We apologize for scaring you with our previous article, This site closed for your protection. We even had a near-panic at the worldwide IHateTheMedia headquarters as staff not in the loop this Saturday called in checking on their jobs.
A new Senate bill is freaking out internet companies and civil liberties groups, because it would allow the president to seize control of privately-owned networks during any ill-defined “cybersecurity emergency.”
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.
Source: cnet.com
