Senators press for cyberattack strategy

Two senators lobbied for a cyberattack response policy before the Senate on Wednesday, according to the Washington Examiner.

During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee panel, the senators pressed the case that breaches originating in foreign countries necessitate more than "conventional standards."

Speaking with Christopher Painter, the coordinator for cyber-issues at the State Department, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) pushed for implementation of a cybersecurity standard allowing response in instances of attack comparable to Article 51 of the UN Charter. Painter said this would be ineffective in preventing hacks siphoning data or probes prepping for a physical conflict.

When Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) questioned whether past principles reflect today's risks, Painter said that the U.S. has responded with economic sanctions and diplomatic tactics. He pointed to a number of recent agreements with foreign countries to curb IP theft and asserted that in high-level meetings President Obama has advocated for an international security framework.