No Internet Kill Switch

Congress is weighing legislation that could give the president the authority to flip the “kill switch” on our Internet, just as the Egyptian regime did earlier this week to quell free speech, online organizing and political dissent. 

Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Thomas Carper (D-Dela.) introduced legislation in the last Congress that would give the executive branch vague authority to cut off “critical infrastructure” in times of crisis. According to a recent report in Wired, Sen. Collins plans to reintroduce the bill in the new Congress.

Such drastic action is a new way for governments to smother popular movements worldwide. We must guard against any effort to curtail our access to the open Internet.

Urge your senators to say "no" to any legislation that allows the government to cut off the Internet. We will deliver your signature, with your comments, to your senators.

Follow this link to learn more about the 2010 bill.

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    Dear Senators,

    In countries around the world, more and more people are turning to Twitter, Facebook and Youtube and using cell phones to mobilize and speak out against authoritarian regimes.

    Now we have cause for concern at home: There are plans in Congress to reintroduce legislation, "The Protect Cyberspace as a National Asset Act," that would give the U.S. president vague and unchecked authority to cut off the Internet in times of crisis.

    No government should have the power to flip the “kill switch” on the Internet — including the United States. Please oppose any legislation that would allow the executive branch, or any other branch of government, to cut off access to the Internet.