Admin
The White House today is expected to unveil its proposal to boost the nation’s cyber defenses, detailing plans that would require the commercial sector to better protect systems that operate critical infrastructure such as the electrical grid, financial systems and nuclear power plants, The Associated Press reports.
Sources familiar with the plan say the administration’s proposed bill also would instruct government agencies to better monitor their computer networks, as well as require companies to notify consumers when their personal information has been compromised.
Several House and Senate committees have been mulling over cybersecurity legislation for the past two years, while awaiting input from the administration. However, hurdles along the way to reach a consensus have included industry leaders, privacy advocates and security experts struggling with how to adopt cybersecurity without violating business practices or civil liberties.
Commenting on how the biggest cyber threat is to critical infrastructure, Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I. said the government currently only has a limited role in aiding private owners of U..S. critical infrastructure and .com networks.
“We are also still struggling with how to defend critical systems while protecting our civil liberties and privacy,” he added.
