A “kill-switch” for the internet?

Legislation currently being debated in Congress would give the president the power to seize control of the internet during a time of “national emergency.” In fact, the bill would even give a president the authority to shut the internet down if those actions were deemed necessary.

Though the recent advent of cyber-warfare makes the legislation seem reasonable, it must also be considered in terms of its potential for curtailing free speech. Even as the current congress has been in session, the country of Egypt has completely shut off internet communications within their country in order to try to hamper the pro-democracy demonstrations that are going on within their streets. American legislators claim that the bill would never be used that way, but what’s to guarantee that it won’t other than the good will of future presidents? Surely, if a future authoritarian administration were to have people demonstrating against it, they wouldn’t have too much trouble deeming the situation a “national emergency.”

The bill also comes on the heels of new authorities taken on by the Department of Homeland security, which has in recent months begun seizing the domain names of websites it believes to be violating national or international laws. These and other actions only raise the question: how much government involvement do we want to see on the internet?

Perhaps only time will tell exactly how these issues will play out. But internet entrepreneurs can be sure that the “wild west” days of the unfettered internet are over. More government is coming and it is coming soon.

You can read more about the kill switch bill and the Egyptian riots here.