Thread: CISPA cybersecurity bill gets veto threat from Obama

CISPA cybersecurity bill gets veto threat from Obama

By Olivier Knox | The Ticket.. .

The White House came out strongly Wednesday against a bipartisan but controversial House bill designed to protect the country's infrastructure from cyberattack, warning that President Barack Obama would veto if it passes in its current form over civil liberties concerns and other worries.

"The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, in its current form," Obama's Office of Management and Budget said in a statement. "If H.R. 3523 were presented to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill."

OMB said that the administration was "committed to increasing public-private sharing of information about cybersecurity threats" but said the process "must be conducted in a manner that preserves Americans' privacy, data confidentiality, and civil liberties and recognizes the civilian nature of cyberspace."

Morever, it said, the legislation "fails to provide authorities to ensure that the nation's core critical infrastructure is protected while repealing important provisions of electronic surveillance law without instituting corresponding privacy, confidentiality, and civil liberties safeguards." OMB specifically cautioned that, in its current form, the measure fails to set up "requirements for both industry and the government to minimize and protect personally identifiable information."

"Citizens have a right to know that corporations will be held legally accountable for failing to safeguard personal information adequately," OMB said, adding that the legislation "would inappropriately shield companies from any suits where a company's actions are based on cyber threat information identified, obtained, or shared under this bill, regardless of whether that action otherwise violated federal criminal law or results in damage or loss of life."

The bill's chief authors--House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers and the panel's top Democrat, Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger--unveiled a raft of amendments on Tuesday aimed at defusing the privacy concerns.

The two lawmakers issued a joint statement Wednesday saying that "the basis for the administration's view is mostly based on the lack of critical infrastructure regulation, something outside of our jurisdiction."

"We would also draw the White House's attention to the substantial package of privacy and civil liberties improvement announced yesterday which will be added to the bill on the floor," they said, stressing that key lawmakers guiding the measure to a vote in the House "have agreed to a package of amendments that address nearly every single one of the criticisms leveled by the administration, particularly those regarding privacy and civil liberties of Americans. Congress must lead on this critical issue and we hope the White House will join us."

CISPA cybersecurity bill gets veto threat from Obama | The Ticket - Yahoo! News

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House approves cybersecurity bill over Obama veto threat
By Pete Kasperowicz - 04/26/12 06:32 PM ET

The House on Thursday approved controversial cybersecurity legislation that the Obama administration has threatened to veto.

Members approved the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection (CISPA) act, H.R. 3523, in a 248-168 vote that split both parties somewhat. The bill was supported by 42 Democrats, while 28 Republicans opposed it.

The House approved the bill after making a number of changes aimed at limiting the way the government could use the information that companies provide.

CISPA would make it easier for companies to share information with the government about the threats facing their networks. Supporters — Republicans and Democrats alike — said the proposal is a reasonable compromise between the need for privacy and security.

"The intelligence community has the ability to detect these cyber threats, these malicious codes and viruses, before they are able to attack our networks," said Intelligence Committee ranking member Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.). "But right now, federal law prohibits our intelligence community from sharing the classified cyber threat with the companies that will protect us that control the network, the AT&Ts, the Verizons, the Comcasts, those groups.

"We have the ability to give them the information to protect us, but yet we have to pass a law to do that."

The bill enjoyed strong bipartisan support before the administration issued a veto threat and sided with privacy advocates who argue the bill does not do enough to protect consumers' private information. The White House also wants regulatory mandates for critical infrastructure providers, which are not contained in CISPA.

Ruppersberger said earlier Thursday that Obama's veto threat of his bill was like a "kick in the solar plexus".

It also seemed to have the effect of peeling Democrats off the bill, as several Democrats took up Obama's arguments during floor debate.

"In an effort to foster information sharing, this bill would erode the privacy protections of every single American using the Internet," said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). "It would create a Wild West of information sharing, where any certified business can share with any government agency, who can then use the information for any national security purpose and grant the business immunity from virtually any liability."

Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) added that the bill is an "unprecedented, sweeping piece of legislation that would waive every single privacy law ever enacted in the name of cybersecurity."

Republicans did allow several amendments to be considered that narrowed the scope of the bill, including proposals from members of both parties. One from Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.) would allow the government to use the information it collects only for five purposes, all related to protecting people and prosecuting crimes.

Others would prohibit the government from using certain electronic data as it works to fight cyber threats, narrow the definition of what information can be shared, and encourage the government to create procedures to protect privacy.

Even before those amendments, supporters argued that the bill has enough safeguards in it to ensure the privacy of consumer data.

"The bill includes significant safeguards to protect personal and private information," Rep. Rich Nugent (R-Fla.) said. "It significantly limits the federal government's use of that information that the private companies voluntarily provide, including the government's authority to search data."

