Tester reaffirms Montanans’ right to privacy

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after voting against the Cybersecurity Act of 2012. The bill would allow the federal government greater access to personal information in an attempt to protect the country’s digital infrastructure against cyber terrorism:

“Privacy is a Montana value and no legislation should undermine personal information. This bill does not go far enough to protect law-abiding Montanans’ right to privacy, and I will fight any effort that threatens this fundamental value.”

The Cybersecurity Act is intended to protect America’s digital infrastructure against hacking or cyber terrorism. But the bill allows internet service providers broad monitoring authority that could be abused and permits federal law enforcement agencies to keep personal information for unspecified periods of time.

Tester, who has repeatedly opposed the Patriot Act and other measures that threaten Americans’ privacy rights, previously voted against the Cybersecurity bill in August.