Bill targets file sharing

Federal agencies will have to protect their computers and information from the security risks of peer-to-peer file sharing programs, according to a bill passed Oct. 8 by the House of Representatives.Peer-to-peer file sharing programs are Internet applications that allow users to download and directly share electronic files from other users on the same network. Millions of people trade music, images and documents over these networks at a time, according to Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., who introduced the bill, along with cosponsor Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif.They introduced the Government Network Security Act of 2003 to close a loophole in the federal government's efforts to protect the security and privacy of its computers, Davis said.