Senate bill 773, the Rockefeller-Snowe Cybersecurity Act of 2009, is currently being redrafted. An earlier version of the bill introduced in April caused a significant uproar when it appeared to give the executive branch the power to regulate, or even take control of, private networks, including the Internet.

Details about the rewrite of the bill leaked onto the Internet recently, and it appears that the offending language has been made more vague than the original, but that has not stopped cyber-rights groups and others from worrying about it’s impact. In fact, upon close inspection, the expected changes make it even more of a cause for concern than the more precise wording of the earlier version, despite the fact that some are downplaying the new language.

The controversial wording in the original bill would have given President Obama the authority and power to “declare a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic to and from any compromised Federal Government or United States critical infrastructure information system or network.” This would essentially give the President the power to shut down the internet when and to what extent he deemed necessary in the event of a natural disaster, wartime, or anything else that could be deemed a “cybersecurity emergency.”

Under the updated, more open-ended version of the bill, the President may, if he finds it necessary “for the national defense and security, and in coordination with relevant industry sectors, direct the national response to the cyber threat and the timely restoration of the affected critical infrastructure information system or network.” [Emphasis added].

This vague wording appears to give the president total control over any infrastructure related to cyberspace, in the event of an emergency, which the president is also empowered to declare. After all, being empowered to “direct the national response” necessarily implies that those operating “critical infrastructure” will have to follow any White House directives. Where it improves on the original, from the perspective of a Washington insider, bureaucrat, or politician, is that it does so by creating plausible deniability.

Originally, the only place the leaked version was available was as a download from tech journalist Declan McCullagh’s website and not from official sources. (The full text of the new draft is now available here.) Nevertheless, for official word about the rewrite we contacted Senator Snowe’s office in Maine, but staffers there refused to comment when asked about the revision and bluntly told us to “contact your local Senator.” We then contacted Senator Rockefeller’s office but all of his staff were “out for training.” Why the silence on what has been a high profile and controversial bit of legislation? As a last resort, we contacted Senator Russ Feingold's office, following the advice to contact a local Senator (in our case in Wisconsin). An aide from Senator Feingold’s office was kind enough to put in a request for the revised draft of the bill but commented that it was unlikely anything would be done.

As with all federal legislation that would grow the size and scope of government and interfere with personal and property rights, The John Birch Society will continue to watch for developments related to this bill.

David Kauzlaric is an Internet technology and research professional in the John Birch Society Office of Corporate Technology.

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Still Free said:

More Smoke and Mirrors ... Great article! So far the Obama presidencey has followed its usual M.O. -- and they are masters at making any and all "offending language" into something "more vague." The other customary move of the Obama spokes-people is to "downplay" everything once the true meaning has been discovered by us "dumb" Americans and right wing terrorists. Yes, everyone, please watch this one closely because we know the next Obama signature will be that the matter has become so "urgent" and so "critical" that it must be passed or written into law immediately. And we all know who decides what a "cyber threat" is. Tea Parties? 912 groups? Meet up? .... and that's just a small sampling.

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September 02, 2009
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Thomas Paine said:

The Ministry of Truth on the Rise Right out of the George Orwell playbook. Have the Government and the controlled mass media be in full control of all information and facts. The internet is too free. Too much truth continues to circulate which inhibits the "party" from total control of our minds and thoughts. (IE: internet shows that thermate explosives were used in all 3 buildings on 911). As Rockefeller said in a house committee session on the internet, "We were better off before the internet". Isn't it funny how the "family" asked one of their own to draft this bill. Nick Rockefeller can't stand it that 800,000 people have watched the youtube interview of Aaron Russo telling us all how Nick Rockefeller admitted the 911 fraud. We must turn the "gun" around, away from innocent Militia groups to the real criminals in the "secret government" before its too late.

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September 02, 2009
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danwhitehead1 said:

	What really and truly needs to be shut down (and REAL fast) - - - - - - is the entire Obama regime of pigs, swine and thugs. Shutting down and completely isolating that vile swamp known as Washington DC wouldn't be a bad move either and would probably be the best health care move that could ever be made, know what I mean?
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September 02, 2009
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danwhitehead1 said:

	Arresting, jailing and - - - - - - freezing all assets of the Rockefellers probably wouldn't be a bad idea either. They are far too powerful and far too sneaky.
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September 02, 2009
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danwhitehead1 said:

	Allow me to rephrase - - - It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to arrest and jail the Rockefellers on charges of treason and then freeze all of their assets. They are much too powerful and far too sneaky and arrogant. They need to be brought down a few pegs. By the way, I wonder what ever became of David Rockefeller's baby, the Trilateral Comission?
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September 02, 2009
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MarkGlen said:

	Help Wanted!! If anyone is looking for somewhere to use the truth gained at the JBS website I could use some help. I am VinceLombardo, for now. The lefties have us out numbered. The web address is: http://blogs.lubbockonline.com...-children/ It is Dr. May's blog and is called Mr. Conservative
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September 03, 2009 | url
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Donald Jones said:

World Wildlife Fund Video Here is another example of liberal screaming. An ad agency in Brazil, made a video and it is on YouTube. It depicts the planes hitting the World Trade Center, then goes on to suggest that a natural Tusnami would kill 10 times the people. In order to discover this flaw of history, and the direct manipulation of the populations, lies are truth, and truth is lies. KEWORDS: WWF and 911. There is a good wresting video in the first link, it is the second one. Viewer anger is appreciated.

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September 04, 2009 | url
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George S. Mabry said:

	... Is there a movement to counter this legislation in Congress and among the American population?
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October 16, 2009
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Deltarose2 said:

	Voting I hope "vote up" is like "thumbs up"? Because I couldn't find explaination for this.
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October 16, 2009
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