Fernando Mexia, the pen.

Internet, go to the internet. We're in cyberspace to the crown, a universe with which we're choking, even though we strive to be updated. The fascinating web tool comes without instruction book and its regulation almost absent. The network is the "far west" of the XXI century where a legion of users we launched into the "conquest" of this unique mainly American West (American, that is). A world with many opportunities and few "sheriffs" that makes Washington nervous, correct, very nervous.
On Wednesday April 1st two senators, Democrat John Rockefeller and Olympia Snowe Republican, presented The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 , a bill that affects the large internet threat for U.S. national security Among the measures suggested highlights the presidential postestad to shut down or limit traffic on the web in an emergency or access to private information confidential at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Trade.

This initiative would be like putting in the Oval Office a red button to connect or disconnect the web according to U.S. interests without even going through the U.S. Congress, or expose our miseries and secrets protected by more indecipherable keys to the curiosity of a politician based shift strategies to combat cyberterrorism. All without asking anyone's permission.

The President, within one year after the passage of this law, shall develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that may include a long-term future of the national cybersecurity plan that encompasses all aspects of national security including the private sector, key managers and operators; may declare a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic to or from any information infrastructure of the Federal government or the American system or network; may designate an agency to to be responsible for coordinating the response and restoration of any critical infrastructure affected by a cybersecurity emergency declaration [...] may order the disconnection of any U.S. information infrastructure or the Federal government in defense of national security.

This is an excerpt from the bill (section 18, authority and responsibilities in cybersecurity, p. 43) which also backs the creation of a presidential adviser on cybersecurity. While it is understandable that any country, especially the most powerful in the world, want to take action against possible cyber threats is questionable whether these measures, which affect the entire network because most of the movements on the Internet or go through U.S. born ., are received by anyone with half a brain.

If anything the internet has become a revolution is because it allows anyone to navigate, deliver content and exchange information with a very low cost and a very high degree of freedom. Internet is what is the potential that gives users to build the network, create applications, etc.. A temporary closure of the network, or the possibility of that happening, would also have a destabilizing effect on the economy that increasingly lives more in the virtual world.

The bill, which was straight out of the fear promoted by the Bush administration was justified by Rockefeller and Snowe ineviatable as a way to deal with criminals on the web.

"We must protect our fundamental inraestructuras at all costs-from our water to our electricity, banking, signaling and virtual health records-the list goes on," said the Democrat. "If we fail to act quickly, us, unfortunately, we risk a cyber-Katrina," said Snowe.

Obviously there are also voices that warned of the excessive control that would give the White House this law, if passed, would run directly to the fundamental rights which presuppose a democratic country forged in the defense of civil liberties.