Should the President be able to shut down the internet in case of a cyber emergency?

Critics of the new bill fear it will allow the government to 'shut off' the internet for political reasons. Proponents argue that is simply not the case.

The tech world is abuzz with news of a proposed cyber security bill that would allegedly allow the president to activate a “kill switch” to shut down the internet in the case of a cyber emergency. But the three senators who authored the “Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset “ Act bristle at the term “kill switch” and are going to pains to make a distinction between the 5 day internet blackout in Egypt and what they term a true “cyber security emergency.” They insist that although the bill enables the president to “protect the U.S. from external cyber attacks,” this is not the same thing as shutting down the internet. So what does it allow exactly? How will this differ from Hosni Mubarak’s internet disconnection? And why are tech companies skeptical and cyber freedom activists on high alert?

The tech world is abuzz with news of a proposed cyber security bill that would allegedly allow the president to activate a “kill switch” to shut down the internet in the case of a cyber emergency. But the three senators who authored the “Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset “ Act bristle at the term “kill switch” and are going to pains to make a distinction between the 5 day internet blackout in Egypt and what they term a true “cyber security emergency.” They insist that although the bill enables the president to “protect the U.S. from external cyber attacks,” this is not the same thing as shutting down the internet. So what does it allow exactly? How will this differ from Hosni Mubarak’s internet disconnection? And why are tech companies skeptical and cyber freedom activists on high alert?

Guest:

Dave Zax, Fast Company reporter

Steve DelBianco, NetChoice