Staff Writer
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| Nicholas Chupka |
The Internet has been a firestorm of anger following the proposals of multiple “cyber-security bills” such as the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. Both of those bills were struck down last spring, thanks to numerous online protests. However, one of the bills struck down, CISPA, was resurrected and has already passed through the House of Representatives.
CISPA stands for Cyber Intelligence and Sharing Protection Act. The bill would give the government and large companies, like Facebook, the power to share the private information of Internet users among each other if they suspect a “cyber attack” is imminent. This means that the federal government will have the power to look through your personal information, including photos and messages, to make sure that you aren’t a “cyber threat,” as the bill vaguely states.
So, what defines a cyber threat? That isn’t clearly stated; essentially everyone could be considered a cyber threat, which is why I and many others have a problem. The bill also sounds a bit unconstitutional. The fourth amendment says, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” This bill would, essentially, give the government a warrant to search through the information of literally everyone on the Internet. Why is it so hard for lawmakers to read the Constitution?
I’m not sure I completely understand the obsession with trying to find out and control what U.S. citizens are doing with their lives. The idea of the bill isn’t bad, it’s okay that the government wants protection from “cyber attacks,” but they’re doing it in the wrong way. This bill doesn’t have enough restrictions on what the government can do with our information. Not only that, but if the government or a corporation misuses our personal information, they are protected by the bill and cannot receive punishment. This part of the bill infuriates me the most. It brings back memories of former presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s infamous 2011 quote, “Corporations are people.”
President Obama has declared his opposition to the bill, threatening to veto it once he has the opportunity, citing that the bill does not protect the privacy of U.S. citizens. "Citizens have a right to know that corporations will be held accountable—and not granted immunity—for failing to safeguard personal information adequately," said the President in his official statement.
It just makes you wonder if politicians are working for the good of United States citizens or for the money from corporations. An additional White House statement released this past Tuesday reads, “We’ve got to work together, with legislators on Capitol Hill, technology experts from the private sector, and engaged associates like you to advance cyber-security legislation without compromising privacy.”
