DATE=7/28/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U.S. - COMPUTERS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252268
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Clinton administration is developing a
government-wide plan to protect the nation's computer
networks from intruders - including hostile
governments that may try to attack U.S. cybersystems
in an effort to harm government operations or the
country's economy. Correspondent Deborah Tate
reports from the White House.
TEXT: Under the proposal, an elaborate system of
electronic monitors will be set up to alert law
enforcement officials of any suspicious activity on
federal computer systems.
But the plan - which is to be implemented by May 2003
- is raising concerns among civil liberties groups.
They argue the proposal could lead to unprecedented
electronic surveillance, especially in light of the
increasingly widespread use of computers by the
government in nearly all aspects of citizens' lives.
U.S. National Security Advisor Sandy Berger expressed
the administration's desire to protect privacy rights
while at the same time defending the proposal.
/// Berger Actuality ///
I think if somebody attacks the I.R.S. (Internal
Revenue Service) and gets into my tax file, that
is a violation of my privacy, and I think that
if we have a system that makes that less likely,
that is a protection of my privacy. So this is
not a black-and-white issue here. Obviously we
are very concerned about protecting privacy
rights, but there is also a privacy right in not
having hostile entities attack systems. We are
not only talking about 17-year-old kids in
their basements, we are talking about
governments that we know that are developing
systems to get access to our computer systems,
and we know that in the past there have been
intrusions into sensitive systems.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Berger did not say which agencies experienced the
security breaches. But there were intrusions into
computer systems reported recently at the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, which produces such information as
the consumer price index that can affect the
performance of the stock market.
The plan to protect the nation's computer networks is
part of the Clinton administration's anti-terrorism
program.
In May of last year, President Clinton signed a
directive requiring the Executive Branch to assess the
security of the federal government's computer systems.
In a cover letter, Mr. Clinton wrote - in his words -
an attack on the computers of any one of the key U.S.
economic sectors or governmental agencies could have
catastrophic effects. (signed)
NEB/DAT/TVM/gm
28-Jul-1999 17:50 PM LOC (28-Jul-1999 2150 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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