Paul, Gabbard Bow Unplug the Internet Kill Switch Act

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, led filing of the Unplug the Internet Kill Switch Act (HR-8336/S-4646) in a bid to bar the president from using emergency powers to unilaterally take control over or deny access to the internet and other forms of communication. The measure would remove from Communications Act Section 706 language that allows the president to take control of or shut down "any facility or station for wire communication” if the White House deems it "necessary in the interest of the national security and defense” after a proclamation “that there exists a state or threat of war involving" the U.S. "If you give government an inch, it takes 10 miles, and this has been vividly illustrated by the surveillance state’s overreaches in a time of seemingly endless war," Paul said. "No president from either party should have the sole power to shut down or take control of the internet or any other of our communication channels during an emergency." Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., are lead co-sponsors of S-4646. Rep. Tom Massie, R-Ky., is co-sponsoring HR-8336. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel previously raised concerns about the Section 706 language (see 2001280069).