Will Trump shut down the internet when he loses?
Last edited Tue Oct 20, 2020, 10:22 PM - Edit history (5)
In my opinion, the lawsuit against Google is an attempt to break the dissemination of factual information in this country.
I can totally see him going all out when he loses, declaring an emergency on some pretext, and shutting down the U.S. web, China style.
His ranting is getting more violent daily, called CNN "dumb bastards", etc..
This is going to be a stressful 2 weeks, I'm afraid.
Here is a WSJ video discussing the subject.
'I have the right to do a lot of things that people don’t even know about,” Donald Trump told a reporter in a 2020 Oval Office exchange. One of those powers is his authority to shut down radio, television, both wireless and wired phone networks, and the internet.
An obscure provision tucked at the back of the Communications Act (Sec.706, codified as 47 USC 606) empowers the president to “cause the closing of any station for radio communications” (such as broadcasting or mobile phone networks) as well as “cause the closing of any facility or station for wire communications” (such as telephone and internet networks). All that is necessary for the exercise of these huge powers is a “proclamation by the President” of “national emergency” in the case of broadcast stations and mobile phones, or the “interest of the national security” for the internet or telephone networks. The statute also gives the president the power to suspend or amend FCC regulations.
Such authority makes one tremble when considered alongside Donald Trump’s stated belief, “When somebody’s the President of the United States, the authority is total.” His recent threat to social media platforms to “close them down” continues his efforts to use government authority to coerce and manipulate the media."
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"Our best defense is vigilance. As we head into the election of 2020, the House of Representatives should hold hearings to shine the spotlight on presidential powers “people don’t even know about,” including Section 706. Of course, an informed and aware public is the first defense against authoritarian abuse. But also, if we have learned anything from COVID-19 it is the importance of anticipating problems and identifying solutions before they happen."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2020/06/25/could-donald-trump-claim-a-national-security-threat-to-shut-down-the-internet/amp/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Such as vintage radios, televisions etc., even when non functional, can add to the "period" feel of a room!
Thank you!
But, once upon a time.
That is a huge computer
Thank you so much!!!
During times like this, then I am glad for that, at least!
The rest of it scares the shit out of me. 
I will be voting in person!
That is correct
Even Trump makes a cameo 
He's a lame duck and has no juice to bully these acts through without the specific and relevant conditions existing-- which cannot happen without the capital he DOES NOT have anymore. There is no singular kill switch: delete that fallacy from your brain, it seems a foundation on which you're predicating your entire argument on, and it doesn't even exist in the west. 
As a lame duck, he can order it done, but as a lame duck, it simply won't happen. He's out of political leverage... that seems to elude you. Dramatically.
You're creating a problem in your own mind, and frenetically defending its potential against the evidence of objective engineering and infrastructure, relevant political capital, and the pretense that the GOP will remain at his beck and call on Wed 4th when reality tells us as soon as Nov 3rd passes, so does any juice trump has.
But I thank God you're finally attempting to support your argument (with editorial of not actual evidence...) what you should have done in the first place-- as dictated by rational thought.
But we'll see you here on DU on Nov. 4th. and you can conveniently forget you ever prophesized this fiction.
Enjoy... or worry about orcs. Your choice.
