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Mike Rogers: CISPA Defends America From Internet Predators

CISPA allows the government and private sector to defend America against these cyberattacks, writes the Intelligence Committee chairman

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This Rino moron needs to go. CISPA is a travesty and you can thank this Pelosi pet for getting it through the Senate and signed.

Bob of CA 11:19PM May 13, 2012

I promise to give $10,000 to the first person who can give me a moral justification for CISPA is a free society.

beancrisp of NC 2:17PM April 26, 2012

It Doesn't protect us from any thing Mr. Rogers.

If this is written as passed it essentially takes what is left of our fourth amendment after the UNpatriot act and throws it in the trash.

• CISPA effectively allows the federal government and corporations to “spy” on citizens. One of the main problems with CISPA is that its intentionally broad language gives corporations both the ability and incentive to share almost any type of information they like with the federal government. It also allows the government to use the information in an almost unlimited fashion.

Yes, the bill does contain limitations on the types of information that may be shared (namely: data related to “cyber threats” or “national security”), but the ambiguities of these terms render these limits completely meaningless. Because of this, private communication, like email or messages sent privately through social networks, could be considered fair game. And nothing in the bill requires companies to strip shared information of personally identifiable details — something other cybersecurity bills mandate.

• Information shared under CISPA could be used for almost any purpose. Despite what CISPA supporters want you to believe, the legislation effectively provides no limits for the types of information that may be shared under the bill. As mentioned above, this is because the bill uses overly broad language to define the relevant terms.

• CISPA could put your data in the hands of the military — and out of reach of public oversight. According to the bill, all information will flow into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which will then pass on the data to other parts of the government. This could mean organizations like the National Security Agency (NSA), which is a military organization, and thus has practically no civilian oversight. Traditionally, the DHS — a civilian organization that is subject to public oversight — handles the government’s cybersecurity operations. CISPA could change all that.

• If a company mishandles your data, it is nearly impossible to sue them and win. CISPA gives explicit immunity to companies who hand over data to the government, as long as that data is used from some cybersecurity or national security purpose. It also overrides all other laws pertaining to privacy and the sharing of individuals’ information. If, however, you (somehow) discover that your information was shared or used improperly, successfully winning a lawsuit against the company responsible is nearly impossible. That’s because, under CISPA, a company must willfully engage in an “act or omission” that was made:

(I) Intentionally to achieve a wrongful purpose;

(II) knowingly without legal or factual justification; and

(III) in disregard of a known or obvious risk that is so great as to make it highly probable that the harm of the act or omission will outweigh the benefit.

That’s right — the company must meet all of those criteria to be liable, not just one of them.

Steve Kearney of MI 2:51PM April 25, 2012

Bill M of TN doesn't really get it.

There are too many idiots like that guy who vote for more idiots in office. It's a never ending cycle.

eric of MO 2:35PM April 22, 2012

Only a fool would fall for this lame excuse. It's patently obvious that China is being used as the bogeyman to scare us into relinquishing our privacy and our rights.

Remember the WMDs that Saddam was allegedly to have possessed? Fool me once...

Jeff of OH 11:33PM April 20, 2012

Hmm. I got curious and actually read the bill. Pretty short...thought anything coming out of Congress had to be at least 100 pages. The definitions are actually pretty narrowly defined, despite all the fear-mongering I'm seeing in other posts that it somehow gives the government the power to vacuum up all your personal data. Also, there's a "notwithstanding any other provisions of law" bit in there that basically means "you can't use this law to get around any other existing one", including a boatload of existing privacy laws and industry regulations. Any company with a halfway competent lawyer wouldn't do anything remotely near the "worst case" claims I'm seeing from the privacy folks...if they did, they'd get sued. It's also plainly clear that the government can't MAKE anyone do anything in terms of sharing.

Also, I'd be interested to see if this thing passes, how industry will respond. If you truly don't agree with this law, then don't do business with a company that takes advantage of it. Demand it in your EULA, if you actually read those things. Holy cow...the free market! What a novel concept! I'm sure there's plenty of people that are convinced the government actually gives a hoot about what they download from Pirate Bay that will gladly use a company that doesn't share with the gov. Me...I think I'll do business with companies that take security, and privacy, seriously. Especially if I'm investing in a company...I'd hope they do everything they can to make sure they don't get hacked.

Bill M of TN 4:20AM April 19, 2012

Not falling for it at all. Does he think we are complete idiots?

Jame Mortimer of MI 4:08AM April 19, 2012

Notice that the pro-CISPA advocates are within the business community. This isn't about "sharing" security resources between government and business. They can do that already, there's nothing that prevents it. They already have InfraGard, for example.

CISPA is about owning and controlling content on the Internet. It is about business interests controlling what you can access on the Internet. It's all about MONEY to them. Don't fall for it, people.

Paul_W of TN 2:04AM April 19, 2012

"We must all work together, government and private sector, to defend America against these predators"

I agree, but the predators you speak of are the very people trying to get this bill passed. Information increases power and this is just a grab by both the government and business to freely and "legally" monitor American citizens.

This bill needs to be more clear on it's definitions, and clearer in it's goals.

"At the end of the day, the Rogers-Ruppersberger bill enables the federal government to share cyberthreat information with those in the private sector so they can protect their networks."

Private companies can protect themselves, they already are. What happened to government staying out of business? Or is it just when government allows business to do what it wants that the old saying goes by the wayside?

H Fischer of CA 8:45PM April 18, 2012

It will be a cold day in Hell when I believe the government on this one!

If our corporations feel threatened, they can fund the development of secure communications. The NSA has consistently opposed making the internet safe so they can do their own spying.

Donald Berrian of MA 7:12PM April 18, 2012