[JURIST] The USSenate [official website] on Tuesday passed legislation [text] aimed at improving cyber-security defenses in the US. The Cybersecurity Sharing Information Act of 2015 encourages private entities “to monitor, and operate defensive measures,” which will allow them “to detect, prevent, or mitigate cybersecurity threats or security vulnerabilities on: (1) their own information systems; and (2) with authorization and written consent, the information systems of other private or government entities.” This piece of legislation, though passed by a vote of 74-21, is not without opposition [Scientific American report]. Critics argue that the law will not prevent “successful cyber attacks,” and there are a variety of privacy concerns that go along with handing data, including customer information in some instances, to the government.

The Obama administration has identified cybersecurity as “one of the most serious economic and national security issues” that the US is currently facing, and the US government has dedicated significant resources to address the issue. Earlier this year US President Barack Obama signed an executive order [JURIST report] to increase penalties against foreign cybersecurity threats. In 2012 Obama administration official Melanie Ann Pustay testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee to urge congressional officials to amend [JURIST report] the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in order to strengthen the government’s ability to prevent disclosure of information related to critical infrastructure and cybersecurity.