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CYBER WARS
New coalition forms to end mass US surveillance
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) April 8, 2015


White House will not name those behind 2014 cyber attack
Washington (AFP) April 8, 2015 - The White House said Wednesday it would not name those behind a cyber attack on official Washington targets last October, after reports blamed Russia.

"Our investigators have concluded that it's not in our best interest to identify the entity that may be responsible for this specific activity of concern," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

Asked why the administration was refusing to disclose who was behind the hack when Washington accused North Korea of attacking Sony last year, Earnest said in that case the FBI determined it could be "more effective" to hold the North Koreans accountable for the cyber vandalism.

Earnest said the attack last fall appeared not to have compromised the White House's classified network.

"But there were some elements of the system that were affected when our computer administrators took steps to mitigate the impact of the activity of concern. Much of that capability has been restored," he said.

CNN earlier reported that Russia was behind the October attack, which originated at the State Department, but was confirmed to have hit the White House too.

Activist groups on Wednesday unveiled a new coalition aimed at repealing the law authorizing mass surveillance by US intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

"This is our chance to end mass surveillance under the Patriot Act," said the website of the coalition Fight215.org, which wants to repeal Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

The move comes with the law set to expire on June 1, and uncertainty about whether Congress will extend those provisions or whether certain data-sweep programs would end.

The activist groups led by the Electronic Frontier Foundation are pressing lawmakers to end the programs unveiled in documents leaked by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

"The NSA has accomplished the equivalent of sitting inside our homes, taking notes on where we go, who we talk to, and what we do during the day," said Nadia Kayyali, activist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

"The American public has called for a change, and 'Fight 215' is our opportunity to bring American law back in line with our constitution."

The White House said last month it would stop bulk collection after June 1 if not specifically authorized by Congress.

But many activists argue there could be other loopholes to allow mass surveillance to continue.

In March, major US technology organizations joined in a letter to top officials and lawmakers calling for surveillance reforms.

The new coalition seeks to rally public support to write and call members of Congress.

The coalition includes the American Civil Liberties Union, the Sunlight Foundation, Center for Democracy & Technology and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, among others.


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CYBER WARS
White House says classified systems not hacked
Washington (AFP) April 7, 2015
US officials insisted Tuesday that a cyber attack late last year did not compromise White House classified systems, but refused to confirm reports Russia was behind the breach. "There was an event last year," said deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes. "We have classified systems that are secure," "We don't talk about where cyber intrusions originate from." CNN earlier reported ... read more


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