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Reddit Co-Founder Urges Tech Leaders to Fight CISPA

*from www.cnn.com, April 22, 2013 (To view original article click here.)

Take Away #1: The co-founder of the popular social news site Reddit has called on the leaders of Google, Facebook, and Twitter to help defeat a controversial cybersecurity bill.

Key Facts and Figures:

  • The cybersecurity bill, or the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), would compromise the privacy of their users if passed by lawmakers.
  • “I’m hoping that all of these tech companies take the stand that their privacy policies matter, their users’ privacy matters, and no legislation like CISPA should take that away,” said Alexis Ohanian, former owner of Reddit.
  • “If someone wants access to our private home or to our mail we would say, Well go get a warrant. Right? CISPA basically says, uh, not necessary. Your digital privacy is irrelevant.”

Take Away #2: Ohanian, also called on the public to sign a petition to defeat CISPA in the ways users helped defeat the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act in 2011.

Key Facts and Figures:

  • “Since we couldn’t get in touch with the deciders, maybe you can,” he says.
  • “Sign the petition, get on social media, because this is what defeated SOPA and PIPA and this is what will defeat CISPA and this is what will defeat whatever they throw at us. Internet freedom, Internet privacy matters.”

Take Away #3: The bill opens the way for government agencies and the private sector to share information about cyberattack threats, but critics say it lacks protections to preserve the privacy of users.

Key Facts and Figures:

  • Critics say it gives companies immunity for repercussions that might come as a result of sharing information.
  • The White House announced this week that President Obama planned to veto the bill if passed without protections.
  • Those protection would have to force companies to anonymize and minimize data they provide the government and other companies.

Take Away #4: The American Civil Liberties Union said today, following the passage of CISPA in the House, that it will continue working to correct the problems with CISPA.

Key Facts and Figures:

  • Despite Ohanian’s plea and the White House veto threat, the House passed the CISPA bill on Thursday by a vote of 288 to 127.
  • A companion bill is planned for the Senate.
  • “CISPA is an extreme proposal that allows companies that hold our very sensitive information to share it with any company or government entity they choose,” Michelle Richardson, legislative counsel at the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office, said in a statement.
  • “We will work with Congress to make sure that the next version of information sharing legislation unequivocally resolves this issue,” said Richardson.

*To view original article from www.cnn.com click here.

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