Safeguard the right to privacy

Cybersecurity efforts involve new policy chief, awareness month

Updated: Monday, January 11th, 2010 | By Catharine Richert

On the campaign trail, President Barack Obama promised to do a better job of protecting citizens from identity theft and other dangers of the digital age.
 
"The open information platforms of the 21st century can also tempt institutions to violate the privacy of citizens," he wrote on his campaign Web site. "[I] will strengthen privacy protections for the digital age and will harness the power of technology to hold government and business accountable for violations of personal privacy."
 
Obama first ordered a review of cyberspace policies, an effort that culminated May 30 with the reslease of the Cyberspace Policy Review on  Recommendations from the report involve everything from appointing a cybersecurity policy official to launching a public awareness campaign. (October, for example, was designated National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.)
 
On Dec. 22, Obama appointed Howard Schmidt take on the new role.
 
So, clearly, Obama is taking cybersecurity seriously. But it's a big promise and will take some time to complete. For now, we'll move this one to In the Works.

Sources:

The White House, Introducing the New Cybersecurity Coordinator, accessed Jan. 11, 2010

The White House, President Obama on Cybersecurity, accessed Jan. 11, 2010