Congress approves extension of global cybersecurity program backed by McMorris Rodgers

The U.S. House and Senate have both agreed to extend an international cybersecurity program through 2027.

The bill reauthorizing the Undertaking Spam, Spyware and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders Act was sponsored by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois. The legislation was passed by voice vote in both chambers, a procedure usually reserved for noncontroversial pieces of legislation.

The law, which now heads to the White House for a signature by President Donald Trump, extends certain permissions for the Federal Trade Commission to work with foreign governments and crack down on international cyber crime. The law was initially passed in 2006 and reauthorized in 2012 through the end of this month. The McMorris Rodgers and Kelly bill reauthorizes the program through 2027. 

“Especially during a pandemic when people are at greater risk of scams and deception, I’m happy to get this legislation through the Senate and have President Trump sign it into law to keep Americans and their information safe,” McMorris Rodgers said in a statement. 

When initially passed, some consumer groups and privacy advocates warned the law might infringe upon individuals’ security rights. A 2008 study by a researcher at the University of Washington Law School found that shortly after its original enactment, the threat to individual privacy was minimal because the permissions kicked in only after the FTC had begun an investigation.