The Wire

There are concerns the US government is moving to claim the internet as an American asset, and to allow the president to shut down parts of the internet during a ‘national emergency’. The ‘Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act’ seeks to give ultimate internet regulation to the Department of Homeland Security. All internet providers would take direction from the White House. Free speech and privacy advocates say it’s an attack on the first amendment, and emergency powers would give authorities access to all private and secure networks.