OVERNIGHT TECH: Lieberman says terrorist video proves need for cybersecurity standards

THE LEAD: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said on Tuesday that an Al Qaeda video discussing possible cyberattacks on the United States demonstrates that Congress needs to require that critical infrastructure systems meet minimum security standards.

In the video, an apparent Al Qaeda operative urges followers to "wage electronic jihad" against the United States and other Western countries.

"I think that the electronic warfare is one of the important and effective future wars," one speaker in the video says, according to an English translation.

The video also shows clips from an episode of "60 Minutes" in which experts and government officials discuss the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, such as electrical grids, to crippling cyberattacks.

“This is the clearest evidence we’ve seen that Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups want to attack the cyber systems of our critical infrastructure,” Lieberman said. “Congress needs to act now to protect the American public from a possible devastating attack on our electric grid, water delivery systems, or financial networks, for example."

Lieberman is the sponsor of the Cybersecurity Act, which would authorize the Homeland Security to enforce cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure. The bill would also encourage companies to share information about cyberattacks with each other and with the government.

But many Republicans oppose the cybersecurity mandates, saying they would impose an unnecessary burden on businesses. 

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a co-sponsor of the Cybersecurity Act, called the video "troubling."

"It’s clear that Al Qaeda is exploring all means to do us harm and this is evidence that our critical infrastructure is a target," she said.

"They understand that a cyberattack on our critical infrastructure will cause us great harm — possibly more than a traditional physical attack.”

The FBI obtained the Al Qaeda video last year, but the portion about cyberattacks only recently gained broader circulation within the administration, according to a joint press release from Lieberman and Collins.

Web address application system re-opens: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) re-opened its application system on Monday after a software glitch forced the organization to temporarily stop accepting applications for new Web domain endings.

The deadline for submitting applications will be May 30.

ICANN, a California-based nonprofit that manages the Web's address system, began accepting applications earlier this year for new Web domain endings in addition to traditional endings such as .com or .org.

Last month, ICANN had to take its application system offline when it identified a glitch that allowed some groups to look at the confidential applications of their rivals.

"We recognize and regret the inconvenience caused by this glitch and the delayed closing of the application window," Akram Atallah, ICANN's chief operating officer, said on Tuesday.

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Broadcasters sued over the FCC's political ad rule.

Sen. Grassley accused the administration of catering to LightSquared's lobbyists.

Anonymous hacked a DOJ server.

Retailers launched a campaign to push for an online sales tax.

A Senate bill would create new visas for high-skilled immigrants.

Google completed its purchase of Motorola Mobility.

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