The bill is one of four cybersecurity bills the House is expected to consider this week. The others are the Federal Information Security Amendments act (H.R. 4257), the Cybersecurity Enhancement act (H.R. 2096), and the Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research and Development act (H.R. 3834). House Republicans have put these three bills on the suspension calendar, a process usually reserved for non-controversial bills that will require them to pass by a two-thirds majority vote.

House approves cybersecurity bill over Obama veto threat - The Hill's Floor Action

How They Voted
H.R. 3523: Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (On Passage of the Bill) -- GovTrack.us

H.R. 3523: Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (On Passage of the Bill)

Number:
House Vote #192 [primary source: house.gov]
Date:
Apr 26, 2012 (112th Congress)
Result:
Passed
Related Bill:
H.R. 3523: Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act
Introduced by Rep. Michael “Mike” Rogers [R-MI8] on November 30, 2011
Current Status: Reported by Committee

This was a vote to approve or reject a bill or resolution.

H.R. 3523: Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (On Passage of the Bill) -- GovTrack.us

House approves cybersecurity bill over Obama veto threat
By Pete Kasperowicz - 04/26/12 06:32 PM ET

The House on Thursday approved controversial cybersecurity legislation that the Obama administration has threatened to veto.

Members approved the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection (CISPA) act, H.R. 3523, in a 248-168 vote that split both parties somewhat. The bill was supported by 42 Democrats, while 28 Republicans opposed it.

The House approved the bill after making a number of changes aimed at limiting the way the government could use the information that companies provide.

CISPA would make it easier for companies to share information with the government about the threats facing their networks. Supporters — Republicans and Democrats alike — said the proposal is a reasonable compromise between the need for privacy and security.

"The intelligence community has the ability to detect these cyber threats, these malicious codes and viruses, before they are able to attack our networks," said Intelligence Committee ranking member Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.). "But right now, federal law prohibits our intelligence community from sharing the classified cyber threat with the companies that will protect us that control the network, the AT&Ts, the Verizons, the Comcasts, those groups.

"We have the ability to give them the information to protect us, but yet we have to pass a law to do that."

The bill enjoyed strong bipartisan support before the administration issued a veto threat and sided with privacy advocates who argue the bill does not do enough to protect consumers' private information. The White House also wants regulatory mandates for critical infrastructure providers, which are not contained in CISPA.

Ruppersberger said earlier Thursday that Obama's veto threat of his bill was like a "kick in the solar plexus".

It also seemed to have the effect of peeling Democrats off the bill, as several Democrats took up Obama's arguments during floor debate.

"In an effort to foster information sharing, this bill would erode the privacy protections of every single American using the Internet," said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). "It would create a Wild West of information sharing, where any certified business can share with any government agency, who can then use the information for any national security purpose and grant the business immunity from virtually any liability."

Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) added that the bill is an "unprecedented, sweeping piece of legislation that would waive every single privacy law ever enacted in the name of cybersecurity."

Republicans did allow several amendments to be considered that narrowed the scope of the bill, including proposals from members of both parties. One from Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.) would allow the government to use the information it collects only for five purposes, all related to protecting people and prosecuting crimes.

Others would prohibit the government from using certain electronic data as it works to fight cyber threats, narrow the definition of what information can be shared, and encourage the government to create procedures to protect privacy.

Even before those amendments, supporters argued that the bill has enough safeguards in it to ensure the privacy of consumer data.

"The bill includes significant safeguards to protect personal and private information," Rep. Rich Nugent (R-Fla.) said. "It significantly limits the federal government's use of that information that the private companies voluntarily provide, including the government's authority to search data."

The bill is one of four cybersecurity bills the House is expected to consider this week. The others are the Federal Information Security Amendments act (H.R. 4257), the Cybersecurity Enhancement act (H.R. 2096), and the Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research and Development act (H.R. 3834). House Republicans have put these three bills on the suspension calendar, a process usually reserved for non-controversial bills that will require them to pass by a two-thirds majority vote.

House approves cybersecurity bill over Obama veto threat - The Hill's Floor Action

Thursday, April 26, 2012
Latest Cybersecurity Bill CISPA Passes First Vote in Congress
image source
Activist Post

Never mind that no cyber threat has been proven, or even appears imminent, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, or CISPA, which many say is just the reincarnation of the failed SOPA bill, passed a rules vote in the House of Representatives today by a count of 248 to 168.

"This bill in its current form… is an unprecedented, sweeping piece of legislation that would waive every single privacy law ever enacted in the name of cybersecurity," Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.)

