Is Perfect Citizen national security, or Big Brother in disguise?

“Perfect Citizen” is a federal government program that empowers the National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor the computer networks of public and private entities. Perfect Citizen has been created to fend off cyber attacks against infrastructure vital to national security like power plants and electric grids. The program is disconcerting to some who see large-scale NSA surveillance as Big Brother, when to others Perfect Citizen is a reassuring safety net.

Article source: Is Perfect Citizen national security, or Big Brother in disguise? by Personal Money Store

Is Perfect Citizen too much authority for the NSA

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the Perfect Citizen story. The Journal reports that surveillance by the NSA, the government’s chief eavesdropping agency, would rely on a set of sensors deployed in computer networks for critical infrastructure that would be triggered by unusual activity suggesting an impending cyber attack. Phase one of Perfect Citizen could be executed by Ratheon, a defense contractor awarded $ 100 million for the task. Perfect Citizen has caused some industry and government officials aware of its aims to believe it is an NSA intrusion into private domestic affairs. Others believe it’s about time the NSA got into the game, being that it is the only agency in place that can manage the responsibility.

The NSA promises to share

The Journal article said that older computer networks intended before Internet security was an issue could be the focus of Perfect Citizen. Many of those networks run everything from subway systems to air-traffic control networks. These older networks have become sitting ducks for cyber attack since becoming more efficient by going online. The NSA said it will share what it learns with Perfect Citizen so that all companies can use the knowledge to upgrade Internet security.

Will Private Citizen be a good big brother?

Perhaps because of its Orwellian title, Perfect Citizen makes many people uncomfortable. PC World reports that their concern is that Perfect Citizen could be just the beginning and the NSA will expand its authority to monitor all domestic network activity. Access to the computer networks of entities like public utilities might also provide the NSA with access to information regarding the power usage or travel plans of private companies and individual citizens. For now, nobody really knows if Perfect Citizen can enforce national security without trampling on the rights of private citizens.

Discover more info:

wsj.com

www.nsa.gov

pcworld.com