SECURE IT Act

The Strengthening and Enhancing Cybersecurity by Using Research, Education, Information, and Technology (SECURE IT) Act, or S.3342, is a pending bill geared toward improving information security (IS). Known as the revised cybersecurity bill, the SECURE IT Act was introduced by Senate Republicans as an alternative to the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 (S. 3414), which was stalled by the Senate in November 2012.

Sponsored by U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), the SECURE IT Act was introduced on June 27th, 2012 with eight cosponsors. As of December 2012, the SECURE IT Act is on the Senate Legislative Calendar, under General Orders.

The SECURE IT Act allows private entities to collect, identify or retain information related to cyber threats through cybersecurity and countermeasures on its networks or the networks of other authorizing entities. The bill also allows the disclosure of cyber threat information between private entities; state, local or tribal governments; and non-federal government agencies or to designated cybersecurity organizations to assist with the investigation, prevention or mitigation of information security (IS) threats.

Supporters include the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), American Petroleum Institute (API) and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Opponents include the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).