Experts weigh in on 'kill switch' legislation

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), along with several co-sponsors, introduced the "Cyber Security and American Cyber Competitiveness Act of 2011."

Many see it as placeholder bill for a redrafted version of last year's proposal. That move drew a lot of attention when the world watched the Egyptian government shut down all Internet access as protesters took to the streets. Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) issued a statement on Tuesday decrying the Egypt's actions and clarifying that they believe the bill would not grant the president the same power to interfere with free Web access. Still, the bill as proposed has experts concerned. Greg Nojeim, director of the Center for Democracy and Technology's Project on Freedom, Security and Technology, said the bill is focused on cyber security emergency measures, not on squelching dissent. But he said the measure is not sufficient to ensure that such power to control Internet access is not abused.