FC: Bush signs Department of Homeland Security bill

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-975305.html

   Bush signs Homeland Security bill
   By Declan McCullagh
   November 25, 2002, 5:08 PM PT

   When President Bush signed a bill on Monday creating the Department of
   Homeland Security, he started a process that will reshuffle
   bureaucracies, permit greater Internet surveillance and refocus the
   government's computer security efforts.

   The authors of the massive law, which totals about 500 pages, envision
   a far greater role for the government when it comes to making sure
   operating systems, hardware and the Internet are secure. The law
   allocates $500 million for research into new technologies. It also
   classifies certain activities as new computer crimes, stiffens
   penalties and permits Internet providers to hand more information
   about subscribers to police.

   "The department will gather and focus all our efforts to face the
   challenge of cyberterrorism, and the even worse danger of nuclear,
   chemical and biological terrorism," Bush said during a White House
   ceremony Monday afternoon. "This department will be charged with
   encouraging research on new technologies that can detect these threats
   in time to prevent an attack."

   [...]




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