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CISPA author Rep. Mike Rogers (left), who
successfully navigated his legislation through the House of
Representatives despite ongoing privacy concerns.
(Credit:
Getty Images)
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Today,
Internet freedom advocates everywhere turned their eyes to the U.S.
House of Representatives as that legislative body considered the Cyber
Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act.
For the second year in a row, the House voted to approve
CISPA, a bill that would allow companies to bypass all existing privacy
law to spy on communications and pass sensitive user data to the
government.
EFF condemns the vote in the House and vows to continue the
fight in the Senate.
"CISPA is a poorly drafted bill that would provide a gaping
exception to bedrock privacy law,” EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kurt
Opsahl said. “While we all agree that our nation needs to address
pressing Internet security issues, this bill sacrifices online privacy
while failing to take common-sense steps to improve security."
The legislation passed 288-127, despite a veto threat from
Pres. Barack Obama, who expressed serious concerns about the danger
CISPA poses to civil liberties.
"This bill undermines the privacy of millions of Internet
users,” said Rainey Reitman, EFF Activism Director.
“Hundreds of
thousands of Internet users opposed this bill, joining the White House
and Internet security experts in voicing concerns about the civil
liberties ramifications of CISPA. We’re committed to taking this fight
to the Senate and fighting to ensure no law which would be so
detrimental to online privacy is passed on our watch.”
EFF extends its deep gratitude to the many organization
that have worked with us on this campaign and the tens of thousand of
EFF members who helped us by contacting Congress to oppose CISPA. We
look forward to continuing to fight by your side in defense of civil
liberties as CISPA moves to the Senate.
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