Clinton comes after the Internet

Well, it was a long time coming, but Bill Clinton has finally made
his move on the Internet.

Late last week, when reporters and members of Congress were going
home for the weekend, he issued one of his now-famous executive
orders -- this one on "Internet conduct."

Like almost all such orders, it will sound quite innocuous on a quick
first read. But these guys in the Clinton administration are clever.
This action sets up a working group of top U.S. officials to study the
whole concept of policing the Internet. No, Clinton doesn't use that
word, but that's clearly the intent of this order -- the establishment
of a national Internet police force.

But if you catch that much -- and few will -- then the wording of
this order is designed to make you relax because the working group is
simply going to write a report! We all know government reports don't
kill people, right? Nobody gets hurt by a government report unless they
drop it on you.

TRENDING: Athlete files lawsuit alleging she was forced off team for refusing to kneel

However, let's take a look at what's being studied here: No. 1 -- How
the federal government can insinuate itself into this revolutionary new
medium. And, No. 2 -- How new technology tools, capabilities or legal
authorities may be required for effective investigation and prosecution.

Let me repeat that last purpose behind this working group and this
executive order in the actual language used by Clinton: "The extent to
which new technology tools, capabilities, or legal authorities may be
required for effective investigation and prosecution of unlawful conduct
that involves the use of the Internet."

Get it? "New technology" equals spying tools. "Capabilities" means
surveillance capabilities. And "legal authorities" means Internet
police.

You've got to understand the bureaucratic jargon here. Think of me as
your Clintonese translator. Remember, this is a man who questions what
the word "is" means. You've got to leave this to the professionals --
and that means me.

Now here's the other scary part of this executive order. Normally
with these task forces, the president allows a year or more for study
and reports. Not this time. Guess what his deadline is?

"The Working Group shall complete its work to the greatest extent
possible and present its report and recommendations to the President and
Vice President within 120 days of the date of this order," the executive
order states.

What! That means the report must be prepared before the end of the
year. I would suggest to you that this means the report is already
drafted. I would suggest further evidence for that conclusion is that
Clinton is also requiring the committee to circulate the report to
federal agencies well before it comes to the White House.

Why would he do that? Because the White House has already seen it.
The White House has written it.

Who's going to be a part of this working group? The chairman is Janet
Reno, and the members are most of the important Cabinet officers. Do you
really think those guys and gals could draft a report on policing the
Internet in less than 120 days?

Uh-uh.

Something's up here, folks. Something smells really foul.

Now what do you suppose is in that future report? Hillary once told
us the Internet needed gatekeepers and controls.

"We are all going to have to rethink how we deal with this, because
there are all these competing values," Hillary said last year. She also
deplored the fact that the Internet lacks "any kind of editing function
or gatekeeping function."

I think Clinton's about to make his move on our last best hope for
freedom -- the Internet. Methinks the Internet is about to get an
official editor or a government gatekeeper.

See text of Clinton's latest executive order.