The US government will be able to tap into internet giants’ networks to stop attacks, as a report warns.
The report by a bipartisan group of US lawmakers on cybersecurity and privacy is expected to be released on Wednesday.
The US has been battling a cyberattack by the Russian government, which has tried to hack the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic organisations.
The US government has been trying to contain the damage caused by the attacks.
However, a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said the government would need to be able tap into the vast amount of internet traffic generated by the internet giants to ensure they are not compromised.
“It is essential that the Federal Government not be deterred from its mission to ensure that the internet services and networks of US corporations are not the targets of a hostile cyber attack,” the GAO said.
The agency said the information technology (IT) sector could provide an ideal environment for US companies to do this.
“In addition, US companies have demonstrated a willingness to adopt cybersecurity measures, including cybersecurity training and practices, that can assist them in defending against attacks,” the report said.
“The Federal Government should use these lessons to better protect our businesses and the people who use them from attacks.”
A cyber attack on US internet giants could cripple their businessesThe GAO report, which was commissioned by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said the cyber attack could crippble their business operations.
“If the Federal government were to be unable to access the internet infrastructure of the Internet giants in a timely fashion, it could have a significant and negative impact on their ability to perform the essential functions of their businesses,” the agency said.
In addition to a cybersecurity threat, the report also noted that US companies could face a number of privacy issues.
“This could result in the potential for unauthorized individuals, companies, and entities to access private communications and other information that is otherwise private and protected by Federal law,” the watchdog said.
It said US internet companies should be able use technology to prevent the data they collect from being used in an unauthorized manner.
In a separate report published earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security said it was working to implement a “digital safety plan” to protect internet users from malicious actors.
The plan would require internet service providers to encrypt information on users’ computers and prevent the government from accessing those encrypted data, as well as restrict access to their servers.