RE: The U.S. Has Until October 1, 2016 To Use The Internet As We Know It- Before Control Is Handed Over
To believe this would have more than a cursory effect on free speech you would have to believe several things.
First, you'd have to believe they actually want to monitor the entire WWW and become the thought police
Second, you'd have to believe they have the resources to do it. Right Now, I don't even think it's possible, trillions of transactions in conversation daily, many encrypted at various levels.
Third, you'd have to believe they controlled access to the network itself on a wholesale level, do they? I don't know, I'm genuinely asking,but I'm guessing, given the challenges with getting addresses even when blatant crimes are committed, that they cannot bring enough resources to bare, on shutting it down for any but the most agregious offenders.
It's not about "believing" if this is going to happen. It is a FACT. It's already in operation, as stated several times in the article. The US govt has just been in the background.
Read my comment again and you will find that I never questioned that, only its actual impact on the internet as we know it. In practicality, the same people that have had the power they have now, will have it officially. I just don't think we'll see much of a change.