Privacy Advocates vs. The Government: Why CISPA Will Become Law

“Have you heard about CISPA? It’s the acronym for the Cyber
Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act.

“CISPA is being likened to the now-moribund SOPA and PIPA bills
smothered by Congress after widespread public opposition.

“However, only opponents see similarities. Advocates see it as
completely different.

“While SOPA and PIPA were about shutting down US web sites
serving as the “tubes” through which suspected pirated intellectual
property flowed, CISPA is about private companies sharing data in
both directions with US government agencies, including Pentagon spy
agencies like the National Security Agency (NSA).

“Opponents of CISPA, however, see similarities because they say
that once again the government is trying to give itself too many
easily abused powers to violate the constitutional rights of
Americans. In this case, potentially violating the Fourth Amendment
(unreasonable searches and seizures) rather than the First
(abridging the freedom of speech).”

Complete Story