Gov't having the power to shut off Internet

Do you want the Gov't to have the power to shut off the internet to our country? By taking away the most advanced method of sharing information world-wide, isn't it kind of hard to form our own opinions on what is happening in
the world around us? If You agree with me, support our cause and speak
out. Remember, only you can make a real difference. All you have to do is make sure your voice is heard.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Amazed on February 1, 2010 at 5:11pm

I would initially say No. I think initially it would cause problems on both sides, but I'm confident we would prevail and find another way to transmit infomation from one another.

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Permalink Reply by Levi on March 15, 2010 at 1:43pm

There's always the citizens band. I don't think they could just shut off the internet one day, but rather manipulate it to their own ends. I do believe the internet is slowly being privatized by companies. Eventually the only way to access pages will be through companies, companies with ties to the government. It's already happening, look at Google, its one of the most powerful entities of the internet and no one even realizes how scary it is!

Google Earth? G-Mail? The new Google PHONES? Picasa? What's next, a Google operating system? Google can track your every move if you use Google maps.. Oh yeah must I forget they now have ties to the government because of the so-called Chinese attacks, The government could already use any data gathered by Google if "warranted" as it were, they can even read your G-mail!

This is from Wired.com:
"Google announced Tuesday that it had been the target of a “highly sophisticated” and coordinated hack attack against its corporate network. It said the hackers had stolen intellectual property and sought access to the Gmail accounts of human rights activists. The attack originated from China, the company said."

Makes you think twice about a few things, doesn't it?

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Permalink Reply by Kaleb on March 24, 2010 at 7:27pm

I really doubt that they could because the major pipelines are owned by company's like Cisco and such not the government.

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas on March 25, 2010 at 7:07am

Yeah, well I suppose the government could take the power away from them with the proper warrents, I think that even if they did "turn the internet off" then we will always find new ways to communicate utill it is turned back on, but the thing is, so many things depend on the internet! Even some of the governments own communications probably run off the internet, it wouldn't be logisticly feasble to only control it to certian people and organizations, it just wouldn't work.

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Permalink Reply by Sam Brown on March 25, 2010 at 6:02pm

They could still adapt a "Great Firewall Of China" system or a system similar to the one Iran used/Is possibly still using(I don't keep a large check on whats going on over there but I know theres still an ongoing struggle). Although people would find a way to avoid and get around it were-ever possible most likely with the help of people outside of the country like in Iran.

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas on March 25, 2010 at 9:47pm

yes, thats exactly my point, they can never completely cut everybody off from the internet, it will always be there in some form or another.

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Permalink Reply by Salient Skivvy on March 27, 2010 at 6:08am

I don't think the internet could be permanently shut off. There will always be a few who are able the hack that and find a way.. Look at China. They have a massive firewall, but still they are unable to 100% control that.

There will always be someone who is one step ahead.