Crossroads Blog | Institute National Security and Counterterrorism

Legislation

New Cybersecurity Bill In The House

On December 6th, 2011, Tony Romm reported for Politico on how Rep. Dan Lungren is putting forward another cybersecurity bill in the House.  This bill is different from the Rogers-Ruppersberger bill.  According to the article, the Lungren bill will create a nonprofit "National Information Sharing Organization" where "critical infrastructure operators, private companies, educational institutions, and government agencies share information about cyberthreats."  The Lungren bill also differs from the Rogers-Ruppersberger bill in that it calls for the DHS, not CyberCommand or the NSA, to head cybersecurity efforts for the US government.

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On Dec. 5th, Chris Strohm reported for Bloomberg Businessweek on the National Information Sharing Organization.  This organization, which is sort of like an information clearinghouse, "may share timely, classified information about threats to critical information technology networks."  This bill would also shield private companies that share data with the clearinghouse from criminal/civil liability.  According to the article, the bill also gives DHS the power to "develop performance standards and market incentives for network protection," but does not give DHS the power to regulate private companies.

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I'll post the bill when it comes online.

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