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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Pentagon's Cybercommand Raises Privacy Fears

Militarization of cybersecurity fuels debate on rules of engagement

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(Newser) – Plans to put America's cybersecurity under the control of the Pentagon are raising some thorny privacy and diplomacy issues, the New York Times reports. President Obama has insisted that the military, under the cybercommand being developed, will not be monitoring private sector networks and Internet traffic—but Pentagon officials say the nature of cyberwarfare could make that promise difficult to guarantee.

Military officials believe it could be necessary to intercept some messages from abroad to check for viruses and terror threats as a kind of  "digital customs inspection." The cybercommand, to be headed by a four-star general, will be tasked with carrying out attacks when necessary, and the military is trying to figure out the rules of engagement for when the threat comes from servers in neutral countries.

Administration officials are considering changing some laws to allow the military greater access to networks and Internet providers to tackle cyber-threats.
Administration officials are considering changing some laws to allow the military greater access to networks and Internet providers to tackle cyber-threats.   (Shutter Stock)
The Pentagon's cybersecurity role
The Pentagon's cybersecurity role "will not, repeat, will not include monitoring private sector networks or Internet traffic," President Obama said last month.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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If the Pentagon and the military services see cyberspace as a battlefield domain, then the lines protecting privacy and our civil liberties get blurred very, very quickly.
- Peace activist Frida Berrigan

How do you understand sovereignty in the cyberdomain? It doesn’t tend to pay a lot of attention to geographic boundaries.
- Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

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8 comments
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Observer
Jun 13, 09 8:15 AM CDT
Quit laughing folks. The Pentagon, CIA and NSA already scrutinize everything that passes across cyberspace. They just selectively decide what to fuck up, investigate or prosecute. We cannot trust the Pentagon and Police State mentality of the Gung-ho secret police. Time for freedom lovers to get their plans in place to escape this surveillance society for good. Reply
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metalworldorder
Jun 13, 09 8:58 AM CDT
Isn't there a bit of irony in criticizing America by saying it's a police state with secret police? Just the fact you're able to criticize our government in such a fashion--wouldn't that point to the fact there's no big brother? I don't understand why poeple would be against internet security. As it is, the government's pretty susceptible to DoS attacks among other things. I say it's about time they realized how vulnerable we are on the internet front. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
ack
Jun 13, 09 7:27 PM CDT
Yes, we can say those things, but we have no way of knowing if and how they might be held against us. Imagine being pulled over for speeding, and having the police told, "He is known to have made anti-government statements." Wonder what would happen. For that matter, how many times have you heard of someone who was arrested having "anti-government propaganda" in his home? Maybe it was just a "DUMP BUSH" sticker....
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
Chilblain
Jun 14, 09 9:35 AM CDT
Your statement is too black or white. Reality is never that polar just shades of grey.
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Chilblain
Jun 13, 09 9:00 AM CDT
Its a lot like keeping a secret. If you don't it want to get out keep your mouth shut, or in this case don't film it, type it, email it, post it etc. Hasn't anyone read Orwell. Only an idiot would do something questionably illegal online and not expect to get sussed out. Perfect examples: sexting, filming a crime, Writing a post on a news blog....................Oh Sh*t, damn too late. Reply
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+2

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