by John Kennedy
Silicon Republic
Following Egypt's shutdown of the internet on Friday, the notion of a nation possessing an internet 'kill switch' is unnerving.
In what has to be the ultimate irony or simply bad timing, the United States is in the midst of revisiting the creation of an internet kill switch to defend against cyber warfare just as Egypt on Friday moved to block internet access to stem free speech.
The legislation, which is being led by US Republican Senator Susan Collins, is ostensibly designed to create presidential powers to shut off the internet to protect against significant cyber crime threats to national security.
It is designed to create a mechanism where the US government can work with the private sector in the event of a ‘true cyber emergency.’
While Collins says the legislation is not designed to give any US president the same power that oppressive Middle East regimes such as that of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, the timing of the bill could not be worse.
On Friday, Egypt instigated a crackdown on the internet and mobile phones to prevent images and reports emerging, particularly via email, Facebook and Twitter, and to prevent rallies taking place.
Free speech and the internet
The role of the internet and social media in shedding light on the harsh realities of regimes such as those in Tunisia, Iran and most recently Egypt, cannot be underestimated.
However, the notion of a kill switch or powers to shut down the internet cast a sinister light and could be a thorn in the side for US President Barack Obama’s government.
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