Internet Kill Switch

[Sooner_Havok]

With the riots in Egypt, and the governments subsequent shutting down of the internet, one has to wonder why the US would want to have a thing like an "internet kill switch."

There are only two things I can think of.

1. To shut down the internet should the citizens of this country try to overthrow their government, or

2. In case Skynet takes control and the machines become sentient.

I don't think we need to worry about Skynet, or insurrection for that matter, so why does the US want an internet kill switch?

link

[yermom]

so we can block wikileaks

[SicEmBaylor]

With the riots in Egypt, and the governments subsequent shutting down of the internet, one has to wonder why the US would want to have a thing like an "internet kill switch."

There are only two things I can think of.

1. To shut down the internet should the citizens of this country try to overthrow their government, or

2. In case Skynet takes control and the machines become sentient.

I don't think we need to worry about Skynet, or insurrection for that matter, so why does the US want an internet kill switch?

link

Wanting a kill switch makes #1 seem a lot more plausible.

[Blue]

Because they can. Isn't that why the govt does everything it does?

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Well seeing as Egypt hit the internet kill switch and new tweets coming out of Egypt never slowed down, I would say good luck on that one. This would be a horrible idea by the way. There isn't ever a reason to turn off the internet here.

[MR2-Sooner86]

[dwarthog]

To inhibit the command and control structure of whoever would be inclined to use said facility for such a purpose perhaps?

[VeeJay]

In case there's a viable opponent to emerge to challenge the president in 2012.

[delhalew]

Even talking about that pisses me off.

[soonerscuba]

I am 100% against this, and I am certainly not blaming anyone. But, there have been those arguing against the expansion of executive power for a long time, especially the last 30 years, at a certain point a population gets to live with what it has allowed.

[rekamrettuB]

Great song.