Suggestions include crafting new laws that would penalize hackers more severely and beefed-up resources within the department. But Whitfield Diffie, a leading encryption expert and Sun Microsystems executive, was critical of the banks' apparent closed circuit of information. I'm skeptical of sharing information under umbrellas. Participation in the network, he said, will be voluntary, industry-led and may be conducted online. One potential obstacle, he said, is the issue of whether the U.S. Freedom of Information Act would apply to companies involved in any information-sharing system coordinated by the federal government.
Classified information is excluded.
Harris said companies would likely be hesitant about handing over information about their security networks if the information would be given to people upon request. Mudge stood out in the sea of dark suits and hair helmets. Mudge's hair fell to the bottom of his rib cage. He wore bright plastic bracelets. Secretary of Commerce William Daley said the administration had already started a dialog with the captains of industry in New York in December.