Movements to Censor the Internet

The move to shut down and regulate the Internet under a new government-controlled system has accelerated into high gear with the announcement that the government’s cybersecurity strategy revolves around issuing Internet users with ID “tokens” without which they will not be able to visit websites, the latest salvo against web freedom which, in combination with Senator Joe Lieberman’s ‘kill switch’ bill, will serve to eviscerate the free Internet as we know it.

Under the guise of “cybersecurity,” the government is moving to discredit and shut down the existing Internet infrastructure in the pursuit of a new, centralized, regulated world wide web.

It is important to stress that “cybersecurity” has nothing to do with protecting the infrastructure of the United States and everything to do with taking over the Internet. Cybersecurity is about attacking non-compliant Internet users, not defending against hackers. Non-compliance equates as using the Internet as a political tool to dissent against the policies of the U.S. government. (snip)

“Right now China, the government, can disconnect parts of its Internet in case of war and we need to have that here too,” said Lieberman.

The Senator’s reference to China is a telling revelation of what the cybersecurity agenda is really all about. China’s vice-like grip over its Internet systems has very little to do with “war” and everything to do with silencing all dissent against the state.

Chinese Internet censorship is imposed via a centralized government blacklist of any websites that contain criticism of the state, porn, or any other content deemed unsuitable by the authorities. Every time you attempt to visit a website, you are re-routed through the government firewall, often making for long delays and crippling speeds.

China has exercised its power to shut down the Internet, something that Lieberman wants to introduce in the U.S., at politically sensitive times in order to stem the flow of information about government abuse and atrocities.

First of all, fuck Joe Lieberman. Second, the fact that lots of people in the govt here are trying to enact these changes is disgusting but not too surprising. Third, this piece is typical Alex Jones hyperbole. Fourth, I am moderately optimistic that the worst of the censorship won't occur, at least in the exact way described in the article.

The reasons I think the article is mostly hype are -- a) I am sure in the right kind of "emergency", if the PTB want to, the govt would shut down the internet, whether or not there are laws allowing this, b) the govt *already* tracks us pretty closely online-- that's what the NSA *does*, so I'm just not convinced further ID verification is really necessary, c) this is from Alex Jones, and hype is what he does.

But even if overhyped, this article is still important for pointing out the threat we face from govt fascists, and their enablers like Lieberman.

(thanks to J for the tip)