WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Criticism of White House policies on cybersecurity is fair but, overall, the moves should make a difference, think tank Atlantic Council said.
Before his State of the Union address Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order meant to address cybersecurity needs. It would make it easier for the private sector to share Internet security information with the government.
Obama, in his national address, said the matter was an important national security issue. Partisan differences delayed congressional action on the matter.
"We cannot look back years from now and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our security and our economy," Obama said.
The Atlantic Council said there are flaws in Obama's order, noting that his measure won't be a panacea for Internet security.
"Critics however should accept these are limited actions for a limited set of problems and in that light, will make a positive difference," an Atlantic Council briefing read.
Obama's measures may be limited in scope, however. Mary Ellen Callahan, a former privacy officer at the Department of Homeland Security, told Bloomberg News that because of existing laws on information sharing, "the president can only do so much."
