CISPA evolved: The US Congress starts to look alive concerning cybersecurity legislation

The last time that TNW checked into the the “Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act,” more commonly known as CISPA, the bill, and others like it were in deadlock. We’re not going to reiterate that news, you can read it here. However, two things have since happened which indicate that cybersecurity legislation may indeed move forward in the coming weeks.

Expect the Internet to writhe yet again. Here’s a quick run through of what is happening:

• Yesterday, Senator Harry Reid essentially promised action on cybersecurity bills, pushing the popular Lieberman-Collins bill. According to The Hill, he stated that “I [have] put everyone on notice: We are going to move to this bill at the earliest possible date.” That means it’s go time, now.
• And today, news has surfaced that a compromise is in the works that should sort out one the key issues that has kept the Senate and House bills miles apart: standards. Mandatory standards are in the Senate bill, and to some are crucial for the protection of infrastructure. To the House, and some in the Senate, they are a stifling burden on business.
• However, a prominent Senator, Lindsey Graham, told The Hill that a compromise between the two poles is being drafted. That means progress could ensue. Again, we’re talking about progress on a Congressional time table, so don’t get your druthers too excited.

So it could be, in short order, time for a new bill to be examined by the President, privacy advocates, and of course, Reddit. We’ll keep you abreast of the situation. Once there is a new bill, we’ll bring it to you.