The US House of Representatives voted unanimously on Thursday to advance a long-awaited cybersecurity that would make it easier for companies to share information about cyber threatswith the government without fear of lawsuits.
A spokesman for the parliamentary committee said that parliament unanimously accepted the new measure in a closed-door meeting. The legislation is expected to take effect by the full House by the end of April at the latest.
Similar cybersecurity legislation will take effect in the US Senate, and supporters of the two bills claim there is a high chance they will pass after repeated failed attempts.
The main bill has been in the works for about five years, and previous versions of it have stalled before legalization, mainly due to privacy concerns, which could lead to even greater surveillance.
The measure provides companies with liability protection in the event they share information through a portal that will likely be operated by the Department of Homeland Security.
The data that will be shared will be double-processed to remove all personal information.
US companies have repeatedly called for more cybersecurityto combat cyberattacks, but they still worry about potential legal action if they hand over information to government investigators.
Private industry has been alarmed by the high frequency of attacks on corporate networks, such as the recent attacks on Sony Pictures Entertainment and Home Depot.
Many American citizens, on the other hand, are concerned about the government's potential access to their personal data, especially after 2013 revelations by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowdenregarding the mass recording of citizens' telephone conversations.
