Does the U.S. Have an Internet "Kill Switch" ?

[FrankRep]

http://thenewamerican.com/images/stories2011/11aFebruary/internet-kill.001.jpg



After Egypt shut down its Internet service, Americans wondered if such a thing ever happen here, but the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is already doing it on a small scale.


Does the U.S. Have an Internet "Kill Switch" (http://thenewamerican.com/index.php/tech-mainmenu-30/computers/6397-does-the-us-have-an-internet-qkill-switchq)


Thomas R. Eddlem | The New American (http://thenewamerican.com/)
21 February 2011

[tangent4ronpaul]

Yes

And it's just not the Internet

The Feds ability to "pull the plug" on ALL communications dates back to before the "web".

-t

[DamianTV]

And its not just the kill switch that bothers me. They want access to absolutely everything. They expect that almost every form of encryption out there have some sort of back door that they can decrypt any encrypted data. They dont just want a piece of the pie, they want the truck that brought the pie and the bakery where the pie was made.

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/02/20/0038239/FBI-Complains-About-Wiretapping-Difficulties-Due-To-Web-Services

All of it, without a Warrant.

[Anti Federalist]

As tangent and Damian already mentioned:

Yes, they do, and not just net communication. They could shut it all down if they wanted to.

And before shutting down get access to any number of files with critical personal and business data.

[DamianTV]

So here is something else on my mind about the internet and this Cloud Computing trend.

You post a youtube video, and even if it doesnt have copyrighted material, you might still have your video pulled, for what ever reason, then pretty much have absolutely no recourse about it. What happens when you take all of your computer work life (tax documents, inventory and accounting data, etc) put it up on a Cloud Computer, then they say that some part of it is not authorized and seize total control of ALL of your files, ban your Cloud Account, and leave you stuck high and dry. All these guys have to do is say they found something in your account that is "unauthorized", be it a phrase, an mp3 (for anyone dumb enough to try to store mp3s in "the cloud") or something that mentions a forbidden phrase. Like the way Money Bomb probably sets off all sort of government filters and red flags. And its not even about being honest, just do what you are told so you dont cause a commotion. You try to pay your taxes, but some jackass that makes minimum wage in India sets up a filter which reports a False Positive and you lose your entire digital life? Not only that, but you put it up there for every jackass in the government to see and they WILL find something they can hammer you with.

Yeah, I got off the subject here, but essencially the Cloud Kill Switch that can effectively shut down a person or a business, or block parts of the internet, or the Entire Internet Kill Switch are the same thing. Digital Murder.

---

Cloud Computing Is Teh Debil! M'Kay?

[Thomas]

DHS is going around shutting down websites

[DamianTV]

Yeah, cant really proxy around that. Of course there is always Way Back Machine (http://www.archive.org/) to see what the website looked like before it was taken down by the thugs.

[Sola_Fide]

DHS is going around shutting down websites

That is the kill switch for America.

[Matt Collins]

Yes, it's called a CALEA box. Every telco has one and every connection runs through it. The government can shut it off at will (not to mention spy on all traffic).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Assistance_for_Law_Enforcement_Act

[pcosmar]

CALEA
http://www.eff.org/issues/calea

Also research "Amdocs" as a relevant involved company.

[AFPVet]

Yes

And it's just not the Internet

The Feds ability to "pull the plug" on ALL communications dates back to before the "web".

-t

Are you talking about the 'permanent' kill switch... EMP?