DATE=7/28/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U.S. - COMPUTERS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252268
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The Clinton administration is developing a 
government-wide plan to protect the nation's computer 
networks from intruders - including hostile 
governments that may try to attack U.S. cybersystems 
in an effort to harm government operations or the 
country's economy.   Correspondent Deborah Tate 
reports from the White House.

TEXT:  Under the proposal, an elaborate system of 
electronic monitors will be set up to alert law 
enforcement officials of any suspicious activity on 
federal computer systems.

But the plan - which is to be implemented by May 2003 
- is raising concerns among civil liberties groups.  
They argue the proposal could lead to unprecedented 
electronic surveillance, especially in light of the 
increasingly widespread use of computers by the 
government in nearly all aspects of citizens' lives.

U.S. National Security Advisor Sandy Berger expressed 
the administration's desire to protect privacy rights 
while at the same time defending the proposal.

            /// Berger Actuality ///

      I think if somebody attacks the I.R.S. (Internal 
      Revenue Service) and gets into my tax file, that 
      is a violation of my privacy, and I think that 
      if we have a system that makes that less likely, 
      that is a protection of my privacy.   So this is 
      not a black-and-white issue here.  Obviously we 
      are very concerned about protecting privacy 
      rights, but there is also a privacy right in not 
      having hostile entities attack systems.  We are 
      not only talking about 17-year-old  kids in 
      their basements, we are talking about 
      governments that we know that are developing 
      systems to get access to our computer systems, 
      and we know that in the past there have been 
      intrusions into sensitive systems.  

            /// End Act ///

Mr. Berger did not say which agencies experienced the 
security breaches.   But there were intrusions into 
computer systems reported recently at the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics, which produces such information as 
the consumer price index that can affect the 
performance of the stock market.

The plan to protect the nation's computer networks is 
part of the Clinton administration's anti-terrorism 
program. 

In May of last year, President Clinton signed a 
directive requiring the Executive Branch to assess the 
security of the federal government's computer systems.  
In a cover letter, Mr. Clinton wrote - in his words - 
an attack on the computers of any one of the key U.S. 
economic sectors or governmental agencies could have 
catastrophic effects.   (signed)

NEB/DAT/TVM/gm



28-Jul-1999 17:50 PM LOC (28-Jul-1999 2150 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.