“President Barack Obama is expected to push for new cybersecurity legislation during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, the first time a U.S. president has made this emerging threat a priority,” Jacob Pramuk reports for CNBC.
“Obama will advocate for policy that encourages the private sector and government to share information on threats, expands the ability of law enforcement to prosecute cybercrime and condenses sometimes conflicting state laws into one federal statute, among other changes outlined by the White House last week,” Pramuk reports. “Devastating breaches of major companies also continue to sap activity from the U.S. economy, often leaving confidential consumer data vulnerable in the process. While Obama’s proposal reflects a wider emphasis on bolstering defenses against ever-increasing digital threats, the policy, if passed, may not address the fundamental threat to businesses and consumers, experts told CNBC. ”
“‘Everybody is in agreement that the private sector should beef up defenses, but Republicans would want to make it more of a recommendation than a requirement,’ said Darrell West, vice president and director of government studies at the Brookings Institute,” Pramuk reports. “Obama’s policy would not only attempt to cut off disruptions to businesses but also to limit damage to consumers after an attack takes place. Under the proposal, the government would provide ‘liability protection’ to companies that share information about their cyberthreats with the Department of Homeland Security’s National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lynn Weiler” for the heads up.]