New CyberSecurity Bill Raises Privacy Questions

Nicolas Dawson points out coverage in Mother Jones of the early stages of a new cybersecurity bill that conveys sweeping powers on the President. Quoting: "The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 (PDF) gives the president the ability to 'declare a cybersecurity emergency' and shut down or limit Internet traffic in any 'critical' information network 'in the interest of national security.' The bill does not define a critical information network or a cybersecurity emergency. That definition would be left to the president. The bill ... also grants the Secretary of Commerce 'access to all relevant data concerning [critical] networks without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule, or policy restricting such access.' This means he or she can monitor or access any data on private or public networks without regard to privacy laws."

Comments

Re:I think I speak for everyone

[dheltzel]

You mean this isn't the BIG CHANGE everyone was hoping for ?

Looks like we replaced one set of idiots with an even more morally bankrupt set. Time to break out the "End of an ERROR" bumper stickers again. We were better off before.

Re:I think I speak for everyone

[EmperorKagato]

This bill is unneeded, and a very liberal interpretation would leave this way more invasive than the patriot act is. Private property, private information, private networks are important. Personal liberty depends on it.

So you would like your bank account information stolen because your Bank didn't perform updates on a regular basis or had terrible polices when it comes to managing information security?

difference

[xenolion]

lol and people thought this president was going to be different then the last, come on people wake up they dont care about your freedom only their own and how to keep themselfs in power. That is any government.