Bill Fosters Global Cooperation on Cybersecurity

Responding to attacks on U.S. and South Korean government websites earlier this month, a New York senator introduced a bill to prompt the American government to work with other nations to develop a global response to cyber attacks.

The measure, known as Fostering a Global Response to Cyber Attacks Act, would require the secretary of state to report to Congress within 270 days of the bill's enactment about the efforts to work with foreign governments to improve IT security.

"Attacks potentially launched from within North Korea, Russia, China and other countries have grown more sophisticated, more targeted, and more serious over the past year and will only grow more dangerous in time," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D.-N.Y., said in a statement accompanying the introduction of the bill that would "ensure that America works with the governments of foreign countries to foster a global response to these cyber attacks."

The bill, if enacted, would encourage the United States to work with foreign governments to:

• Develop comprehensive norms and cooperative activities for international engagement to improve cybersecurity;
• Encourage international cooperation in improving cybersecurity globally; and
• Create appropriate safeguards for the protection of privacy, freedom of speech and commercial transactions to be included in any agreements or other activities designed to safeguard cyberspace.

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According to the bill, which was assigned to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, numerous cyberattacks against United States intelligence and military targets have resulted in the Department of Defense to spend more than $100 million in the first six months of 2009 to repair damage to networks caused by cyberattacks. In addition, the bill says cyberattacks cost the American economy billions of dollars annually.

"Cyber exploitation activity has grown more sophisticated, more targeted, and more serious over the past year and is expected to increase as advances in technology continue to increasingly underpin the society of the United States," the text of the legislation says. "Relevant international cybersecurity agreements focus only on issues relating to cyber crime and common operating standards and have not been signed by certain countries from which cyberattacks may be launched."