Is Harry Reid Slipping SOPA Into A New Cyber-Security Bill?

While details about a proposed cyber-security bill remain elusive, one frightful speculation seems to be making the rounds lately: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has not abandoned his effort to shackle the Internet.

After Internet commoners and companies alike pushed back in a determined way last month against the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act, many were content to pat themselves on the back for defeating the bill. The bills, though, while delayed, were not convincingly defeated.

Harry Reid appears unwilling to let SOPA go quietly into the night. An article published last night on RT reports that Reid may be trying to resurrect SOPA by couching it within a new cyber-security bill. Worse, the new bill would also reawaken the proposed Kill Switch bill from last year. Kill Switch, another Internet-regulating bill that was lobbied by Sen. Joe Lieberman, would instill the White House with the executive power to shut down the Internet in response to a cyber threat. Awesome, right?

Last month, it was hard to imagine that any legislature could be worse for the Internet than SOPA. Now that Reid may be attempting to include Kill Switch with his renewed efforts to pass the bill, he may officially become the Dr. Frankenstein of monstrous bills that seek to muzzle the Internet.

Watch this space for updates on what new horrors the Democrats in the Senate attempt to unleash on the Internet.

There are 12 Comments. Add Yours.

jim hedger
February 9, 2012 at 1:47 pm

I think Webpronews should stop wearing its political bias on its sleeve and simply report the news. Republicans and Democrats alike have introduced extremely difficult laws regarding the Internet. I would like to remind Drew about the Patriot Act which is the most intrusive bill ever to disgrace and disrespect the will of the Constitution of your great nation.

This is not a left-wing/right-wing thing. It’s a freedom thing and I think both liberal and conservative thinkers, especially those who actually think, can agree that freedom knows no political agenda.
- Drew Bowling
  February 9, 2012 at 4:48 pm
  
  I can’t tell if you’re calling me a conservative or a liberal.
  - bhazor
    February 11, 2012 at 9:17 am
    
    “Watch this space for updates on what new horrors the Democrats in the Senate attempt to unleash on the Internet.”
    
    This despite the fact that Sopa was proposed by the Republican representative Lamar Smith. Both sides are responsible for this horse sugar.
  - abrazilian
    February 14, 2012 at 1:54 pm
    
    yeah, that is what I was wondering… btw, thanks for bringing this to our attention.
bout time
February 10, 2012 at 10:28 am

it is good to finally see an article published on WPN that isn’t purely pro democrat and anti-everything conservative.
P
February 10, 2012 at 10:52 am

Too many people in the US are locked in a stupid argument over “Democrats” vs. “Republicans” instead of what is good or bad for the country. You are being manipulated into a false choice along a very narrow spectrum of ideas. Both parties suck. There is nothing substantial left of the Republican Party, but the Democratic politicians are extremely corrupt as well.

If the original article in the Russian Times is correct, this is serious. It’s difficult to tell what is going on though.

The Russian Times says, in vague language:

“However some leaks suggest that the bill will grant the authority to crack down on the Internet to the executive branch of power, namely the White House. It looks highly possible taking into consideration that the legislation has to come out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Connecticut Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman.

The same Lieberman who earlier co-sponsored the so called Kill Switch bill that could allow the president of the United States to “declare a cybersecurity emergency,” and practically shut down the Internet.”

“Some leaks”? “Looks highly possible”? Where exactly does it connect Reid to the new bill?
- bout time
  February 10, 2012 at 11:25 am
  
  Couldn’t agree more with ya P, #RonPaul2012. That is why I said conservative and not republican…the republican party is far from conservative principles.
  
  I was merely commenting on the truth that journalism should either present non-biased informative news or it should put out articles for & against both sides. I assure you that the Barak administration has done a PLETHORA of stuff all the writers could discuss and write on how insane his policies and views are…and yet, as usual, there is no discussion of anything this president does that is bad.
  
  Obviously I am no fan of Romney, Newt, Santorum, etc. but the amount of dirt you could talk about with all 3 of them is FAR LESS than the dirt the current administration has. Anyways, I get sick of short sighted & biased insight. and one more time #RonPaul2012 or #RandPaul2016
Steve
February 12, 2012 at 12:53 pm

It’s Joe Lieberman, not Joel.
Bob
February 12, 2012 at 7:31 pm

How is it not connected to Reid-the-TRAITOR? He ALONE decides which Bills come up for a Vote in the US Senate. You didn’t think the US Senate was a Democratic process, did YA? WAKE UP!!
Robert Paulson
February 12, 2012 at 9:49 pm

Why is it that most of those in Congress look like Emperor Palpatine? Reid actually looks evil. Why on earth would anyone vote for such a man?
matt
February 13, 2012 at 10:58 am

what a demated jackass this clown is . he has no idea whats going on . he is a paranoid s o b that only cares about himself . he is a waste of life
bv
February 13, 2012 at 8:31 pm

Talk about weasels… this fury little chicken snatcher must stay up nights trying to figure out a marketing strategy to sneak his liberty stealing bills past prying eyes.