President to be given cyber-power?

A Senate bill (S.773) has caused outrage in the United States by, if passed, giving the President the power to close down the internet by disconnecting users if a 'cyber-emergency' is declared.

The bill that could potentially allow an internet shut down would also see a group of IT professionals certified by the federal government to initiate such a shut-down if a virus or cyber-attack was launched against the United States.

Critics of the bill have immediately declared it as an infringement of the First Amendment saying it would give the President the power to 'monitor' and 'shutdown' the Internet.

Conservative political strategist Mike Baker said, "There is no laughing about a government that wants to control cyber-space, the last bastion of freedom of speech in our crumbling democracy."

"What irks President Obama and the other liberal-left politicians is that fact that while they're pampered by the mainstream news media, talk radio and the internet are not in the tank for them."

However, the White House has said that the power to shut down the Internet with not me solely with the President but with a cyber-security coordinator - or 'Cyber Czar'.

In an televised statement, President Obama said, "We will ensure that these networks are secure, trustworthy and resilient. We will deter, prevent, detect and defend against attacks, and recover quickly from any disruptions or damage."

This cyber-security office will orchestrate and integrate all cyber-security policies for the government, the president said. It will work closely with the Office of Management and Budget to ensure agency budgets reflect those priorities, and, in the event of major cyber-incident or attack, it will coordinate government response.

Critics have merely suggested this is another example of government intrusion in peoples' private lives and one that should be carefully monitored by Congress. They have also noted that the bill does not clearly define what would constitute a "cyber-emergency," and mandates that private companies share unlimited information of a classified nature with the federal government.

"Imagine the control that ambiguity can do for someone in terms of power," an online blogger noted.

However, supporters of the bill have pointed out that the bill doesn't give the President any more power than he already has and is merely a way of ensuring online security for the country.

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