US lawmakers are backing a bill that will let spy agencies share intelligence on cyber threats with private companies.

The chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Mike Rogers said in support of the bill that there was an economic cyber war going on now against US companies. He stated, "There are two types of companies in this country: those who know they’ve been hacked, and those who don’t know they’ve been hacked. Economic predators, including nation-states, are blatantly stealing business secrets and innovation from private companies."

He added that this cybersecurity bill would go a long way in helping American businesses better protect their networks and their intellectual property.

Companies, who have supported the bill, include Microsoft, IBM and Verizon. They said it would help them to combat cyber threats more effectively.

However, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has said that it would oppose the bill unless more privacy protections are put in place.