CISPA Is Back
CISPA is about destroying fundamental freedoms.
by Stephen Lendman
It shouldn't surprise. The 2011 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) never really went away. It ducked and covered for another day.
It's more about destroying personal freedom than online security. It gives government and corporate supporters unlimited power to access personal/privileged information online.
Civil liberty protections are ignored. Security experts, academics, and other professionals expressed outrage. They called CISPA and John McCain's SECURE IT Act measures that "allow entities who participate in relaying or receiving Internet traffic to freely monitor and redistribute those network communications" unjustifiably.
They encourage transferring private communications to government agencies. Accountability and transparency are lacking. Vague language describes network security attacks, threat indicators, and countermeasures.
Innocuous online activities can be called cybersecurity threats. Eroded privacy laws will be gutted. Web sites visited, personal emails, and other online contact may be freely accessed.
Obama's State of the Union address stressed no-holds-barred cyberwar. Earlier he declared waging it globally.
In May 2009, he prioritized cybersecurity. He called cyber-threats "one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation.""America's economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on cybersecurity," he claimed.
He ordered a top-to-bottom assessment. A Cyberspace Policy Review followed. He supports draconian cybersecurity bills. Passage threatens constitutional freedoms.
His February 12 Executive Order (EO) called for "Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity."
Threats continue to grow, it said. National security challenges must be met.
"It is the policy of the United States to enhance the security and resilience of the Nation's critical infrastructure and to maintain a cyber environment that encourages efficiency, innovation, and economic prosperity while promoting safety, security, business confidentiality, privacy, and civil liberties."