The vote clears the way for a full vote likely to take place today. Facing a veiled veto threat by president Obama because the bill doesn't do enough to protect civil liberties, CISPA is said to be potentially worse for Internet free speech and activism.

The much maligned SOPA bill was intended to give the government the authority to close down and seize domains over suspected copyright infringement. While CISPA is more geared toward private companies sharing information concerning "threats" with the government, thus eliminating user privacy.

However, the language in CISPA is so broad that it may actually accomplish both of the government's objectives. Because CISPA defines “cyber threat intelligence” to include “theft or misappropriation of private or government information” and “intellectual property", it essentially gives the government the same authority as SOPA would have.


As presidential candidate and defender of liberty, Ron Paul, stated CISPA is the new SOPA. He wrote:

Simply put, CISPA encourages some of our most successful Internet companies to act as government spies, sewing distrust in social media and chilling communications in one segment of the world economy where Americans still lead.

Imagine having government-approved employees embedded at Facebook, complete with federal security clearances, serving as conduits for secret information about their American customers.If you believe in privacy and free markets, you should be deeply concerned about the proposed marriage of government intelligence gathering with private, profit-seeking companies.

Many large companies opposed SOPA which was a large reason why it failed. Yet, CISPA appears to have broad support of those same corporations because they're given immunity from prosecutions of privacy violations.

As Ron Paul said "CISPA represents an alarming form of corporatism, as it further intertwines government with companies like Google and Facebook...grants them broad immunity from lawsuits for doing so, leaving you without recourse for invasions of privacy."

Although many civil liberty groups are united against CISPA, the support by these corporations may indicate its eventual passage. After all, it's clear that corporate voices are the only ones that the government listens to.





Activist Post: Latest Cybersecurity Bill CISPA Passes First Vote in Congress

Obama Opposes CISPA, But Will Sign It Anyway


Get ready for another NDAA-style bait and switch

Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
Wednesday, April 25, 2012

President Barack Obama simply “can’t wait” to bypass Congress and use executive privilege to advance his political agenda, but even though his administration has expressed its opposition to the draconian CISPA bill, don’t hold your breath for a veto.
Obama Opposes CISPA, But Will Sign It Anyway Obama Defense Act



Earlier this week the New York Times reported on how Obama had personally invented the slogan “We Can’t Wait” to characterize his intention to “aggressively use executive power to govern in the face of Congressional obstructionism.”

However, Obama ‘s penchant for defying Congress seems to lose its steam when there’s a bill to be passed that will strip Americans of what’s left of their fourth amendment rights.

The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) orders ISPs to share Internet data of users with government “notwithstanding any other provision of law.”

The bill “gives companies a free pass to monitor and collect communications and share that data with the government and other companies, so long as they do so for ‘cybersecurity purposes,’” the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has noted. “Just invoking ‘cybersecurity threats’ is enough to grant companies immunity from nearly all civil and criminal liability, effectively creating an exemption from all existing law.”

Yesterday senior State Department official Alec Ross publicly announced that the Obama administration opposed CISPA, but refused to entertain the notion of the bill being vetoed.

“The Obama administration opposes Cispa,” he told the Guardian. “The president has called for comprehensive cybersecurity legislation. There is absolutely a need for comprehensive cybersecurity legislation.

“[But] part of what has been communicated to congressional committees is that we want legislation to come with necessary protections for individuals.”

Ross’ words carry absolutely no meaning whatsoever. History tells us that Obama’s opposition to CISPA is nothing more than political grandstanding and that he will sign the bill without haste once it lands on his desk.

A d v e r t i s e m e n t

Cast your minds back to the National Defense Authorization Act and specifically the provision that allows indefinite detention of Americans without trial.

At every step throughout the process, the Obama administration threatened to veto the bill unless the ‘kidnapping’ provisions were removed from the text, lulling civil libertarians on the left into a false sense of security. However, Obama signed the legislation into law on New Year’s Eve when Americans were out partying, a sneak attack that caught everyone by surprise.

Despite a toothless signing statement in which Obama promised not to use the ‘indefinite detention’ provision against American citizens, it subsequently emerged that it was the administration itself which specifically demanded the provision be applied to American citizens.

According to its co-author Rep. Mike Rogers, CISPA already has enough votes to pass the House on Friday and despite an onslaught of new amendments, some of which actually make the bill worse for privacy, will head to the Senate for approval before awaiting the President’s signature.

Given what we learned from Obama’s NDAA bait -and-switch, the President probably “can’t wait” to sign CISPA into law, formally empowering the federal government to use the Internet as one giant world wide wiretap in the name of cybersecurity.

*********************

Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a regular fill-in host for The Alex Jones Show and Infowars Nightly News.

Prison Planet.com » Obama Opposes CISPA, But Will Sign It Anyway

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