Say hello to Big Brother

Perspective: Say hello to Big Brother
By Declan McCullagh
November 18, 2002, 7:05 AM PT

WASHINGTON--Like it or not, the proposed Department of Homeland Security firmly establishes Washington's central role in computer and network security.

When approved by Congress, perhaps as early as Monday, the massive new bureaucracy will become--among other things--the nation's clearinghouse for developing plans to prevent electronic attacks, thwart them when they occur and release advisories to the public.

According to the version of the bill approved by the House last week, department analysts will have security clearances and work so closely with the CIA, FBI, National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency that they'll even share personnel.

The department will mash together five agencies that currently divvy up responsibility for "critical infrastructure protection." Those are the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center, the Defense Department's National Communications System, the Commerce Department's Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office, an Energy Department analysis center and the Federal Computer Incident Response Center.

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