kind.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-08-29 22:12:47

#19

Harmor: Error_Name_Not_Found; +605|6837|San Diego, CA, USA

Kmarion wrote:
That was my point as well. 55 pages for a bill? That's got to be a record of some kind.

In vagueness?

Don't worry, 3am on the day the bill will be voted on they'll add 300 pages to the bill and none on the floor (OR US), will have time to read it.

2009-08-29 22:17:32

#20

Hurricane2k9: Pendulous Sweaty Balls; +1,538|5990|College Park, MD

over my corpse

and shit like power plants and all that are not connected to the internet.

https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/36793/marylandsig.jpg

2009-08-29 22:22:30

#21

Harmor: Error_Name_Not_Found; +605|6837|San Diego, CA, USA

Why the hell are they putting power plants on the internet. The IT guy who thinks that's a good idea should be forced to clean poop up at the circus for the rest of his life.

Gee wiz.

Powerplants should be completely autistic - not connnected to ANYTHING other than the powerlines with the power they generate.

2009-08-29 22:24:11

#22

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6889|132 and Bush

I'm sure it's not for shitz and giggles. It probably cost them millions to network.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-08-29 22:32:18

#23

Kmar: Truth is my Bitch; +5,695|6889|132 and Bush

hmm http://www.securityinfowatch.com/Utilit … net-attack

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg1 … news_rss20
Note: Before this bill was proposed.

The Bush Admin had concerns as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2070706.stm

Cyber surveillance

Local authorities, the FBI and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have been investigating a suspicious pattern of surveillance of computers in Silicon Valley last autumn, according to a report in the Washington Post.

A summary of the investigation prepared by the US Defense Department found "multiple casings of sites" not only in California but across the US.

A new attack might be more subtle
The surveillance was routed through telecommunications switches in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Pakistan and focussed on emergency telephone systems, water storage and distribution, and the power grid and power plants, including nuclear power plants.

Some of the searches suggested no more than reconnaissance for a conventional attack against key infrastructure, but analysis also showed the searchers were interested in digital systems that controlled emergency dispatch systems and industrial controls.

Xbone Stormsurgezz

2009-08-29 22:45:37

#24

Harmor: Error_Name_Not_Found; +605|6837|San Diego, CA, USA

There are, at any one time, thousands of computers sitting there going though every IP address looking for open ports and trying to gleam any information about a system that is vulnerable.

Again, why are any of these systems on the internet? If they MUST be on the internet they should have dedicated satellite narrow-ban uplinks to so-called weather satellites controlled by the DOJ.

We've known for decades the Chinese have been stealing technology as fast as we make it. Look at our sub technology they implemented recently...it wasn't organic research I can tell you that.

2009-08-29 22:49:19

#25

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|6699|'Murka

Kmarion wrote:
That was my point as well. 55 pages for a bill? That's got to be a record of some kind.

For shortness, I'm guessing you mean.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

BF2S Forums Bill could give President control of internet.

Dude over at tomshardware wrote:

ATG wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

Doctor Strangelove wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

xBlackPantherx wrote:

ATG wrote:

Harmor wrote:

FEOS wrote:

Harmor wrote:

Chorcai wrote:

Spark wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

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