GOP platform slams Obama administration on cybersecurity

Republicans slammed the Obama administration's cybersecurity policies in its official party platform, claiming they prevent industry and government from effectively combating cyberattacks.

The GOP platform alleged that Obama's cybersecurity policies are too regulatory and "overly reliant" on developing defensive capabilities to protect against cyberattacks. "The current administration’s cyber security policies have failed to curb malicious actions by our adversaries, and no wonder, for there is no active deterrence protocol," the platform reads. Republicans argued that the best way to boost the nation's cybersecurity is to make it easier for the government and industry to share information about cyberthreats with one another. A GOP-backed cybersecurity bill introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) this spring took a similar approach. "The government collects valuable information about potential threats that can and should be shared with private entities without compromising national security," the platform states. "We believe that companies should be free from legal and regulatory barriers that prevent or deter them from voluntarily sharing cyberthreat information with their government partners."