Politicians, privacy advocates weigh in on cybersecurity exec order

Tech industry leaders and observers were quick to weigh in on the cybersecurity executive order.

The Center for Democracy and Technology praised President Barack Obama for an order that addresses privacy concerns from the beginning of the design process rather than after the fact. "By explicitly requiring adherence to fair information practice principles, the order adopts a comprehensive formulation of privacy,” said the group’s president, Leslie Harris. “The annual privacy assessment, properly done, can create accountability to the public for government actions taken in the name of cybersecurity.” Sens Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Tom Carper (D-DE), chairman of the Senate Commerce and Homeland Security committees, said that they would work with the Administration to shepherd new legislation through Congress as quickly as possible. House Republicans said they were glad the order establishes the Department of Homeland Security as a leader on cybersecurity issues, but that the Administration should be careful to take a hands-off approach to legislation.