US President Barack Obama on Monday proposed that the
country strengthen its laws against identity theft and hacking. He argues that
with tech advances come privacy risks for many citizens.
He said that tech services should issue a notification when
consumer information is hacked and efforts must be realised to protect student’s
private data.
Obama said that the recent hack on Sony Pictures Entertainment
is an example of a tech problem that costs billions of dollars. With virtually many
personal information in the country available online, lives could turn upside
down in an instant.
He argued that the age of digital technology innovation had
created vast amounts of vulnerabilities for US citizens.
"This is a direct threat to the economic security of
American families and we've got to stop it," Obama said in a speech at the
Federal Trade Commission. "If we're going to be connected, we need to be
protected."
Just as Obama finished speaking, the Twitter and YouTube
accounts for U.S. Central Command were taken over by hackers who claimed to be
working on behalf of Islamic State militants.
Meanwhile new tech laws have already been implemented by the
start of this year. Check them in this list.
