Could CISPA be worse than SOPA?
By louisehartmann
Microsoft is now rethinking its support for the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act – better known as CISPA – which passed out of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives last week. CISPA allows for the sharing of information between the government and private online companies to stop possible cyber security threats. But since the bill is overly-broad on what exactly is a “cyber security threat” – there’s real concern that the bill could lead to egregious violations of online privacy.
In fact – some critics of the bill say that the consequences of CISPA could be worse than SOPA. Microsoft – which originally supported CISPA – is backing off now until lawmakers pass additional safeguards to protect online privacy. President Obama raised the same concerns over the bill when he threatened to veto it last week. The irony here is shocking.
When Progressives proposed net neutrality to prevent major Internet corporations from carving up the Internet and screwing over consumers - Republicans lined up against it calling it a government takeover of the Internet. But when it comes to giving those same corporations the power to share your personal information with the government – Republicans line up in support. Yes, Conservatives side with big corporations over working people even in cyber space.
Comments
#2
If CISPA passes, I'll just quit the Internet. I lived 40 years without it, I can live without it for the time I have left. I just don't do that much on the Internet.
#3
It is interesting that there was not much outrage in 2009 when the democrat led congress passed the 2009 Cyber Security Act - giving the president the on and off switch for the internet 'in times of terror'. And please keep your revisionist comments to yourself if you plan on contradicting the facts of this - Cybersecurity Act of 2009 (S.773). Giving the President unlimited power to disconnect private-sector computers from the internet and to authorize CORPORATIONS access to private information -
SEC. 23. DEFINITIONS.In this Act:
(1) ADVISORY PANEL- The term ‘Advisory Panel’ means the Cybersecurity Advisory Panel established or designated under section 309. PRIVATE SECTOR ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.
(a) Evaluation- The President shall conduct an annual evaluation of the sufficiency of present access to classified information among owners and operators of United States critical infrastructure information systems and submit a report to the Congress on the evaluation.
(b) Security Clearances- To the extent determined by the President to be necessary to enhance public-private information sharing and cybersecurity collaboration, the President may--
(1) grant additional security clearances to owners and operators of United States critical infrastructure information systems; and
(2) delegate original classification authority to appropriate Federal officials on matters related to cybersecurity.
I guess if Thom only provides the republican view-points, he can continue to re-write actual business conducted by democrats.
Official Summary
4/1/2009--Introduced.Cybersecurity Act of 2009 - Directs the President to establish or designate a Cybersecurity Advisory Panel to advise the President. Defines "cyber" as:
(1) any process, program, or protocol relating to the use of the Internet or an intranet, automatic data processing or transmission, or telecommunication via the Internet or an intranet; and
(2) any matter relating to, or involving the use of, computers or computer networks.Directs the Secretary of Commerce to:
(1) develop and implement a system to provide cybersecurity status and vulnerability information regarding all federal information systems and networks managed by the Department of Commerce; and
(2) provide financial assistance for the creation and support of Regional Cybersecurity Centers for small and medium sized U.S. businesses. Requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish cybersecurity standards for all federal government, government contractor, or grantee critical infrastructure information systems and networks. Makes NIST responsible for U.S. representation in all international cybersecurity standards development. Directs the Secretary to develop or coordinate a national licensing, certification, and recertification program for cybersecurity professionals and makes it unlawful to provide certain cybersecurity services without being licensed and certified. Requires Advisory Panel approval for renewal or modification of a contract related to the operation of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. Requires development of a strategy to implement a secure domain name addressing system. Requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support specified types of research and to establish a program of grants to higher education institutions to establish cybersecurity testbeds. Amends the Cybersecurity Research and Development Act to expand the purposes of an existing program of computer and network security research grants. Requires the NSF to establish a Federal Cyber Scholarship-for-Service program. Requires NIST to establish cybersecurity competitions and challenges to recruit talented individuals for the federal information technology workforce and stimulate innovation. Requires the Department of Commerce to serve as the clearinghouse of cybersecurity threat and vulnerability information. Grants the Secretary access to all relevant data concerning such networks notwithstanding any law or policy restricting access. Directs the President to:
1) develop and implement a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy;
(2) on a quadrennial basis, complete a review of the cyber posture of the United States; and
(3) work with representatives of foreign governments to develop norms, organizations, and other cooperative activities for international engagement to improve cybersecurity. Requires the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress an annual report on cybersecurity threats to and vulnerabilities of critical national information, communication, and data network infrastructure. Establishes a Secure Products and Services Acquisitions Board to review and approve high value products and services acquisition and establish validation standards for software to be acquired by the federal government.
