Professor Carsten Maple, the director of research in cybersecurity at WMG's Cyber Security Centre (CSC) at the University of Warwick, said:

"Barack Obama is proposing new measures giving companies legal immunity for sharing information on attacks so that counter-measures can be coordinated. Clearly this is seen as an important step to preventing cyberterrorism and terrorism in general. However, such legislation should be carefully considered and not simply a knee-jerk reaction to a particular incident, or to win political favour. A recent Washington Post-ABC poll found that 39% of US respondents felt that government SHOULD NOT intrude on personal privacy, even if that limits its ability to investigate possible terrorist threats. The majority, 57%, still feel that it is more important to sacrifice personal privacy to investigate possible terrorist threats, but this is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the 75% that felt this way just three years earlier. A key concern is how the legislation will respect the views of that large minority, while protecting the country, its infrastructure and interests, and its citizens."

Note to Editors:

Professor Maple is available for interviews. Call 07850 297 725 or email Carsten.Maple@warwick.ac.uk.

Issued by Lee Page, Communications Manager, Press and Policy Office, The University of Warwick. Tel: +44 (0)2476 574 255, Mob: +44 (0)7920 531 221. Email: l.page@warwick.ac.uk.

Contacts:

Professor Maple

+44 (0)7850 297 725

Carsten.Maple@warwick.ac.uk.

Lee Page, Communications Manager

+44 (0)2476 574 255

+44 (0)7920 531 221

l.page@warwick.ac.uk