Cybersecurity bill
US House passes controversial cybersecurity bill
The US House of Representatives passed a controversial cybersecurity bill on Thursday that allows corporations to share customers' personal data with other firms and the US government, even in the face of a company contract prohibiting such activity. Known as the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), the legislation was approved by a vote of 288-127, with opposition expected from the Obama administration, civil liberties groups and privacy advocates. According to the statute, the Intelligence Community Inspector General would be required to produce an annual review of the government's use of shared information and companies would be allowed to withhold information if they choose. However, according to civil liberties organizations critical of the bill, under the new law companies will be permitted to share very sensitive and personal customer information with the government and military agencies.
The legislation was reintroduced in February by Michigan Republican Mike Rogers and Maryland Democrat CA "Dutch" Ruppersberger. Last April the House approved CISPA by a vote of 248-168. In March Obama administration official Melanie Ann Pustay testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee to urge congressional officials to amend the Freedom of Information Act to strengthen government's ability to prevent disclosure of information related to critical infrastructure and cybersecurity.
(Published by Jurist – April 19, 2013)