DATE=2/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - INTERNET SECURITY (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259196
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:   President Clinton Tuesday met with high-tech 
executives, members of his cabinet, academic experts 
and privacy groups at the White House to discuss ways 
to bolster internet security in the wake of last 
week's attacks on major web sites.   VOA Correspondent 
Deborah Tate reports from the White House.



Text:   Mr. Clinton arranged the meeting in response 
to last week's cyber attacks, in which hackers 
bombarded such popular web sites as Yahoo, e-Bay, and 
CNN-dot-com with streams of requests for information - 
temporarily halting service on those sites.

The President opened the discussion saying he was not 
surprised by the assault.

            	// Clinton actuality //

      It is just a replay of what always happens when 
      there is a new way of communicating, a new way 
      of making money throughout human society, there 
      will alway be someone who tries to take 
      advantage of it, we will figure out how to deal 
      with it.


            // end act //

But some of the executives - noting that one-third of 
the unprecedented economic growth in the United States 
has been generated by high-tech firms and internet 
commerce - expressed deep concern about the cyber 
attacks.  Charles Wang is Chief Executive Officer of 
Computer Associates International.

	            // Wang actuality //

      There is a crisis here because there are people 
      maliciously attacking the internet.  We 
      recognize the danger it can do to the economy.


            	// end act //

Mr. Wang says the private sector must take the lead in 
efforts to improve internet security.

His colleagues concurred, and announced after the 
White House meeting that they had agreed to establish 
a mechanism to share cyber security information.  
Commerce Secretary William Daley will meet with a 
group of internet executives next week to discuss the 
plan.

The executives also joined administration officials in 
agreeing that the government can play an important 
role - saying it could set an example by securing its 
own computer system and fund research and development 
on internet security issues.

Although some internet companies are not happy with 
the idea of greater government oversight - fearing it 
would lead to regulation or invasion of privacy - 
White House Chief of Staff John Podesta offered 
assurances that it would not.

            	// Podesta actuality //

      The solutions we talked about did not involve 
      greater government regulation or greater 
      governmental power.  They were things we can do 
      in partnership with the private sector to 
      increase security.  We do not need to reduce 
      privacy as we enhance security on the network.  
      Privacy and security go together, in fact.


            	// end act //

Mr. Clinton is asking Congress for two billion dollars 
in next year's budget request to bolster cyber 
security.  (Signed)


NEB/DAT/PT



15-Feb-2000 17:55 PM EDT (15-Feb-2000 2255 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.