Free Market Coalition Letter on CISPA

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As public interest groups dedicated to free enterprise and limited government, we applaud bipartisan congressional efforts to streamline laws governing the sharing of “cyber threat information.” Empowering the private sector to defend itself against cyber adversaries is an important and constitutional governmental function. By removing legal obstacles to cyber threat information sharing among private and governmental entities, Congress can ensure that companies are equipped to safeguard their systems and users against attacks that threaten the nation’s welfare andsecurity.

However, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011 (“CISPA”), even as modified by the April 19 bill version, risks unduly expanding federal power, undermining freedom of contract, and harming U.S. competitiveness in the technology sector. To remedy these serious concerns, we urge CISPA’s sponsors to amend the bill to address the following recommendations.