The Gathering Clouds of “Cyber-Katrina”

By Jen McGahan • March 31st, 2010

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We’re wading through an era of massive, protective government like I’ve never imagined. What used to sound like science fiction is now a plausible possibility.

Last May, when President Obama declared cyberspace to be a “national security priority,” he asserted, “Let me also be clear about what we will not do. Our pursuit of cyber security will not — I repeat, will not include — monitoring private sector networks or Internet traffic. We will preserve and protect the personal privacy and civil liberties that we cherish as Americans.” (In other words, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.”)

Pretty words. But that promise absolutely depends on transparency, and sorry, I’m not buying. We’ve been bald-faced lied to and bullied before. I’m not saying we don’t need cybersecurity and some form of national protection of and on the Internet; I just don’t trust this administration to implement it.

The Cybersecurity Act of 2010, S. 773 (a bill that is only 62 pages long, by the way) states that ‘‘we cannot protect cyberspace without a coordinated and collaborative effort that incorporates both the US private sector and our international partners.” Oh, goodie; two different fronts. By the way, how many battles can you fight at one time?

Thankfully, the amended bill removed language that would allow the president to essentially pull the plug on the the Internet in the case of an emergency, stating explicitly, “ RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—This section does not authorize, and shall not be construed to authorize, an expansion of existing Presidential authorities.”

Whew, I feel so much better…the Internet is so much, er, different from the car companies and the insurance companies. It’s not even a company at all. And anyway, small biz people have nothing to fear…we’re not big enough. Right? So why this unsettling feeling?

First, there’s the global community. The Internet has done much to invigorate economies in the remotest and poorest parts of the world. From enabling free markets, to informing the general public, to increasing awareness and charitable support worldwide. That’s great stuff, and yet another example of how American invention increases prosperity, freedom and convenience in the world; lest we forget that the Internet was built on the backs, brains and pocketbooks of the people of the United States.

Inversely, do you trust the global community to watch out for America’s interests? I don’t.

On the one hand, ceding control to international or foreign bodies like the UN or the International Telecommunications Union raises all kinds of warning signs for people who appreciate US sovereignty and autonomy. (As my business partner Sam so diplomatically understated, the UN has “no track record of neutrality.”) However, it does make sense that we need the cooperation of International governments if we are to fend off or react to a “cyber-Katrina” which could be orders of magnitude more debilitating to our lives and livelihood than 9-11.

So here we are again; the threat of terror, this time in the form of a cyber-disaster, opens the door for another form of government oversight, this time with the “cooperation” of governments abroad.

Second, what exactly is the definition of “security?” If our Fed doesn’t take control of this wild, unruly, world wide web right now, will we all die? Or will we all just turn into fat, gun-collecting Christians?

Check back soon for a short science-fiction blog post/cautionary tale involving national security and cookies…and why this subject is important to small business.

Flickr photo, CmdCntr by rgkram