Author: Michael Kans

An attorney who specializes in technology policy, law, and politics with other areas of expertise.

Senate Intelligence Views SolarWinds From The Private Sector Perspective

Congress starts chewing over the hack of agencies and companies, hinting at policy prescriptions. The first public hearing on the massive hack associated with SolarWinds and most likely perpetrated by the Russian intelligence services occurred this week. The Senate Intelligence Committee heard from private sector witnesses, including from SolarWinds, in what will be the first … Continue reading Senate Intelligence Views SolarWinds From The Private Sector Perspective →

Epic Games Asks EC To Investigate Apple

The maker of Fortnite filed an antitrust action against Apple in the EU; A UK court rules on Epic Games action, giving it a split decision. Epic Games sought to contest Apple and Google’s decisions to remove the maker of popular multi-player game, Fortnite, from their application stores last summer after the game maker started … Continue reading Epic Games Asks EC To Investigate Apple →

EDPS Renders Opinions on EC Legislation

EDPS suggests changes to Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, the EU’s legislation to remake how the bloc regulates large technology firms. European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) Wojciech Wiewiorówski has issued his opinions on two of the centerpieces for the European Commission’s (EC) digital strategy: the Digital Services Act and a Digital Markets Act. … Continue reading EDPS Renders Opinions on EC Legislation →

Oklahoma Committee Releases Strong Privacy Bill

Oklahoma legislators unveil a strong bill. Chances of enactment are unclear. Oklahoma has followed other states in beginning consideration of data privacy legislation in the absence of a comprehensive federal privacy statute. The “Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act” (HB 1602) is a strong data privacy bill, one that would put teeth into Oklahoma’s regulation of … Continue reading Oklahoma Committee Releases Strong Privacy Bill →

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (18 February 2021)

Further Reading “Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm Protest Nvidia’s Acquisition of Arm Ltd.” By  David McLaughlin, Ian King, and Dina Bass — Bloomberg. Major United States (U.S.) tech multinationals are telling the U.S. government that Nvidia’s proposed purchase of Arm will hurt competition in the semi-conductor market, an interesting position for an industry renowned for being acquisition … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (18 February 2021) →

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (17 February 2021)

Further Reading “Sheryl Sandberg Downplayed Facebook’s Role In The Capitol Hill Siege—Justice Department Files Tell A Very Different Story” By Thomas Brewster — Forbes. According to charging documents, Facebook, and not Parler, was the app of choice the insurrectionists used in planning to storm the United States Capitol. And, of course, Facebook initially claimed this … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (17 February 2021) →

Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (16 February 2021)

Further Reading “India cuts internet around New Delhi as protesting farmers clash with police” By Esha Mitra and Julia Hollingsworth — CNN; “Twitter Temporarily Blocked Accounts Critical Of The Indian Government” By Pranav Dixit — BuzzFeed News. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government again shut down the internet as a way of managing unrest or discontent … Continue reading Further Reading, Other Developments, and Coming Events (16 February 2021) →

States Other Than CA and VA Consider Privacy Bills

The North Dakota legislature spikes two tech bills, one that would have regulated app stores and the other would have barred sales of personal data without consent. With the recent enactment by ballot of the “California Privacy Rights Act” (aka Proposition 24) and the pending enactment of the “Consumer Data Privacy Act” in Virginia, other … Continue reading States Other Than CA and VA Consider Privacy Bills →

Expansion Proposed of HIPAA To Encompass Fitness and Health Apps And Services

The bill is looking to fill a gap that has developed in the U.S. regulation of health privacy.  Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have reintroduced a bill, the “Protecting Personal Health Data Act” (S.24), that addresses the rise of wearable fitness trackers and similar technology that are currently outside the United States … Continue reading Expansion Proposed of HIPAA To Encompass Fitness and Health Apps And Services →

A Revised ePrivacy Regulation Proposed

A key stakeholder has proposed changes to the EC’s four-year old proposed ePrivacy Regulation, moving matters to the EU Parliament.  Council of the European Union (Council) has released a long awaited compromise draft of the ePrivacy Regulation, a rewrite of the European Union’s existing rules on the privacy of electronic communications. This new law is … Continue reading A Revised ePrivacy Regulation Proposed →