Industry leaders are urging Congress to renew the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 before it expires in September, according to Nextgov/FCW. The law enables private companies to share cyber threat data with the federal government without facing legal liabilities, a provision stakeholders say is crucial for maintaining strong cyber defenses across critical sectors. A lapse, they warn, would weaken national cyber readiness at a time when threats from foreign adversaries are growing more complex.During a recent House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing, cybersecurity executives emphasized that the law’s liability protections are essential to encouraging transparency and cooperation. Without these safeguards, companies may hesitate to share threat intelligence out of fear of lawsuits, regulatory action, or damage to customer trust. The ability to exchange information quickly and securely remains central to early detection and collective defense strategies.The legislation gained momentum in 2015 following the high-profile breach at the Office of Personnel Management, which exposed data belonging to more than 21 million individuals. Since then, the law has helped establish legal clarity for voluntary sharing of indicators like malware signatures and attack patterns. Officials say any disruption in the framework could send the wrong signal to attackers and disrupt coordination at a critical moment.Congressional leaders are currently weighing how to proceed with the reauthorization process. Whether the extension effort emerges from the House Homeland or Intelligence Committee remains uncertain, but lawmakers on both sides acknowledge the urgency. Cybersecurity professionals argue that improving transparency and maintaining a safe channel for data sharing are more important now than when the law was first passed.
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