03 Apr New law would give feds cybersecurity muscle
The Washington Post reported that key lawmakers this week pushed for legislation that would, for the first time, give teeth to security standards for private industry against cyberattacks. Proposals set to be introduced in the Senate on Wednesday, would give the government power to “dramatically escalate U.S. defences against cyberattacks,” according to the newspaper.
These laws would expand the government’s cybersecurity muscle beyond military networks into private systems controlling networks running electricity and water distribution, as well as put regulatory power enforce the rules.
Proposals address a “gaping vulnerability,” according to intelligence officials, and also calls for an appointment of a White House cybersecurity “czar.” This new post would be given “unprecedented authority to shut down computer networks, including private ones, if a cyberattack is underway,” officials told the post.
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