Obama Administration Releases Legislative Proposal On Cybersecurity

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration today delivered its proposed legislation to increase cybersecurity to Congress. The draft legislation is meant to bolster government efforts to combat terrorism and crime on the Internet. In a positive step, the proposal does not include a so-called “Internet kill switch” that would give the administration unilateral power to shut down the Internet. The “Internet kill Switch” is included in legislation currently pending before the Senate.

The following can be attributed to Laura W. Murphy, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office:

“At first glance, we’re encouraged to see the absence of an ‘Internet kill switch’ in this bill. It’s vitally important that Americans’ privacy rights be at the forefront of lawmakers’ minds as they move forward with this or any cybersecurity legislation.

“Just as the government must protect Americans’ constitutional rights in national security efforts, so must it protect their rights in its cybersecurity efforts. As Americans live more and more of their lives online every day, it is crucial that the information they share is not just safe from the peering eyes of criminals but also from our government.”