Welcome SOPA’s Twin: CISPA

[Guest Evilblade]

Right after Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) ended boycotted by the entire online community, the House of Representatives was quick to replace the proposed legislation with the new one, called Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA).

CISPA, also known as H.R. 3532, is basically just another name for its already dead twin – SOPA, if not even worse. CISPA suggests that the act of copyright violation should be regarded as a security threat. The provision in question has already gained more than 100 supporters. In the event that this bill passes, Internet service providers along with other companies will be demanded to share user details with government agencies.

The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) explains that the suggested law would let corporations spy on Internet users and share their private details with the federal government and other entities with near-total immunity from both civil and criminal liability. In other words, CISPA effectively creates a so-called “cybersecurity” exemption to any existing legislation.

Meanwhile, the language used in Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act is similar to that in SOPA and is as well confusing. For instance, such online giants as Facebook, Google, Twitter, and others could be demanded to intercept their users’ e-mails, messages and even browsing habits to later share this data with each other. They could also be forced to remove or block access to any infringing content that’s found. In other words, the authorities of the United States will watch over every user’s move online, despite the fact that everyone has a right for privacy.

That’s another cause for another fight, and the industry experts are calmly waiting for it to start.