Latest Cybersecurity Bill Prohibits Internet 'Kill Switch'

Responding to charges that their legislation would establish an Internet "kill switch," the top members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee introduced legislation that would specifically keep the president from shutting down the Internet. The committee's chairman, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and ranking member, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) joined Sen. Tom Carper (D-Delaware) in revising and reintroducing their Cybersecurity and Internet Freedom Act. The bill is almost identical to legislation proposed last year, but after concern that the bill could allow the president to control the Internet in an emergency, the three senators included language that prohibits the president from blocking all access to the Internet, as Egypt's government did during the recent protests. In another change from last year, the bill also allows operators of systems and assets that are deemed "critical infrastructure" to appeal any action taken under the act's provisions.