ICYMI: Former National Security Leaders Who Served In Democratic And Republican Administrations Call For A National Security Review Of Congressional Anti-tech Legislation
Seven former U.S. national security officials who served in Democratic and Republican administrations—including former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, and NSA Director Michael Rogers—have released an open letter calling for a national security review of legislation that could limit American tech companies’ ability to fight cyber threats and other national security risks from countries like Russia and China. You can read the full letter here. Some key statements include:
— “U.S. technology companies have accelerated their partnership with the U.S. government and its allies to improve our collective defense. Both in public and behind the scenes, these companies have rolled out integrated cyber defenses, rapidly fused threat intelligence across products and services, and moved quickly to block malicious actors on their platforms. This partnership has resulted in the detection and disruption of a series of significant security threats from Russia and Belarus.”
— “U.S. policymakers must not inadvertently hamper the ability of U.S. technology platforms to counter increasing disinformation and cybersecurity risks, particularly as the West continues to rely on the scale and reach of these firms to push back on the Kremlin. But recently proposed congressional legislation would unintentionally curtail the ability of these platforms to target disinformation efforts and safeguard the security of their users in the U.S. and globally.“
— “Legislation from both the House and Senate requiring non-discriminatory access for all ‘business users’ (broadly defined to include foreign rivals) on U.S. digital platforms would provide an open door for foreign adversaries to gain access to the software and hardware of American technology companies.”
— “Other provisions in this legislation would damage the capability of U.S. technology companies to roll out integrated security tools to adequately screen for nefarious apps and malicious actors, weakening security measures currently embedded in device and platform operating systems.”
— “We call on the congressional committees with national security jurisdiction – including the Armed Services Committees, Intelligence Committees, and Homeland Security Committees in both the House and Senate – to conduct a review of any legislation that could hinder America’s key technology companies in the fight against cyber and national security risks emanating from Russia’s and China’s growing digital authoritarianism.”