Democracy Now: Will Cybersecurity Act Increase Domestic Surveillance, Violate Privacy Rights?

DemocracyNow.org

As it heads toward a House vote, critics say the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) would allow private internet companies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft to hand over troves of confidential customer records and communications to the National Security Agency, FBI and Department of Homeland Security, effectively legalizing a secret domestic surveillance program already run by the NSA. Backers say the measure is needed to help private firms crackdown on foreign entities — including the Chinese and Russian governments — committing online economic espionage. The bill has faced widespread opposition from online privacy advocates and even the Obama administration, which has threatened a veto. We speak with Michelle Richardson, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union.

Obama Administration Vows to Veto CISPA

RTAmerica:

 

On Thursday, US Congress debated the highly controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing Protection Act (CISPA). Critics of the bill are concerned how, if passed, CISPA will allow companies to obtain private information from its users and hand it over to the federal government. Although US lawmakers spent Thursday discussing the proposed bill, the Obama administration has claimed they will strongly advise the president to veto the legislation if it makes its way to the White House. Trevor Timm, activist for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, joins us with the latest on CISPA.