While CISPA has been actively supported by Facebook, Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Oracle, Symantec and other IT industry firms, Mozilla has come out against the bill for its “broad and alarming reach that goes far beyond internet security”, the company said in a statement sent to Forbes magazine.
“The bill infringes on our privacy, includes vague definitions of cybersecurity, and grants immunities to companies and government that are too broad around information misuse. We hope the Senate takes the time to fully and openly consider these issues with stakeholder input before moving forward with this legislation”, said Mozilla’s privacy and public policy lead in the statement.
The House passed CISPA, along with three other cybersecurity bills, during last week’s “cyber week” legislative agenda. CISPA has been opposed by groups from both the left and right of the political spectrum.
Supporters of CISPA, which include IT industry heavy hitters, argue that it will remove legal barriers to the sharing of cyberthreat information between the private sector and government, improving their ability to combat cyber espionage and intellectual property theft. But critics charge it would undermine privacy and give the US government too much surveillance power.
President Obama has threatened to veto the bill. To reach his desk, CISPA must pass the Democratically controlled Senate, an unlikely prospect.