Where Industry and Security Intersect
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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Commerce Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (CIAO), in cooperation with The Virginia Bar Association, The College of William & Mary School of Law and the U.S. Department of Justice National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC), will host a legal conference in Washington on June 21 to explore ways of enhancing Internet security and protecting U.S. cyber systems.
The conference, to be held at the White House Conference Center, will examine liability, security and privacy issues affecting the continued expansion of e-commerce in the face of increasing threats such as malicious computer virus attacks and cyber-terrorism. Experts will focus on legal challenges U.S. businesses, communities and government face due to our growing dependence on networked computers and information security.
"We are more dependent on information technology than any other nation, and we need to explore how to deal with legal questions we haven't seen before," said Under Secretary of Commerce William A. Reinsch. "Ultimately, responsibility for preventing catastrophic damage to our critical infrastructure rests with those in the private sector, and in local and state government, who own and operate these systems" Reinsch pointed out. "If there is a 'digital hurricane,' federal, state and local governments will need to work together with the private sector to ensure delivery of these vital services."
"In the face of new cyber threats, there is a need to support the growth of E-commerce, protect our nation's security, address privacy concerns and limit liability," said Andrew Pincus, General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Commerce. "Given Virginia's key role in the strategic development of information technology and the reliability of infrastructure services, the private sector and legal community in the Commonwealth of Virginia are uniquely positioned to lead the nation in addressing these concerns."
Scheduled speakers include Andrew Pincus, General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Commerce; former Virginia Governor Gerald Baliles; former Virginia Congressman and Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh, Jr.; Richard Clark, national coordinator for Security, Critical Infrastructure and Counter-terrorism at the National Security Council; and Dean W. Taylor Revely of The College of William & Mary School of Law.
Conference information can be found on the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office website at www.ciao.gov.
In April of 2002 the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) changed its name to the Bureau of Industry and Security(BIS). For historical purposes we have not changed the references to BXA in the legacy documents found in the Archived Press and Public Information.