Perfect Citizen

'''Perfect Citizen''' is a program designed in 2010 to perform vulnerability assessment by the United States National Security Agency on U.S. critical infrastructure.<ref>[https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/07/nsa-perfect-citizen-denial/ NSA Denies It Will Spy on Utilities], Threat Level, Wired.com</ref> It was originally reported to be a program to develop a system of sensors to detect cyber attacks on critical infrastructure computer networks in both the private and public sector through a network monitoring system named Einstein.<ref name="cn1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Program to Detect Cyber Attacks on Infrastructure |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704545004575352983850463108?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=2010-07-07 |accessdate=2010-07-07 | first=Siobhan | last=Gorman}}</ref> It is funded by the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative and thus far Raytheon has received a contract for up to $100 million for the initial stage.<ref name="cn1" />

The program was originally reported to be designed to monitor for, as well as neutralize and counter, cyberattacks against government agencies and private companies in critical parts of the U.S. private sector including defense, power plants, transportation, and major internet firms.<ref name="cn1">{{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-20009952-83.html|title=Report: NSA initiating program to detect cyberattacks |last=Whitney|first=Lance|date=July 8, 2010|work=CNET.com|accessdate=8 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="dt1" /> The program is the successor to a previous surveillance project called "April Strawberry".<ref name="dt1">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytech.com/NSAs+Perfect+Citizen+Program++Big+Brother+or+Cybersecurity+Savior/article18969.htm|title=DailyTech - NSA's "Perfect Citizen" Program: Big Brother or Cybersecurity Savior?|last=Mick|first=Jason|date=July 8, 2010|publisher=DailyTech|accessdate=8 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711071346/http://www.dailytech.com/NSAs+Perfect+Citizen+Program++Big+Brother+or+Cybersecurity+Savior/article18969.htm|archive-date=11 July 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The project is still in an early stage, "but NSA officials have reportedly met with utility executives and politely asked them to cooperate with the surveillance."<ref name="dt1" /> Although participation is still voluntary, the government has offered incentives such as additional contracts to those who comply.<ref name="cn1" /><ref name="dt1" />

==Controversy== The program, which is described by critics as "Big Brother", has raised privacy concerns as well as concerns over government intervention in the private sector.<ref name="dt1" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10462563-38.html|title=White House outlines secret cybersecurity plan |last=McCullagh|first=Declan|date=March 2, 2010|work=CNET.com|accessdate=8 July 2010}}</ref>

==See also== * Echelon (signals intelligence)

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:National Security Agency Category:Privacy of telecommunications Category:Privacy in the United States