Senators McCain, Hutchinson and Chambliss have an op ed in the Wall St. Journal today, urging President Obama to refrain from issuing a cyber Executive Order. Here’s a taste (I fear the full text is behind a registration wall — this is about as much as I think I can give and stay within the bounds of fair use):
One week after Democrats at their convention in Charlotte, N.C., called for an open Internet that fosters “innovation” and “investment,” the Obama administration is readying plans to tighten the government’s grip. The White House is preparing an executive order on cybersecurity that unilaterally imposes more mandates and regulations on the private economy.
Cybersecurity is a priority, but anything less than a strong information-sharing bill, based on policies that enhance national security and the economy, will fall short. The Senate needs to follow the lead of the House and pass a bipartisan bill that includes clear authority to do so, and provides liability protections to allow the private sector and government to better share cyber-threat information.
American industry faces a growing cyber threat from domestic and, more frequently, global actors. Vital industries such as communications, energy and transportation confront these threats in a number of ways, including by working with the government and its federal network of cybersecurity centers. While these efforts are invaluable, more can be done.