In separate but potentially related developments, a few key governments are again arguing that end-to-end default encryption is foiling law enforcement efforts, especially regarding child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Twitter FVEY and EU see a future where there will be encryption law enforcement can access as needed. Tech thinks differently. Cocktail Party Some of the … Continue reading Five Eyes and EU Renew Emphasis on Encryption
Other Developments The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) lauded its partial victory in Australian federal court against Google that found the company “misled consumers about personal location data collected through Android mobile devices between January 2017 and December 2018.” The ACCC conceded the court “dismissed the ACCC’s allegations about certain statements Google made about … Continue reading Other Developments, Further Reading, and Coming Events (27 April 2021)
Other Developments The White House and the Department of Energy (DOE) announced “a 100-day plan to improve the cybersecurity of our nation’s electric infrastructure” “a pilot of the Administration’s broader cybersecurity initiative planned for multiple critical infrastructure sectors.” The Administration asserted:This is a coordinated effort between DOE, the electricity industry, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure … Continue reading Other Developments, Further Reading, and Coming Events (26 April 2021)
First, subscribe to The Wavelength, my new subscription newsletter. Get all the material you have been enjoying on my blog delivered to your inbox. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held its first hearing of this Congress with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). All four sitting commissioners testified and faced a range of diverse … Continue reading The FTC Faces Questions on “Big Tech,” Section 230, Antitrust, Privacy and Data Security
Other Developments In response to new vulnerabilities turned up by FireEye, the United States (U.S.) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued Emergency Directive (ED) 21-03 “requiring federal civilian departments and agencies running Pulse Connect Secure products to assess and mitigate any anomalous activity or active exploitation detected on their networks.” Media accounts describe persistent … Continue reading Other Developments, Further Reading, and Coming Events (22 April 2021)
The EDPB worries that an adequacy decision with the UK, as written, will impinge the rights of EU residents, especially with regard to the UK sharing personal data with the U.S. government. Twitter The EDPB worries that adequacy agreements with the UK could allow personal data to flow to the U.S. Cocktail Party The European … Continue reading EDPB Argues For Changes In And Subsequent Monitoring Of UK-EU Adequacy Decisions
Even though the staff memo is billed as addressing “Big Tech,” it might be better titled how to remake Section 230 Twitter House E&C Republicans signal areas of tech policy they may cooperate with Democrats on. Cocktail Party The minority on the primary committee of jurisdiction over the technology industry has decided to stake out … Continue reading Republican Staff Suggest Options On Regulating “Big Tech”
A bill that may be supported by Democrats aligned with business and industry will likely not find much support among more liberal Democrats. Twitter A centrist Democratic privacy bill is back; chances of enactment are low. Cocktail Party Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA) has revised her data privacy bill and beat all the other sponsors of … Continue reading The Revised Information Transparency and Personal Data Control Act
Other Developments Google prevailed against Oracle in their borderline epic legal battle over whether Google’s use of 11,500 lines of Oracle’s Java code represented infringement of a copyright or fair use. Oracle had won in a federal appeals court, which left Google facing $8 billion in liability. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) … Continue reading Other Developments, Further Reading, and Coming Events (19 April 2021)
The EU’s data protection regulators critique the EC’s vaccine passport proposal. The European Union’s data protection authorities have rendered their joint opinion on “Digital Green Certificates,” the European Commission’s (EC) proposal for COVID passports. Twitter Vaccine passports; not the Green New Deal. Cocktail Party The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and European Data Protection Supervisor … Continue reading EDPB and EDPS Advise the EU On Digital Green Certificates
Michael Kans 