Source: CNET
This is kinda scary, no? The House just passed by an 80 votes margin the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, CISP. It awaits voting in the Senate. President Barack Obama has already threatened to veto it.
Still, the day will come when we will not be as vigilant and with a president, who isn’t too concerned with basic sense of privacy, will sign a similar legislation into law.
But don’t take my word for this. You should try to learn more about CISP and privacy on your own. However, when President Obama and Ron Paul agree on this issue, it is worth it for us to take note.
It doesn’t matter if you’re politics is right or left of center, the far right as well as the far left are so extreme that should they ever come into power, the powers granted by CISP is simply too tempting not to abuse for their own political gains or agendas.
And while amendments were passed to make sure that there would be enough support for its passage, none of what I've seen suggests that the threat to privacy and basic rights won't be violatd.
The issue of cybersecurity is a very important issue. And in the name of national security, we do need a cohesive reponse against cyber attacks. However, let’s not let fearmongering do away with basic privacy and civil rights. When both liberal and conservative groups band together out of fear that CISP could be used by the government to spy on its own citizens, that is a very scary thing.
Another measure supported by the White House and some in the Senate gives Homeland Security the directive to protect the US from cyberattacks. However, regardless who's in charge, considerable oversight and common sense is required.
Here is a very good FAQ on this matter from Paid Content.
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