House bill would give DHS authority over private sector networks

[BadgerKid]

By Gautham Nagesh - 11/18/10 02:12 AM ET

A new bill unveiled Wednesday by House Homeland Security chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) would give the Department of Homeland Security the authority to enforce federal cybersecurity standards on private sector companies deemed critical to national security.

The Homeland Security Cyber and Physical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2010 authorizes DHS to establish and enforce risk and performance-based cybersecurity standards on federal agencies and private sector companies consider part of the country's critical infrastructure. Such firms include utilities, communications providers and financial institutions.

The legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and Yvette Clark (D-N.Y.). It will also create a new Cybersecurity Compliance Division within DHS that would make sure organizations comply with the new security regulations. The lawmakers argue DHS has not had sufficient authority or resources to fulfill its mission as the lead federal agency for cyversecurity.

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/129879-house-bill-would-give-dhs-authority-over-private-sector-networks

Maybe I haven't had enough coffee yet, but why does this sound like fascism from the left? :shrug:

[tyne]

1. Way past time

for this, imo.

[avaistheone1]

2. I agree it does sound like fascism.

Sickening that is coming from our side.

I don't have much respect for Harman. Why should she be in charge of this when she had her own security breech with Israel?
What a joke. Foxes in charge of the hen house once more.

[leveymg]

3. This gets DHS into territory that has previously been reserved to NSA

Doubles the opportunity for mischief, such as off-the-books information sharing agreements with certain "friendly" foreign powers. No, Jane, no. You're enough of a security risk as it is.

DHS already has sufficient authority and resources without this additional power and jurisdiction.