The U.S. Federal Government Wants YOUR Computer

A bill in the U.S. Senate, written by Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), would -- says CNET.com -- "permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency"

Declan McCullagh writes that:

...the most controversial language begins in Section 201, which permits the president to "direct the national response to the cyber threat" if necessary for "the national defense and security." The White House is supposed to engage in "periodic mapping" of private networks deemed to be critical, and those companies "shall share" requested information with the federal government.

Sounds innocuous, on the surface.

But, McCullagh quotes Lee Tien, a senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco, this proposal is being pushed through "before the legal review is finished."

As most things from the Liberals these days, details are lacking and undefined.

"It is unclear what authority Sen. Rockefeller thinks is necessary over the private sector," McCaullagh quoted Larry Clinton, president of the Internet Security Alliance.

What constitutes an emergency is undefined; when they can seize which systems is undescribed. The bill is, apparently, a open offer for Obama to take over whichever systems he wants for whatever reason he deems "necessary for the national defense and security."

The designation of what is a critical infrastructure system or network as far as I can tell has no specific process. There's no provision for any administrative process or review. That's where the problems seem to start. And then you have the amorphous powers that go along with it," says Tein.

"Translation," summizes McCullagh, "if your company is deemed critical, a new set of regulations kick in involving who you can hire, what information you must disclose, and when the government would exercise control over your computers or network.

Pretty scary stuff, indeed.