Internet kill switch

An Internet kill switch is a countermeasure concept of activating a single shut off mechanism for all Internet traffic.

The concept behind having a kill switch is based on creating a single point of control (i.e. a switch) for a single authority to control or shut down the Internet in order to protect it or its users. Because of infrastructure and society's dependence on internet today, including critical infrastructure and services (e.g. health care emergencies, traffic, etc.) an internet kill switch can easily and clearly be deemed collective punishment. Therefore, In the United States, groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union have criticized proposals for implementing the idea so far.