Call to give Obama Kill Switch "power cut Internet access in the case ... - Daily Mail

By David Gardner
4:46 Last Updated 1 February 2011

Although the Egyptian government has provoked international criticism for disable access to Internet and mobile phones during the riots, it may alarm many Americans to learn that Barack Obama may soon have the same powers.

Lawmakers are set to a controversial new president the power to close the Internet in the case of a cyber emergency debate.

The proposal is certain to encounter opposition, but Senator Susan Collins, co-sponsor of the bill, said today that the legislation would be used for censorship.

reduced under proposed new laws that President Barack Obama would be able to access the Internet in the case of cyber-threats to national security: "Turn it off!"

She said it would be "a mechanism allowing the government to work with the private sector cyber real emergency.

"It is our country the best tools available to quickly respond to a significant threat."

Former vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, chairman of the U.S. Homeland Security Committee, said safeguards were needed "to maintain these networks and systems and our country and our people to protect."

He argued that national security was endangered by new enemies, such as "cyber warriors, cyber-spies, terrorists and cyber criminals."

He said: "With all the fascination, the Internet can be a dangerous place with electronic pipelines that run directly in all of our personal bank accounts of key infrastructure in state secrets and trade. "

Powers of the President: Collins Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joseph Lieberman and Senator Susan. Both are for a "circuit breaker" statement

The issue was highlighted by the disturbing movements of the Egyptian authorities in recent days on militants by lies against the use of the Internet or their mobile phones during meetings.

Egypt four major Internet service providers would cut off access to international clients at the same time last Thursday.

Officials said the closure is the most complete electronic failure of official history.

Obama and Hillary Clinton have both called on the Egyptian government, the Internet and social networking sites to be restored.

The president's plan has the right to cut-opposition Internet-flip already attracted from abroad.

Björn country Feldt, an associate professor at the University of Sydney, Australia said on offline Internet would "cause enormous damage in the world."

He added that it would be equivalent to what a country "the right to poison the atmosphere, or the poison from the ocean.

But officials said there was no intention to close the Internet.

Brandon Milhorn Republican said: "We do not all warrant applications to the Internet backbone as a whole."

He said the proposal would only regain control of the state on the "essential elements that make up our nation's critical infrastructures."

A controversial provision of the bill that prevent private companies to challenge the closure in court.

Steve Delbianco, director of the NetChoice coalition - which includes eBay, Oracle, Verisign and Yahoo as members - said: "The judicial review is our main concern A designation of critical information infrastructure brings with it enormous commitments for improvement and respect .. "

In some cases, said Delbianco, a company has a "good faith differences of opinion" submitted by the government and want to see justice require.

He said. "The land we seek to protect is a country have the right to peaceful enjoyment of the day in court, but would deny that right, that day in court for the owner of the infrastructure."