We’re Losing the Cyber War

[Commentary] The Obama administration disclosed this month that for China had access to the confidential records of four million federal employees. This was the biggest breach ever—until the administration later admitted the number of hacked employees is at least 18 million. In congressional testimony it became clear the number could reach 32 million—all current and former federal workers.

What can the U.S. do to limit the damage to people with clearances and national security? One inevitable consequence is that U.S. intelligence and law enforcement will enhance the monitoring of Americans with security clearances, including their digital and telephonic communications. Millions of patriotic Americans entrusted with national secrets are going to lose much of their privacy because their government was unable to protect their confidential personnel records. That loss of privacy dwarfs the hypothetical risks from the NSA that have dominated the headlines about intelligence and surveillance in recent years. Americans expect their government to protect them in the digital, as much as the physical, world. The next president should accept the responsibility to fight back against cyber war before more is lost.