President Barack Obama made specific mention of the dangers surrounding possible threats to Internet security and safety, specifically involving banking, military, and civilian Internet use. To this end, President Obama named a new chief of Cyber-security to ward off possible domestic and foreign threats to the network that connects most of the worldwide computers. Internet laws could become a more streamlined process that stems from a central bureaucratic entity rather than a collection of court cases and laws that deal with situations perceived analogously.
• President Obama named Howard A. Schmidt new cyber-security coordinator to hopefully create Internet laws to combat misuse and negligent practices. The formed adviser to the Bush White House, Howard Schmidt’s professional career seemed to appease a wide-array of Internet related interest groups. In an official capacity, Schmidt will report to the National Security Council and his background in both military and law-enforcement places him at the precipice of the myriad possible threats to the Internet.
• The need for tougher Internet laws comes at a time of exponential worldwide growth in Internet usage. This year alone military and business Internet systems have illustrated their inherent weakness in fighting a range of possible intruders.
• The lack of centralization with the Internet poses additional difficulties in composing comprehensive Internet laws. Even if Schmidt and his fellow advisers are able to create effective Internet laws, the international community will not be party to these specifications. It is also inconceivable to imagine America breaking off from the international community to inspire stronger Internet laws so the only true option is to focus on stronger data encryption in both military and civilian computers.
• Many nations outright block or censor information that travels over the Internet due to possible political or security risk, but this contradicts the very notion of the Internet. Howard Schmidt as the new cyber-security coordinator will have to devise a way to insure that Internet laws do not impinge on individuals access to the Internet, but rather make it so unwanted intruders have no ability to access other secure systems.
President Barack Obama made Internet security a focal point of his campaign and first year in office, but with little to show for it in terms of progress or new Internet Laws. Many people are standing by in hopes that the naming of Howard Schmidt as the new cyber-security coordinator will not only make military Internet systems safer, but also civilian personal computer.
