Many realize the need for cybersecurity, but are also wondering if this is legislation in need of a problem. One one has to wonder why Harry Reid would do this
(The Hill) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to bring a cybersecurity bill straight to the Senate floor in the coming weeks, skipping any committee markups, according to Democratic aides.
The move ignores the pleas from seven GOP senators to slow down the process and allow for multiple committees to hold hearings and markups of the legislation.
The bill would give the Homeland Security Department regulatory authority over companies with computer systems crucial to the nation’s economic and physical security. It would require that the companies take adequate precautions to safeguard their systems and would increase information-sharing about cyber threats between the private sector and the government.
So, more burdensome regulation and interference in private sector business, who probably take cybersecurity a whole heck of a lot more serious than the Central Government does. Make no mistake, this bill is not SOPA or PIPA
The Senators stressed that the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 in no way resembles the Stop Online Piracy Act or the Protect Intellectual Property Act, which involved the piracy of copyrighted information on the internet. The Cybersecurity Act involves the security of systems that control the essential services that keep our nation running—for instance, power, water, and transportation.
How about Central and other government agencies? Perhaps Reid and Lieberman (who introduced the bill) should worry more about them. We’ve seen since last June: the CIA hit with a DDOS attack, Oakland, Salt Lake City, and Boston PD hacked, FBI hacked multiple times, DoJ hacked, NATO hacked, Florida election board hacked.We also have the massive theft of government documents by Bradley Manning, along with other US government documents released by WikiLeaks.
Oh, and let’s not forget, the US Senate was hacked at least twice over the last twelve months. Perhaps they should tighten up their own security before hitting up the private sector.
Why is Reid doing this? Perhaps because Republican leaders in the Senate have asked him to slow down. Perhaps he wants to see it come to the floor for a vote and have Republicans vote against the bill, so he can then Blame Republicans for being anti-security. The GOP is writing their own bill, so, Reid might want to trump that. Holding a vote on such an important, along with burdensome and intrusive, bill without committee hearings and/or vetting is against American process. But, perhaps we have to pass it to find out what’s in it, and how much power it gives the Central Government over private industry.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.
I thought it was not “legal” to bring bills straight to the floor without it coming out of a committee? (I’m bad at civics anyway)
The bill would give the Homeland Security Department regulatory authority over companies with computer systems crucial to the nation’s economic and physical security
burdensome regulation? hell. That’s a bill allowing for the nationalization of private networks and servers! And, what does the DHS have to do with systems that are “crucial” to the nation’s economy. Shouldn’t that be the FEDS venue? Or, FBI?
Next thing you know, Immigration agents will be seizing foreign websites.
oh.
You can pretty much see the arm shoved up his butt at this point. Make his mouth move again!