Egyptian authorities received worldwide condemnation last week for effectively shutting down the nation's access to the internet as people flooded the streets to demand the ouster of their longtime leader, Hosni Mubarak. But a bill that would hand President Obama the power to similarly shut down the internet in the U.S. without judicial review may be reintroduced in Congress this year. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the bill's co-sponsor, says the ability to control access to the internet would be a vital tool in a "national cyber emergency," such as a targeted virus or hacking attack. But is an internet "kill switch" really an acceptable extension of presidential powers?
No. Politicians will abuse it: Mubarak was able to "shut down dissent" in Egypt by switching off the internet, says Chris at AmericaBlog. Don't think American presidents wouldn't do the same. "Politicians will abuse the power they have," and this plan "won't even allow the courts to get involved" when that abuse inevitably occurs. This bill impinges on our freedom.
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