President Obama Takes on Cyber Security Threats
— -- President Obama is turning his sights on becoming a cyber crime fighter.
Coming in the wake of several high-profile and costly attacks, the president discussed cyber security today with the new congressional leadership at the White House.
"With the Sony attacks that took place, with the Twitter account that was hacked by Islamist, jihadist sympathizers yesterday, it just goes to show how much more work we need to do, both the private and public sector, to strengthen our cyber security," Obama said today.
In addition to cyber security, the president mentioned trade, tax reform and streamlining government as other areas of potential compromise with the new Republican-led Congress.
Obama unveiled several pieces of proposed legislation he said will boost cyber-security, improve consumer privacy and prevent identity theft.
Among them is a measure to encourage the public and private sectors to better coordinate by sharing information about cyber threats and a federal standard for data breach reporting.
"This is a direct threat to the economic security of American families, and we've got to stop it," Obama said during a visit Monday to the Federal Trade Commission. "If we’re going to be connected, then we have to be protected."
Congress will need to act on the proposals and require Republican support.
Today’s meeting, the first since the new Republican-led Congress got to work, was more widely attended than expected. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was the only Congressional leader not present. He continued his recovery from injuries he sustained while exercising.
ABC News' Devin Dwyer contributed to this report.
