Senators Seek New Cyber-Security Powers for President

By Jeff Bliss and Catherine Dodge
Bloomberg
Jun. 10, 2010

Can it me any more transparent the government manufactures made up threats as an excuse to rule over you? June 10 (Bloomberg) -- The president could order emergency measures to combat cyber attacks under legislation introduced today by three senators who say the Internet has unleashed a new breed of cyber-terrorists.

Under the legislation, the president’s specific powers would be developed with companies and wouldn’t allow the government to take over private networks or give it more surveillance authority, the lawmakers said.

“The Internet can also be a dangerous place with electronic pipelines that run directly into everything from our personal bank accounts to key infrastructure to government and industrial secrets,” Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent who heads the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said at a news conference.

Lieberman is sponsoring the measure with Susan Collins of Maine, the panel’s senior Republican, and committee member Tom Carper, a Democrat from Delaware.

“Our economic security, our national security and our public safety are now all at risk as a result of new kinds of enemies, with new kinds of names like cyber-warriors, cyber- spies, cyber-terrorists and cyber-criminals,” Lieberman said.

Hacker Attacks

Concern about presidential authority to shut down the Internet previously generated opposition among some businesses to a measure introduced by Senators Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, and Maine Republican Olympia Snowe.

That legislation has been rewritten to clarify the president’s role in a cyber emergency.

Lieberman said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, wants to pass the legislation this year. Lieberman’s committee plans a hearing next week.

“We cannot wait for a cyber 9/11,” Collins said.

Lawmakers are trying to craft legislation to boost U.S. cyber-security following reports of hacked government computer systems and Mountain View, California-based Google Inc.’s January threat to leave China in the wake of a computer attack.

The Lieberman-Collins-Carper measure would require the president to inform Congress in advance of what measures are being taken. The measures would expire in 30 days unless renewed by the president.

Under the legislation, a White House Office of Cyberspace Policy would be established.

The measure would leave it to businesses that run critical facilities such as power plants and telecommunications networks to choose the security they use to protect networks.

A national cyber-security center would be created within the Department of Homeland Security. The center’s Senate- confirmed director would advise the president on the federal government’s computer-network security.

The center would work with companies to develop requirements for tightening security and share warnings with the private sector about possible attacks.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jeff Bliss in Washington [email protected] To contact the reporters on this story: Catherine Dodge in Washington at [email protected].

Last Updated: June 10, 2010 12:58 EDT