Senate cyber bill author endorses Obama action

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) said President Obama’s executive order, signed on Friday, “complements” his bill to expand public-private cyber data sharing. 

The White House has been looking for congressional allies to back its initiative to expand cybersecurity information sharing between the public and private sector.

{mosads}So far, Carper is the only lawmaker to introduce a version of the administration’s proposal to put the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the center of the public-private data swap.

On Friday, Obama signed an executive order meant to entice more lawmakers to get on board with his agenda.

The order gives more detail to the White House offering, laying out how the administration wants businesses to share the data with the DHS and directing the department to establish privacy guidelines for the exchange.  

Following the signing, Carper said Obama’s move “complements the legislation I introduced earlier this week.”

“I am pleased that the administration continues to take steps to give industry better tools to bolster their cyber defenses,” he added.

The White House has also positively received Carper’s bill, called the Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing Act.

“It’s very consistent with the administration’s proposal,” said White House cybersecurity coordinator Michael Daniel during a call with reporters on Thursday.

Proponents of an information-sharing proposal argue it is vital to bolstering the nation’s cyber defenses. Privacy advocates are concerned it might allow the government to collect more sensitive data on people in the U.S.

“A robust cybersecurity strategy is vital to our economic and national security,” Carper said. “Congress, the administration, private industry, and other stakeholders must work together to address our cybersecurity needs while upholding the civil liberties we all cherish.”