US Senator Dianne Feinstein responds to my recent letter, my thoughts, “Blah Blah, Blah… I have written you a hundred letters about children’s rights, all of which you have ignored, you need to get your priorities straight Senator Feinstein, our children’s rights should always be paramount on everyone’s mind!”
Dear Mr. Tenn :
Thank you for your letter opposing the ” Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2012″ (S. 2102). I appreciate knowing your views and welcome the opportunity to share my perspective on the matter.
As you may know, the threat of cybersecurity attacks is one of the greatest threats our nation faces. American financial institutions have incurred multi-million dollar losses due to cyber thefts. Even computer security companies and national security agencies like the FBI and Department of Defense have fallen victim to cyber attacks . Finally, cyber attackers hack into our personal computers, accessing our private information, and using our computers to launch other attacks. These cyber intrusions affect the United States in substantial and real ways, and the threat is only growing.
In fact, during a recent Senate Intelligence Committee hearing about current and projected national security threats to the United States, the U.S. Intelligence Community’s official testimony said that cyber threats, alongside terrorism and proliferation, are the highest priority threats to our national security. An unclassified report by the Intelligence Community made public in November 2011 said cyber intrusions against U.S. companies cost billions of dollars annually. Unfortunately, better cybersecurity is prevented by current laws and business practices which prevent or deter the private sector from sharing information about cyber threats they face and losses of information and money they suffer.
To improve the sharing of cybersecurity information, I introduced the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2012. This bill would authorize companies to monitor and defend their own networks. It would establish procedures for private sector companies to share cyber information with each other and with the federal government, and establish procedures for the government to share classified cybersecurity threat information with certified private sector entities. This legislation is incorporated into the ” Cybersecurity Act of 2012″ (S. 2105), which is cosponsored by Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), and Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV).
It is important to note that the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2012 protects privacy and civil liberties. It does not provide any new authorities for conducting surveillance, and it has robust measures to ensure that information shared with the federal government is protected. Furthermore, participation in information sharing under this bill would be voluntary for companies, and the bill would limit the government’s ability to use private sector cyber information for approved cybersecurity purposes only. Other sections of the bill provide for very limited regulation of critical infrastructure systems that, if disrupted through cyber means, could lead to the deaths of thousands of people or the loss of billions of dollars.
After reviewing intelligence on cyber threats for many years, it is clear to me that cyber attackers are causing major damage to Americans, our national security, and our economy. Please know that as Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am dedicated to fighting the threats we face and I believe this bill will help us in our fight against cyber attacks .
Again, thank you for your letter. I appreciate knowing your views and hope you continue to inform me of issues that matter to you. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office in Washington D.C. at (202) 224-3841.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
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