Despite hacks, US not seeking widened domestic surveillance

When it comes to the pursuit of new surveillance or monitoring authorities, the official described the administration’s posture as ‘not yet, not now’. — AP

WASHINGTON: The Biden administration is not planning to step up government surveillance of the US Internet even as state-backed foreign hackers and cybercriminals increasingly use it to evade detection, a senior administration official said on March 12.

The official said the administration, mindful of the privacy and civil liberties implications that could arise, is not currently seeking additional authority to monitor US-based networks. Instead, the administration will focus on tighter partnerships and improved information-sharing with the private-sector companies that already have broad visibility into the domestic Internet, said the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.