White House to unveil cybersecurity strategy

Editor’s Note: Can you say Global Governance of the Internet?

Analyists work at the National Cybersecurity
& Communications Integration Center
© AFP/File Jim Watson

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The White House plans to unveil its policy proposals next week for international cooperation in cyberspace.

The White House said Friday that it plans to release a policy document — “US International Strategy for Cyberspace” — at an event on Monday.

“This first-of-its-kind policy document offers our comprehensive vision for the future of international cooperation in cyberspace,” the White House said in a statement.

It said the document outlines the US agenda “for partnering with other nations and peoples to ensure the prosperity, security, and openness that we seek in our increasingly networked world.”

The State Department said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has made Internet freedom one of her priorities, will deliver keynote remarks at the event.

“The strategy lays out a comprehensive, principled vision for the future of cyberspace,” the State Department said.

It said Clinton’s remarks “will address the role of cyberspace in advancing the full range of US interests and the importance of international cooperation in advancing cyberspace as a foreign policy priority.”

The White House said other top officials attending the event will include John Brennan, President Barack Obama’s counter-terror chief, Attorney General Eric Holder, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

The announcement came a day after the White House proposed draft legislation aimed at toughening the defenses of government and private industry against the growing danger from cyberattack.

Obama has identified cybersecurity as a top priority of his administration and the White House legislation joins some 50 cyber-related bills introduced during the last session of Congress.

The White House bill would require critical infrastructure such as the power, financial and transportation sectors to come up with plans to better protect their increasingly Internet-connected computer networks.

The White House is hoping for action by Congress on the bill this year.

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