Forwarded From: ama-gi ISPI <offshoreat_private> Privacy Watchdog Group Warns About Dangers of Security Measures http://www.fcw.com/pubs/fcw/1998/1026/web-epic-10-26-98.html BY HEATHER HARRELD (heatherat_private) The recommendations of a presidential commission for protecting the nation's critical computer systems -- many of which are being launched by various federal entities -- would expand government authority and lead to civil liberty violations, according to a report released today by a privacy think tank. The report, authored by the Electronic Privacy Information Center, asserts that the expanded role of the Defense Department and the FBI required to ward off perceived information warfare threats to the nation's critical infrastructures would infringe upon various civil liberties, such as freedom of speech, privacy protections and the Freedom of Information Act. Specifically, Wayne Madsen, senior fellow at EPIC and author of the report, noted that the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies would have their roles expanded from collecting international intelligence data to focusing efforts on domestic computer security. Traditionally, the NSA has been prohibited from playing a role in the protection of unclassified computer security data. But because infrastructure protection involves working closely with the private-sector owners and operators of infrastructure, such as telecommunications companies and banks, this role would be expanded. The report from the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection supported the use of key-recovery encryption, a technology mechanism strongly supported by the NSA that would allow law enforcement officials to descramble encrypted data with a court order or other authorization. It also suggests that the federal government create new classifications for government information and provide federal agencies with expanded latitude for classifying information, according to Madsen. "The intelligence community...has had its sights set on restricting access to public information for years," Madsen said. "There's been a struggle between NSA and civilian agencies over who will be responsible for protecting unclassified information. NSA [in commission recommendations] will become the de facto information security czar." But Jeffrey Hunker, director of the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office, which was created by President Clinton to carry out many of the recommendations in the commission's report, said his office places First Amendment and civil liberty concerns foremost in its work. "We are dealing with a new and evolving threat environment," Hunker said. "Discussions about civil liberties need to recognize the fact that there are new threats that pose real risks to Americans at home...and their way of life." -o- Subscribe: mail majordomoat_private with "subscribe isn". Today's ISN Sponsor: Repent Security Incorporated [www.repsec.com]
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