Civil liberties groups oppose Senate cyber bill

Federal Drive

Civil liberties groups oppose Senate cyber bill

More than 30 civil liberties groups have come out against the leading cybersecurity bill in the Senate.

Federal News Network Staff

May 11, 2012 11:07 am

< a min read

More than 30 civil liberties groups have come out against the leading cybersecurity bill in the Senate.

In a letter to Congress, the groups said the Cyber Security Act of 2012 would allow companies like Facebook and Verizon to share customer information with the government.

The measure is meant to help the government identify cybersecurity threats.

But the privacy groups note that the bill, as it is currently written, would permit the government to use customer information for nearly any criminal investigation. They say that violates Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Signatories include the ACLU, Reporters Without Borders, and political groups from both sides of the aisle.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news, click here.