Cybernetic Security

A recent bill brought up at the senate would allow a single entity nearly entire authority on private Internet networks. Introduced on April first, the Cybersecurity Act of 2009 would essentially allow for a single overlooking power that would report directly to the president. The bill would allow for the government to search and request data from secure and private networks without regards to any policy. Written in fifty-one pages, the bill outlines when a private network is considered threatening to national security. Included are regulations that will be imposed on private networks and systems. The list mentioned specified software, licensing, and testing on the severs.

Most people however, agree that our digital information security is one of the most important issues that we are facing now. Greg Nojeim of the Center of Democracy and Technology stated that the bill is extremely vague and would greatly broaden powers in favor of the government while another one argued that the American public must have their private information protected. In our day and age, our digital selves are just as important as in real life. It was pointed out that cyber security on certain networks such as people’s electric, banking, health, and traffic records are prone to an attack. These attacks, if carried out, would have a large effect on the American public as a whole. Not only would private information be destroyed or leaked but the trust in the American government would greatly be damage. Despite his beliefs, Nojeim admits to the importance of the advantages of the bill but strongly urges Congress to modify the bill.