The increasing threat posed by cyberattacks has prompted the US government to establish a new agency called the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center (“CTIIC”), the Washington Post reported. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (“ODNI”) will oversee the new department along with other centers including the National Counterterrorism Center (“NCTC”), adds the report. The CTIIC is modeled after the NCTC, Fortune reported, for that reason, it is unlikely that this new department will actually conduct any intelligence gathering operations of its own.
Instead, the new department is designed to streamline the government’s cybersecurity strategy and will likely bring together information gathered by other agencies, as well as the private sector, Motherboard reported. Several agencies already have cyber-operations centers, including the FBI, CIA, NSA, and DHS, reported the Washington Post. The CTIIC will likely serve as a hub where cyber intelligence from these various agencies will be integrated, analyzed and processed in order to form one cohesive response to cyberthreats and attacks, just as the NCTC does with intelligence pertaining to terrorism.
But the move is already being criticized by some who see it as just another layer of bureaucracy, the Washington Post reported. The NCTC was received by similar criticism and was initially opposed by agencies, according to the report. However, the NCTC was designed to provide agencies with vital analysis allowing the agencies to focus on their own missions, as with the FBI and its investigations, the article reported.
Another criticism comes from Motherboard, which reported that the new department will just create another surveillance regime that may implicate civil liberties. It is unclear whether the CTIIC will have maintain an international cyberthreats or domestic threats as well, Motherboard reported. Further, Motherboard reported that it is likely that an information sharing regime between private companies and the government will be needed for the new department to conduct its planned activities. The Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Protection Act (“CISPA”) is an example of a bill that will allow this kind of information sharing. However, it has not been passed yet, and was just recently reintroduced in January, after failing to pass in the Senate in the past, the report added.
An executive order outlining the CTIIC’s duties will be signed by President Obama on Friday, February 13, during the White House Cyber Summit being held at Stanford University, according to Motherboard.
Lisa Monaco’s remarks can be found here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/11/remarks-prepared-delivery-assistant-president-homeland-security-and-coun
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