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Executive Order Grants US Gov't New Powers Over Communication Systems

Posted by timothy on from the or-did-you-think-the-state-was-your-friend? dept.

An anonymous reader writes "President Obama has issued a new executive order: 'Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions.' EPIC reports: 'The Executive Order grants new powers to the Department of Homeland Security, including the ability to collect certain public communications information. Under the Executive Order the White House has also granted the Department the authority to seize private facilities when necessary, effectively shutting down or limiting civilian communications.' A few key excerpts from the exec order: 'The views of all levels of government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and the public must inform the development of national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) [National Security/Emergency Preparedness] communications policies, programs, and capabilities. ... Sec. 5.2. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall: (a) oversee the development, testing, implementation, and sustainment of NS/EP communications, including: communications that support Continuity of Government; Federal, State, local, territorial, and tribal emergency preparedness and response communications; non-military executive branch communications systems; critical infrastructure protection networks; and non-military communications networks, particularly with respect to prioritization and restoration; .... (e) satisfy priority communications requirements through the use of commercial, Government, and privately owned communications resources, when appropriate."

5 of 513 comments (clear)

  1. Dear President Obama, by Ralph+Spoilsport · · Score: 0, Troll

    Fuck You.

    --
    Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
  2. you were warned... by rilian4 · · Score: -1, Troll

    and you ignored the warning. Those of us who were not in the liberal democratic camp (libertarians, conservatives, etc) warned that this man was exceedingly dangerous to elect as president and that many many freedoms would be lost despite his promises to the contrary and you all voted for him anyway. You are reaping what you sowed. This country has lapsed into a dictatorship.

    --

    ...quicker, easier, more seductive the darkside is...but more powerful, it is not.
  3. Godwin? HITLER! by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 0, Troll

    HITLER!

    Nazi, Nazi, Nazi, Nazi, HITLER?

    What the fuck did you expect? No Soviets to fight... Now we do what we wanted to!

    Did I forget to Godwin the thread? HITLER! :-)

    This message brought to you by the people who watched Brazil and THX 1138, and read JG Ballard along with Orwell.

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
    1. Re:Godwin? HITLER! by busyqth · · Score: -1, Troll

      Wait a minute, I don't understand this...
      While I agree fully with you that George W. was the reincarnation of Hitler, and The Republican Party are definitely the heirs of Naziism,
      what has that got to do with this article, which is about the current President (long may he reign) taking steps to preserve liberty and expand opportunity for everyone?

  4. Re:Not to sound cranky and old... by sunking2 · · Score: 1, Troll

    If you add that G.W. likely would have supported the act had he not retired from politics by then I would say that he, Adams, and John Marshall trump your Jefferson and Madison as forefathers. Though I guess you could throw in B.F. to even things out. I'm not choosing sides though. Only pointing out that even in the golden era of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness things weren't as simple as most like to believe and the government was not one big kumbaya.