Senators roll out new cybersecurity bill

Senators are taking another stab at legislation that would require the private sector to work with the White House in the event of a major attack on computer networks in the United States. On Wednesday, Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Olympia Snowe, (R-Maine) introduced a new draft of The Cybersecurity Act, which eliminates some of the more controversial provisions included in earlier attempts to craft the legislation.

The bill would create a public-private partnership to deal with the threats of cyber crime and spying, as well as network attacks. Industry and government officials together would determine which private-sector networks are critical enough to warrant government involvement in a crisis. The bill would make cybersecurity a higher priority at government agencies and promote industry-driven innovation in coming up with new technologies to address threats.

"The networks that American families and businesses rely on for basic day-to-day activities are being hacked and attacked every day. At this very moment, sophisticated cyber enemies are trying to steal our identities, our money, our business innovations, and our national security secrets," Rockefeller said. "Private companies and the government must work together to protect our nation, our networks and our way of life from the growing cyber threat."

A previous version of the bill sparked concerns about civil liberties, classified information and proprietary information. One of its most troubling provisions would have authorized the president to shut down computer networks in a crisis.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation plans to vote on the bill March 24.

For more:
- see the Cybersecurity Act announcement

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