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In the wake of Watergate and growing distrust in government overreach, the Privacy Act of 1974 was enacted to protect individuals’ privacy from federal intrusion. Today, we face a new threat to our privacy: cybercriminals. The reason you keep getting notice of security breaches compromising your personal and private data is because the federal government is not protecting your privacy!

The surge in cyberattacks is alarming. Groups like ALPHv/BlackCat are not only conducting their own attacks but also offering Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), a troubling trend that has led to a 300% year-over-year increase in attacks. The cost? Over $1 billion annually – more than some countries’ Gross National Income.

It’s no longer a question of if, but when we’ll receive that dreaded notice: “Your personal data may have been compromised.” The standard response? “Here’s two free years of Lifelock.” But this is merely a band-aid on a gaping wound.

If we don’t trust our government with our private data, why would we trust hackers? The consequences of our personal information in the hands of cybercriminals are far-reaching and potentially devastating.

The solution is clear: We must extend the Privacy Act of 1974, which currently only federal state and local governments to include critical infrastructure of the federal government like airports, hospitals, dams, energy, etc. This extension would mandate the implementation of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework – the gold standard in cybersecurity – and require periodic compliance testing. Which we should already been using nationally as our standard.

Currently, it’s cheaper for companies to offer free credit monitoring than to implement robust cybersecurity measures. This must change. We need to hold these entities accountable for protecting our data.

I urge all readers to contact their congressional representatives and demand action. Tell them to extend the Privacy Act of 1974 to include critical infrastructure of our federal government. It’s time we take serious steps to protect our privacy in the digital age.

Our privacy is not a commodity to be traded for corporate convenience. It’s a right that must be fiercely protected. Act now, before it’s too late.

I have written a letter to both Bob Good and John McGuire, the outgoing and incoming congressmen for the Fifth Congressional District of Virginia. I’m happy to share that letter with anybody who would like a copy. I encourage you to write a similar letter or at least get involved; collectively this will help us all!

Michael Gough
Farmville