Morning Wire
CISA Goes Rogue: How Cybersecurity Became Censorship | 2.25.24
Feb 25, 2024
Mike Benz, a former State Department official and current executive director of the Foundation for Freedom Online, dives deep into the controversial role of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). He discusses accusations of censorship linked to CISA, especially following the 2016 elections. The conversation highlights the shift from combating misinformation to a broader censorship agenda. Benz also navigates the bipartisan dynamics fueling this issue and examines recent victories for free speech amid ongoing censorship challenges.
25:50
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Quick takeaways
- CISA shifted focus from foreign influence to domestic censorship under the guise of election security.
- SISA aligned with various entities to legitimize censorship as necessary for protecting democratic institutions rather than the will of the people.
Deep dives
Formation and Purpose of SISA
SISA, established in November 2018 during heightened concerns about Russian interference, was created to address potential cyber threats to critical infrastructure like election systems. Initially focused on foreign influence, SISA shifted to domestic censorship emphasizing election security. It expanded its scope to target misinformation about various topics beyond elections, like COVID-19 and public health, employing a mission creep strategy to legitimize domestic censorship.
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