As Cumbria web designers, you would think that the Internet Kill Switch would really be of no concern to us. You would be wrong, and would be wise to be just as concerned as we are.
On the 27th January the Egyptian Government cut off Internet and mobile phone access within Egypt effectively sealing off the country from the outside world, and dramatically limiting the general populations channels of communication. What’s the surprise in that you may ask, after all Egypt is not exactly a democratic country?
Here is the kicker; the US, Austria and a number of other countries are looking for the same powers to deny their population’s access to mobile phone and Internet communication. That is why as Cumbria web designers we are concerned, we see this as being the thin end of the wedge, how long will it be before these same countries start to censor the Internet, controlling what we have access to.
According to TechEye Network "Austria is working on creating a big red button which will turn off both the internet and mobile networks. The idea is to keep the country safe should there be some sort of cyberwar within the borders of the EU, keeping Austria safe from nasty viruses and acts of sabotage."
As Cumbria Web Designers see some sense in protecting the countries Internet infrastructure from cyber attack, why also take down the mobile networks if not to stop people communicating. Would it not just be simpler to shut down the data transfer side of the mobile networks.
