Executive Order Outlining Emergency Control of the Internet

[Don]

Did someone already post something about this?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57...nternet-control/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title
http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/10/3...ecurity-emergency-preparedness-internet-order

Much of the order seems designed simply to unify several existing policies and to update them with language that's more inclusive of present-day technology. Critics, however, have pointed to Section 5.2, which says that the Secretary of Homeland Security will "oversee the development, testing, implementation, and sustainment" of emergency measures on systems that include private "non-military communications networks." They've claimed this gives Obama "control over the internet" beyond the general ability to suspend communications in extreme cases, which presidents have had for some time.

On the one hand, the ability to transmit emergency information over all communications channels is a good idea...on the other hand, it wasn't that long ago that Egypt unplugged their country from the internet in an attempt to prevent people from communicating with each other and the outside world....

 

[poncho]

Did someone already post something about this?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57...nternet-control/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title
http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/10/3...ecurity-emergency-preparedness-internet-order


On the one hand, the ability to transmit emergency information over all communications channels is a good idea...on the other hand, it wasn't that long ago that Egypt unplugged their country from the internet in an attempt to prevent people from communicating with each other and the outside world....

And the good ole USA stepped in and helped those poor protesters (Islamic extremists) in Egypt to get around those government controls with a cool new technology.

Bet they won't offer it to us when they decide to flip the switch and they will. More government hypocrisy.

 

[Don]

And the good ole USA stepped in and helped those poor protesters (Islamic extremists) in Egypt to get around those government controls with a cool new technology.

Bet they won't offer it to us when they decide to flip the switch and they will. More government hypocrisy.

The difference between the Egypt situation and what you identify in your post, is the question: What country will reach out and help us get around those government controls if/when our government decides to flip the switch?

I expect that we'll have to see internal "innovators" that find ways around that, rather than expect help from outside our borders.

 

[poncho]

The difference between the Egypt situation and what you identify in your post, is the question: What country will reach out and help us get around those government controls if/when our government decides to flip the switch?

I expect that we'll have to see internal "innovators" that find ways around that, rather than expect help from outside our borders.

Agree.

Why do you think the government "needs" to control the net Don? I figure it doesn't care for people knowing how false it's narratives really are and so it's seeking ways to abolish the biggest obstacle in it's way of controlling the information it doesn't like.

It has nothing to do with the threat of terrorism or national security. It's all about keeping information that threatens to reveal just how corrupt and unaccountable government has become away from the mind of the people.

Hillary Clinton admitted they were losing the infowar. How then to gain control back? Shut down the net or "corporatize" it.

 

[Don]

Exactly. The example they'll use is the emrrgency broadcast system, and most of us would agree that in our increasingly interconnected world, this seems like a logical, necessary step. How it will actually be used is an entirely differenr matter.