How many of you have read the book ‘Digital Fortress’ ? There was a description about a supercomputer within NSA illegally spying over all email and file transactions around the globe. Well, all that’s about to become legit. Thanks to CISPA !
What it is?
Abbreviated as the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, CISPA gives the government, all agencies and corporations the power to monitor your email communications, online profiles, transactions and what not? Even the messages you send in Facebook. This bill is the third in a series of acts trying to curb the people’s internet freedom and privacy next to SOPA and PIPA. While SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) tried to prevent of sharing of copyrighted material over the internet sharing sites and pages, PIPA (Protect IP Act) provided restrictions on sites sharing counterfeit products and software tools. But, trust me, neither of them was as notorious as this one – the CISPA.
Going by the draft of this bill, which is to be passed on 26th of this month in the US Senate, the cybersecurity companies/agencies and US government share all the information regarding threats among themselves. All the companies shall share the information and intelligence they gathered to the government via the Department of Homeland Security which may then go to National Security Agency – NSA – U.S.A’s and allegedly the world’s top secret cybersecurity and cryptographic intelligence organization.
What it means to you and me ?
Although there are existing acts like the Wiretap Act, Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and similar laws alike, CISPA has the power to overrule them and gives the right to companies to possess information monitoring systems and the authority to tap our communications. Who knows ? Things might already be in place, but the bill gives the freedom to do things out wide in public. This makes it easier for others to access our data – spying legally.
Even corporations like Microsoft and Facebook support the bill claiming that they needed to know if they faced any impending cyber security attack to secure users’ information. However, Facebook’s Joel Kaplan, VP, US Public Policy had promised that his company wouldn’t share sensitive/private information of users unless really required.
Earlier, during SOPA and PIPA all the major silicon valley giants staged protests – thus making it easier to stop them. Now that the tables have turned the other way, it is not going to be that easy stopping CISPA. As a citizen and a user, you can still claim that your privacy has been compromised – file a case, fight and take things legally. But, you know how it is – fighting the mighty US government – a practical joke and a waste of time. Even major civil rights body, the Electronics Frontier Foundation or EFF as it is known by many, has been fighting case of Iillegal Wiretapping by NSA for years. How will it be possible for us to stop them ?
Well, this is our last chance. You can join EFF’s protest against CISPA here. – http://cyberspying.eff.org/