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Amnesia10
Legend
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am Posts: 29240 Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
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http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/06/18/doe ... ll-switch/ |  |  |  | Quote: A proposed bill could effectively give the president an Internet “kill switch.”
Senator Joseph Lieberman has proposed the Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act (PCNAA), a bill that would give the president the power to control or even shut down the Internet in emergency situations. Citing the need for cybersecurity, Lieberman said in a press release that the U.S.’s “economic security, national security and public safety are now all at risk from new kinds of enemies — cyber-warriors, cyber-spies, cyber-terrorists and cyber-criminals.”
The bill requires that U.S.-based companies such as Google and Yahoo, as well as broadband providers and software firms, comply with any and all measures that the government sees fit in an emergency.
Technology trade association, TechAmerica, has already expressed worry at the level of control the bill would grant the president if passed — levels that could have “unintended consequences.” Other countries are also decrying the bill, fearing the impact on their own security if the U.S. were to shut down essential parts of the Internet. (via CNET) |  |  |  |  |
_________________Do concentrate, 007... "You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds." https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTkhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21
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Sun Jun 20, 2010 3:40 am |
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belchingmatt
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri May 15, 2009 3:16 am Posts: 6146 Location: Middle Earth
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 As the yanks consider the internet a national asset they think now that they have to be able to control it, as seen by the rest of the world. What the world needs to do now is to remove reliance on the US as is being done with GPS. If the yanks don't want to play nice then let them play by themselves.
_________________ Dive like a fish, drink like a fish!
><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º> •.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•.¸><(((º>
If one is diving so close to the limits that +/- 1% will make a difference then the error has already been made.
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Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:46 am |
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Nick
Spends far too much time on here
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:36 pm Posts: 3527 Location: Portsmouth
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I agree - fair enough if they want to give their president the power to disconnect themselves. It's different if they want to break the whole damned thing, which it seems is what they are suggesting.
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Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:52 pm |
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forquare1
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:36 pm Posts: 5150 Location: /dev/tty0
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My site is hosted in the US, I'd be a little annoyed if my web site went down. OK, so hardly anyone views the site, but I'd be annoyed.
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Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:57 pm |
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Nick
Spends far too much time on here
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:36 pm Posts: 3527 Location: Portsmouth
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Yeah, same here. I wouldn't think the ISPs are very happy at the thought of this.
They must already have the ability to cut off government networks, surely that's enough? It's up to private companies to protect themselves.
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Sun Jun 20, 2010 11:08 pm |
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Amnesia10
Legend
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am Posts: 29240 Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
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I thought that the internet was designed so that if it were attacked it could cope. So would this off switch be treated as another attack?
If governments want to disconnect themselves that is fine but not impact the rest of us.
_________________Do concentrate, 007... "You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds." https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTkhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21
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Mon Jun 21, 2010 2:57 am |
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AlunD
Site Admin
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:12 am Posts: 7011 Location: Wiltshire
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+1 
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Mon Jun 21, 2010 5:15 am |
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davrosG5
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:37 am Posts: 6954 Location: Peebo
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This site (X404) is hosted in the US IIRC. Silly Americans. If that's the sort of stupidity they want to try then I hope the rest of the world will be routing round the problem so it can be isolated in an emergency. The only organisation that should be able to shut down the internet is the UN and I'm not sure I'd trust them either to be honest. I can't really forsee a situation where shutting it down would help short of some sort of total take-over by a rougue state (I'm looking at you China) or the rise of the machines (TM).
_________________ When they put teeth in your mouth, they spoiled a perfectly good bum. -Billy Connolly (to a heckler)
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Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:59 am |
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pcernie
Legend
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:30 pm Posts: 45931 Location: Belfast
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I wouldn't trust the UN to go out for a pint of milk...
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Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:04 pm |
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Amnesia10
Legend
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am Posts: 29240 Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
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The UN would be no better, because of countries like Saudi Arabia and North Korea. The arrogance to think that they have ownership of the internet.
_________________Do concentrate, 007... "You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds." https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTkhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21
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Mon Jun 21, 2010 1:02 pm |
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soddit112
Spends far too much time on here
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:12 pm Posts: 2020 Location: Mute City
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nobody owns the internet. it is not a big truck  srsly, daft idea though. i hope it fails like it deserves to.
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Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:01 pm |
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