The info-sharing week that almost was
Democrats (and some Republicans) foiled Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's plan to push through a cybersecurity measure as part of a national defense policy bill. Lawmakers wanted more time to debate the measure – meant to aid threat info exchanges between Washington and the private sector – especially amid concerns it could enable more government snooping.
Though it did not advance this week, lawmakers from both parties came out in support of passing a standalone cybersecurity bill in the near future. "The cyber bill will take time. You just can’t pretend it’s an amendment that you can do in an hour," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The White House also supports info-sharing legislation as a way to safeguard the country's computer networks, yet the tech industry isn't so convinced. Many complain that Washington is too interested in getting threat information from private companies and not focused enough on sharing its own threat intelligence. For the plan to work, they say, the government needs to learn to share better, too. Read more. // Sara Sorcher
Though it did not advance this week, lawmakers from both parties came out in support of passing a standalone cybersecurity bill in the near future. "The cyber bill will take time. You just can’t pretend it’s an amendment that you can do in an hour," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The White House also supports info-sharing legislation as a way to safeguard the country's computer networks, yet the tech industry isn't so convinced. Many complain that Washington is too interested in getting threat information from private companies and not focused enough on sharing its own threat intelligence. For the plan to work, they say, the government needs to learn to share better, too. Read more. // Sara Sorcher
After OPM hack, 3 steps to improve government cybersecurity
The Office of Personnel Management breach returns the spotlight to the insecurity of federal networks, which can be strengthened if Washington starts acting a bit more like Silicon Valley. // Alan D. Cohn
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Security pros: Cyberthreat info-sharing won’t be as effective as Congress thinks
Though there's renewed momentum in Congress to finally pass a cybersecurity information-sharing bill, technology industry professionals say the proposals will primarily help government and won’t aid the private sector. // Sara Sorcher
FCC slams PayPal's robocall plan
By accepting PayPal's new terms of service, customers agree to being robocalled or robo-texted by marketing and debt-collection companies without any means to opt out from receiving the calls and texts. Enter the Federal Communication Commission, which has informed PayPal that "requiring a consumer to consent to receive autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing or advertising calls as a condition of purchasing any property, good, or service" is prohibited under the law. // Bob Sullivan
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