Technology

Latest cyber bill prohibits Internet ‘kill switch’

Members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee say the new legislation would prohibit the president from shutting down the internet.

Federal News Network Staff

February 18, 2011 3:26 pm

< a min read

After the Egyptian government shut down internet access during the recent protests, debate heated up in the Senate over a similar provision in a their cybersecurity bill.

But now members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee say the legislation would actually prohibit the president from shutting down the internet.

The National Journal reports the new bill is almost identical to legislation proposed last year. The only real change is wording to prohibit an internet kill switch.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily Cybersecurity Update brought to you by Tripwire. For more cybersecurity news, click here.