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Legislative bills

U.S. House Passes Cybersecurity Legislation with Liability Protection

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a cybersecurity legislation, H.R. 1731, with a 355-63 vote, aimed at improving information-sharing of cybersecurity risks among companies and federal government offices. The National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015 follows a series of high-profile security breaches at major companies such as Target, Home Depot, JPMorgan Chase, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., and Anthem Inc. The bill provides liability protection to companies voluntarily sharing cyber threat indicators and defensive measures with the Department of Homeland Security's National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center or other entities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015 provides liability protection to companies voluntarily sharing cyber threat indicators and defensive measures with the Department of Homeland Security's National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center or other entities.
  • Private companies would have liability protection to conduct network awareness of their own information systems and operate defensive measures on their own information systems.
  • H.R. 1731 attempts to address privacy concerns by designating the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center as a civilian portal for voluntary cyber threat information sharing.
  • Private companies sharing information with the Department of Homeland Security and other entities must remove personal information unrelated to cybersecurity before sharing it.
  • The bill contains a seven-year sunset period, similar to H.R. 1560, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act.
  • The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) supports the passage of both resolutions, citing the need for common-sense legislation to share information and prevent frivolous lawsuits.
  • PCI is continuing to work with lawmakers to ensure reconciliation of H.R. 1731, H.R. 1560, and S.B. 754.

Statistics:

  • 355: The number of votes in favor of H.R. 1731 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  • 63: The number of votes against H.R. 1731 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  • 7 years: The sunset period for H.R. 1731, similar to H.R. 1560, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act.

Sources:

  • A. M. Best Company, Inc. via COMTEX
  • Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI)
  • Comtex SmarTrend Alert
  • U.S. House of Representatives
  • House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas
  • Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
  • Department of Homeland Security's National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center

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