Senate Bill 773 - Cyber Security or Cyber Control?

Benjamin Anello
9-10-09
Blog #1

http://www.examiner.com/x-21184-Homeland-Security-Examiner~y2009m9d2-Senate-Bill-773--Cyber-Security-or-Cyber-Control

For the most part, the legislative piece has some very good provisions that range from uniformed government standards for cyber-security to scholarships for aspiring cyber-security students. However, there is indeed a provision in the act that deserves the alarm that has been raised over the weekend.

The problem comes in the Bill’s language found in Sections 18(2), 18(3), 18(6), and 23(3)(b). In these sections and sub-sections the Bill provides the President of the United States with the authority to shut-off or limit the internet traffic for all systems in the National, State, local, and NON-GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS in times where he/she has declared a "Cyber-Emergency." The use of the term "Non-Governmental information systems" is what has drawn so much fire from the public and numerous civil liberties organizations.

Another key issue with this piece of legislation is the fact that it fails to place definitive standards that must be met before a condition may be declared a "Cyber-Emergency." There is absolutely no definition or set of criteria for this term which adds to the hazardousness of the power bestowed upon the President of the United States. It is an imperative to establish minimum standards which must be met before a "Cyber-Emergency" can be declared. This will prevent "at a whim" decisions by the Chief Executive.

-when it comes to Social control. Control of information is key. As pointed out in class, society has to be careful when giving away power because it is much harder to get the control back once it's given away.