ROCKEFELLER UNVEILS BIPARTISAN CYBERSECURITY LEGISLATION
Mar 26, 2010 (Congressional Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released a draft of bipartisan cybersecurity legislation to address our nation's vulnerability to computer and Internet crime, espionage and attacks. This week, the Commerce Committee favorably reported out Senator Rockefeller's Cybersecurity Act.
"The purpose of this bill is to make absolutely sure that our country is ready in the event of a major cyber attack," said Rockefeller. "Cyber attacks are a 21st century security threat and they call for a rigorous 21st century response. We need a much more well-coordinated and collaborative effort between private sector companies, our citizens and government. We all must work together as a well-practiced team with a winning game plan in order to protect our nation, our networks and our way of life from the growing cyber threat." Senator Rockefeller's legislation would protect the security of the computer networks West Virginians and Americans rely on--not only the computer networks that connect people at home and at work, but also the computer networks that run the state's and nation's banks, schools, power grids, ports and dams, air traffic control system, and so many other critical aspects of American life and the American economy.
The legislation is the culmination of a year's work of consultation and input from cybersecurity experts in the private sector, government and civil liberties community. The bill was marked-up by the Senate Commerce Committee on March 24, 2010.
BACKGROUND The bill provides a framework for engagement and collaboration between the private sector and government on cybersecurity, while protectingcivil liberties, proprietary rights, and confidential and classified information. The bill will: * Create a National Cybersecurity Advisor, modeled on the U.S. Trade Representative, to coordinate the government's cybersecurity efforts and collaborate with the private sector.
* Initiate a new public awareness campaign to make basic cybersecurity principles and civil liberties protections familiar to citizens.
* Support major new cybersecurity R & D and the recruiting of students to study cybersecurity and apply their skills in public service.
* Create a dynamic cycle of market-driven innovation in professional training and cybersecurity products and services.
* Call on the private sector and government to share threat and vulnerability information, including access to classified threat information for cleared private sector executives - along with the responsibility for acting on it.
* Require the President and private sector jointly to develop and rehearse detailed cyber emergency response plans.
Senator Rockefeller's legislation does not give any new or broader authority to the President. It does makes sure we plan for and practice our response to an attack, so that if the President ever had to declare an emergency because of a cyber attack, both the government and private sector would be ready to immediately act to protect our country and our people.
Cyberwarfare
Cyberwarfare raises issues of growing national interest and concern.
Cyberwarfare can be used to describe various aspects of defending and attacking information and computer networks in cyberspace, as well as denying an adversary’s ability to do the same. Some major problems encountered with cyber attacks, in particular, are the difficulty in determining the origin and nature of the attack and in assessing the damage incurred.
A number of nations are incorporating cyberwarfare as a new part of their military doctrine. Some that have discussed the subject more openly include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China. Many of these are developing views toward the use of cyberwarfare that differ from those of the United States, and in some cases might represent national security threats.
Cyberterrorism is also an issue of growing national interest. Many believe terrorists plan to disrupt the Internet or critical infrastructures such as transportation, communications, or banking and finance. It does seem clear that terrorists use the Internet to conduct the business of terrorism, but on closer inspection, however, it is not clear how or whether terrorists could use violence through the Internet to achieve political objectives.
Although the U.S. government is striving to consolidate responsibility for and focus more attention on cyberwarfare issues, it is not clear how successful those efforts will be. Congress may choose to examine critically the policies, organization, and legal framework that guides executive ranch decisionmaking on issues of cyberwarfare.
Cyberwarfare can be used to describe various aspects of defending and attacking information and computer networks in cyberspace, as well as denying an adversary’s ability to do the same. Some major problems encountered with cyber attacks, in particular, are the difficulty in determining the origin and nature of the attack and in assessing the damage incurred.
A number of nations are incorporating cyberwarfare as a new part of their military doctrine. Some that have discussed the subject more openly include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China. Many of these are developing views toward the use of cyberwarfare that differ from those of the United States, and in some cases might represent national security threats.
Cyberterrorism is also an issue of growing national interest. Many believe terrorists plan to disrupt the Internet or critical infrastructures such as transportation, communications, or banking and finance. It does seem clear that terrorists use the Internet to conduct the business of terrorism, but on closer inspection, however, it is not clear how or whether terrorists could use violence through the Internet to achieve political objectives.
Although the U.S. government is striving to consolidate responsibility for and focus more attention on cyberwarfare issues, it is not clear how successful those efforts will be. Congress may choose to examine critically the policies, organization, and legal framework that guides executive ranch decisionmaking on issues of cyberwarfare.
Friday, March 26, 2010
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