This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis. It was originally published at The Conversation.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1402504
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1402504
1 Like
An “Internet kill switch” was mused about here and shot down.
“There would be real, practical obstacles to doing that because our infrastructure is much more widely dispersed and developed,” former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told POLITICO. “Nor do I think it would be a political possibility. It is unrealistic for the U.S., thank God.”
Still, in the last Congress, mere talk of including an Internet “kill switch” for the White House effectively torpedoed cybersecurity bills in the Senate. A 2009 bill sponsored by Sens. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) included a passage to give the president emergency control of the Internet but prompted a public outcry and was revised.
Then, a trio of lawmakers — Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) — introduced a different cybersecurity bill and argued for months that it did not contain a “kill switch.” In February, however, they unveiled a new version of the bill that specifically bars the president from shutting down the Internet.“
2 Likes
Because Kazahkistan is so reliant on internet for business of all sorts this really seems like a futile way to control the population. The business of the nation grinds to a halt which of course magnifies the grievances of the population against the authorities.
5 Likes
Not that a GQP dominated government would ever stoop so low…
Time to brush up on my Morse code…
5 Likes
Kazakhstan is Putin’s other problem. China has made inroads there and has influence. They are threatening to send a ‘private’ security team to defend those interests. That would piss Putin off. Up until now they have had a shared interest in that country, keeping the west out. All the while Kazakhstan has been playing them off each other but it seems that China has the advantage. Meanwhile, there’s a shortage of everything; especially food and fuel and the people suffer.
About the internet. It’s been off for several weeks. Just about when Putin sent in 2000 troops. I blame him but non of the players involved want anti government info to get out.
1 Like
no way - they’ll just take away your electricity
6 Likes
Where are the emojis?
2 Likes
