US senators reach deal on cybersecurity legislation

Dianne Feinstein

Two Senators said they will formally introduce cybersecurity legislation to promote the sharing of information about cyber threats among companies.

On April 30 Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Vice Chairman Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., issued a statement on the drafted bill:

“We have worked together for months to draft a bill that allows companies to monitor their computer networks for cyber attacks, promotes sharing of cyber threat information and provides liability protection for companies who share that information.”

“After reaching agreement on draft legislation, we circulated that draft bill language to relevant parties in the executive branch, private industry and the privacy community for comment. Once those comments are returned, which we hope will happen quickly, we will consider the final legislation.”

Saxby Chambliss

US Attorney General Eric Holder has called on Congress to develop and pass legislation aimed at alerting customers when personal information is at risk of being stolen during a cyber breach. He said any law should provide for exemptions for businesses that do act responsibly to notify consumers.

Congress has been trying to broaden consumer protection from data breaches for years but proposed legislation has fizzled and died.

This year, several bills are floating around Washington and many hearings have been held to keep cybersecurity and consumer protection in the spotlight on the heels of several high-profile data breaches exposing million of consumers’ personal identifiable information. The US has no federal law addressing either issue.

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