House Approves CISPA Despite Last-Minute Push By Opponents

[Lucas]

The U.S. House of Representatives today approved a controversial

Internet surveillance bill

, rejecting increasingly vocal arguments from critics that it would do more to endanger Americans' privacy than aid cybersecurity.

By a vote of 248 to 168, a bipartisan majority approved the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, or

CISPA, which would permit Internet companies to hand over confidential customer records and communications to the National Security Agency and other portions of the U.S. government.

CISPA would "waive every single privacy law ever enacted in the name of cybersecurity," said Rep. Jared Polis, a Colorado Democrat, during today's marathon floor debate. "Allowing the military and NSA to spy on Americans on American soil goes against every principle this country was founded on."

Americans' confidential information that could legally provided to the feds would "include health records, it can include firearm registration information, it can include credit card information," warned Polis, a former Web entrepreneur who was a leader in

opposing the Stop Online Piracy Act as well.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57422567-281/house-approves-cispa-despite-last-minute-push-by-opponents/

[Edrick Smith]

CISPA is "needed to stop the Chinese government from stealing our stuff," Rogers said. They're "stealing the value and prosperity of America."

No surprise there to me by a republican, I'm curious as to how the votes broke down to what party. Next you know it'll be the Russians are after us.

<shocked>

Ayes Votes

Republican: 206 Democrat: 42

Noes Votes

Republican: 28 Democrat: 140

[IronSkull]

The excuses given for passing such bills never fail to amuse me. :D

[Lucas]

The excuses given for passing such bills never fail to amuse me. :D

Or anybody else for that matter!