Government to have Internet Kill switch

**LordMeatwad** · 08-28-2009, 06:32 PM

Sad but true:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...trol-internet/

**snooggums** · 08-28-2009, 06:46 PM

First, it is a proposed bill, not a passed measure so 'Government to have' should read 'Should this bill pass both houses the Government would be given the power to..."

Second, a kill switch completely cancels something. The Internet cannot have a 'kill switch' as the most they could do is stop the top level DNS routers from responding, canceling most casual traffic. Computers could still manually connect, networks that don't use DNS servers would still work and private providers would still be able to make their own connections if they desired. Plus the description makes it sound like the law would be ineffective since it doesn't clarify how the powers would work.

Most likely this won't happen anyway, I'd only feign concern if the bill actually passed the Senate and made it to the House where it would likely die anyway.

**Ferris Bueller** · 08-28-2009, 06:47 PM

Two words: chinese proxy.

**LordMeatwad** · 08-28-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snooggums

First, it is a proposed bill, not a passed measure so 'Government to have' should read 'Should this bill pass both houses the Government would be given the power to..."

Second, a kill switch completely cancels something. The Internet cannot have a 'kill switch' as the most they could do is stop the top level DNS routers from responding, canceling most casual traffic. Computers could still manually connect, networks that don't use DNS servers would still work and private providers would still be able to make their own connections if they desired. Plus the description makes it sound like the law would be ineffective since it doesn't clarify how the powers would work.

Most likely this won't happen anyway, I'd only feign concern if the bill actually passed the Senate and made it to the House where it would likely die anyway.

The title is to grab attention

you know like titles do

ScratchMonkey · 09-05-2009, 02:27 AM

Iran sure wishes they had this power. And politicians in the US seem to envy Iran's morality and political central control a lot.

Spulat · 09-05-2009, 10:27 AM

Well, it's a good thing I have this DarkNet server here....