Robert Sarvis: Mark Warner fails voters on civil liberties, privacy

Robert Sarvis, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in Virginia, released the following statement today:

Last week, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 12-3 to advance the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (S. 2588), an updated version of the infamous CISPA legislation that was shelved when a broad coalition of libertarian, progressive, and conservative activists and groups came out to oppose it.

I’m proud to represent the Libertarian Party, which has come out again in strong opposition to S. 2588. “CISA presents many of the same problems as the failed Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) of 2012, which contained significant privacy concerns and other shortcomings. Privacy experts have pointed out how CISA would damage the privacy and civil liberties of users. Language in CISA, like CISPA, enables the automatic and simultaneous transfer of cybersecurity information to U.S. intelligence agencies like the National Security Agency,” a recent statement by the LP explains.

Mark Warner is bragging about a half-measure he inserted into the bill that would simply require a report from the Director of National Intelligence. That would be James Clapper, who LIED to Congress under oath about NSA surveillance. Warner’s amendment fails to fix the real problem.

Meanwhile, my Republican opponent Ed Gillespie is still “reviewing” the legislation.

I oppose S. 2588. Unlike both of my opponents, I also oppose the so-called “Patriot” Act that the federal government has relied on to justify its mass surveillance program.

I encourage Virginians, whether you agree with me on these issues or not, to sign my petition for inclusion in the debates. A debate through press statements about such vital issues just doesn’t cut it. Virginia voters deserve to hear a real debate among all the candidates on the ballot.