“This important legislation promotes the voluntary sharing of information about cyber security problems and solutions. By doing so the legislation helps protect against click-and-crumble threats to our economy and national security,” said Heiman. “The Government has recognized that effective cyber security can only come about as a result of a genuine partnership between government and the private sector. After all, it is the private sector that designed, developed, built and operates the computer systems, products and services that we rely upon. The private sector is often the first to know about a problem and is often in the best position to advance a solution.”
“We want to thank Rep. Davis and Sen. Bennett for their leadership in this area. Rep. Davis recognized the need for this legislation several years ago and has been a tireless champion ever since. He persuaded his colleagues to include this legislation in the House-passed bill creating the Department of Homeland Security. Sen. Bennett also was a key advocate for such legislation and the inclusion of information-sharing provisions in the Senate’s version of the Department of Homeland Security bill. We thank them both for ensuring that the final bill included these important provisions.”
The legislation encourages the voluntary sharing of information by maintaining its confidentiality and ensuring that information will not be used against those who voluntarily submit it. “The legislation ensures that when the private sector’s hand is extended in voluntary partnership, it is shaken, not slapped,” said Heiman. The legislation protects against the disclosure of voluntarily-submitted cyber security information under the FOIA laws, prevents its disclosure by government officials, and prohibits the use of such information in litigation against those who submitted it.
ACP supports policies that promote industry led, market driven solutions to critical information infrastructure protection and opposes government efforts to impose technological mandates or design standards, or to increase widespread monitoring or surveillance. ACP also supports policies that advance the rights of American citizens to encrypt information without fear of government intrusion, and led the private sector fight to lift export restrictions on U.S.-made encryption products.