#4
The reason the republicans support tax cuts for the rich only....is that they know that is the one thing that will simultaneously help the plutocrats and hurt the country. Tax cuts for working people will also help the plutocrats...but that would actually improve the economy....so its off the table
#5
not really the topic here... but since you brought up taxes...
After Obama made the declaration that the 'rich' should not pay less in taxes than the 'poor', he failed to discuss lowering the tax burden on the middle class... for the past 40 years, the middle class has payed between 28 and 35% in federal payroll and income taxes and an additional 5-7% in local sales taxes. While the 'poor' enjoy 0-18% in a tax burden and the rich enjoy shelters and deductions, I am obligated to pay my FULL 'fair' share while the rest of the country gets a break. Why is it that the congress cannot remove deductions from the millionaires (new math dictates that a million is really 200,000 now), prevent tax free existance on those who utilize government assistance and LOWER the tax burden on those making between $30,000 and $199,000 (the poverty center states that 15% of Americans live in poverty - below $26,000 and we have the infamous 1% who make $200,000 or more) which is 84% of America.... so please tell me the next time a democrat helps the middle class (me) with a tax break, so I can go out and stimulate the economy.
#6
All this is the consequence of too many conservative votes and non-votes. I gotta keep on reminding : these SOPA and CISPA threats were made possible by common American voters. Congress was coined conservative in the midterms 2010. But even before we had too many Republicans and blue-dogs in Congress, which held off Obamacare.
If Americans don't want all this SOPA and CISPA -- just go and vote, and vote progressive! Presently I feel like refusing to complain about SOPA and CISPA, because it doesn't help. Democracy happens in Congress and if we mess up the next election and get Romney as president, plus Republican dominance in Congress, there will be more threats like CISPA -- maybe even worse. But even if we will have to go on with a divided Congress in 2013, it'll be bad for the country.
In a liberal dominated Congress, those right-wing bills wouldn't have the faintest chance. Going out on the street and yelling "We are the 99%" is just fine. But it isn't enough. The most effective way to organize democracy is election. The bitter truth is, the 99% aren't all liberals. Many of them are right-wingers. We can call that stupid, but have to accept the fact though. Republican voters are part of the 99%.
The only way to improve our situation is by trying to convince independents to vote progressive and remind liberals that their vote is needed. In November we have another chance to vote out all the SOPAs and CISPAs for at least four years.....
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Just do it.
What will happen to the Republican party now is what's happened to it in the past -it will win- if two things happen:
1. Voters continue to remain uninformed.
2. People of conscience and ability sit at home bloviating and hoping someone else will do the work of persuading voters and the getting out the vote.
It is not uncommon in any Congressional District of a million people for there to be only a few hundred people active in any political party. That's freakin shameful. If you do not care enough to get actively involved in defeating Republicans and electing progressives- then you are the problem! Anyone can be involved -my crazy neighbor lady makes a mean Lasagna and healthful fruit plates for young campaign staffers. Another shy person prints out all the walksheets and call lists. Other volunteers drive voters to the polls. Wealthy folks contribute. Web people make websites and do social media. Leaders lead. The gregarious folks talk to voters.
Every one of the volunteers I know has a family and a job and other responsibilities -so that is simply no excuse. If you do not volunteer, ask your self: Do you care enough about this country to do something -or not?