Russia, Iran and China exploit Capitol Hill riot to push information operations, US intel concludes (CyberScoop) As America reels from the deadly Capitol Hill insurrection, Russia, Iran and China are using their state media mouthpieces to exploit U.S. divisions and further their interests ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to a new U.S. intelligence analysis obtained by CyberScoop.
Iranian Cyber Operation Posts Threats (BankInfo Security) The FBI is warning that an Iranian-linked cyber operation called "Enemies of the People" continues to threaten federal and state officials as well U.S.
Australia's tangle of electronic surveillance laws needs unravelling (ZDNet) The government agrees: Australia needs a whole new electronic surveillance Act to sort out the mess. But a bunch of ad hoc laws are already making their way through parliament.
Uganda has cut off its entire internet hours to its election polls opening (Quartz Africa) “This suspension should take effect at 7pm this day of 13th January 2021 and continue until otherwise directed
How to Save Democracy From Technology (Foreign Affairs) Ending Big Tech’s Information Monopoly
For better or worse, web infrastructure is not a public good (Quartz at Work) When Google, Apple, and Amazon's AWS took action against Parler, a much wider section of the public began paying attention to an ongoing debate: Should the public be able to hold web infrastructure companies accountable?
War on Terror Teaches How to Fight Hate Groups (Bloomberg) The strategy: Mix intelligence sharing with hard and soft power and technology.
Cyber ‘Deterrence’: A Brexit Analogy (Lawfare) How “imposing costs on our adversaries” has become the “Brexit means Brexit” of cyberspace
Hacking Back Unpacked: An Eye For An Eye? Not So Fast - Analysis (Eurasia Review) It had to happen eventually. Out of all the countries in the world, the hacking back debate has finally entered the political discourse in neutral
American Public Reticent to Retaliate Against SolarWinds Hack (The National Interest) As the United States moves towards developing a more comprehensive doctrine that could delineate when cyber operations do or do not justify a retaliatory response, public attitudes about these questions should remain a point of consideration.
SolarWinds hack is quickly reshaping Congress’s cybersecurity agenda (CSO Online) More cybersecurity funding for states and Capitol, new breach reporting rules, and ransomware-related bills will likely be on the agenda for the 117th Congress.
Exclusive: Trump admin slams China's Huawei, halting shipments from Intel, others - sources (Reuters) The Trump administration notified Huawei suppliers, including chipmaker Intel, that it is revoking certain licenses to sell to the Chinese company and intends to reject dozens of other applications to supply the telecommunications firm, people familiar with the matter told...
Trump White House Finalizes 5G Network Security Plan (Law360) The White House announced Friday it has finalized a four-pronged strategy to help the U.S. roll out safe and effective 5G networks, including promoting "core security principles" in new wireless infrastructure and encouraging global allies to do the same.
Statement from National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien (The White House) Today, the White House is announcing the finalization of the Implementation Plan associated with the National Strategy to Secure 5G. This Implementation Pl
The Biden administration must re-evaluate Chinese 5G data security (VentureBeat) Trump policies that tarred Chinese tech companies as agents of the Communist Party should be quickly re-examined by the new administration.
Brazil ditches US drive to strangle Huawei: report (Global Times) The telecommunications sector will see a back-to-square-one moment, in which business considerations regain their rightful position from political considerations, Chinese analysts said on Sunday, after reports that the Brazilian government became the first in the world to backtrack on its opposition to Huawei’s 5G bid.
Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the National Security Presidential Memorandum on Research and Development Security (The White House) Today, President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum on Securing United States Government-Supported Research and Development. This Pre
Huawei ban timeline: Trump administration reportedly restricts its US suppliers at last minute (CNET) Here's a breakdown of the controversial Chinese telecom giant's saga so far.
NSA Releases Appendix to Rules Governing SIGINT Collection (Lawfare) The National Security Agency (NSA) released on Jan. 13 a document pertaining to the rules governing signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection.
Biden proposal calls investments in federal IT ‘an urgent national security issue’ (Federal News Network) President-elect Joe Biden announces his American Rescue Plan that includes significant funding increases for federal technology and cybersecurity to address long-standing challenges.
Rob Joyce named new NSA cybersecurity director (CyberScoop) Rob Joyce, the NSA’s Special Liaison Officer at the U.S. Embassy in London, will replace Anne Neuberger as Cybersecurity Director.
Biden to invest in cyber workforce, but without plan to overcome lingering staffing hurdles (SC Media) Cybersecurity experts remain skeptical that the newfound funding focus will be enough to draw the necessary talent.
Biden's $10 Billion Cybersecurity Proposal: Is It Enough? (BankInfo Security) President-elect Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion plan for COVID-19 relief includes nearly $10 billion in cybersecurity and IT spending. Some security experts hope the
Presidential Advisers Expected to Push Software-Defined Networking for Secure Comms (Nextgov.com) Senate Commerce Committee is stockpiling legislation for coordinated investments in the tech.
NY, FTC Lead Charge To Expand Biometric Privacy Shields (Law360) New York lawmakers and the Federal Trade Commission are the latest to step up pressure on companies to be upfront with consumers about the use of their biometric data, signaling that more laws and regulatory scrutiny are expected for the increasingly popular technology, attorneys say.
The NSA is ‘moving forward’ to install Michael Ellis, a former GOP operative, as its top lawyer, the agency said Sunday (Washington Post) The National Security Agency is “moving forward” to install Michael Ellis, a former GOP political operative and White House official, as the agency’s top lawyer, the agency said Sunday.
Acting secretary of defense orders NSA chief to install Trump loyalist as agency's general counsel (CNN) Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller is trying to install a Trump loyalist, Michael Ellis, as the top lawyer at the National Security Agency, according to three sources familiar.
The Cybersecurity 202: Biden has options to remove former GOP operative as NSA top lawyer (Washington Post) The National Security Agency's move to install former GOP political operative and White House official Michael Ellis as the agency's top lawyer has raised concerns that President Trump is making one last effort to politicize the intelligence community before leaving office.
U.S. Chamber Letter on the Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) This Hill Letter was sent to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, on the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
HHS Names First Ever Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (Nextgov.com) It marks the agency’s recognition of the emerging technology’s importance.
U.S. lawmakers aim to curtail face recognition even as the technology IDs Capitol attackers (Reuters) U.S. lawmakers are moving ahead with efforts to ban facial recognition software even as the technology helps identify supporters of President Donald Trump who ransacked their workplace and forced them to evacuate this month.
Singapore PDPA Vs. GDPR: How do they stack up? (Lexology) On 25th May 2018, Europe’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) laws were put into effect, to help guard users’ personal data which companies…
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Woman accused of taking laptop from Pelosi’s office has been arrested, officials say (Washington Post) A witness who claimed to be a former partner of Riley June Williams told the FBI that friends of Williams played a video of her stealing a drive or computer
The Cybersecurity 202: Pelosi laptop theft highlights 'real counterintelligence concerns' of Capitol riot, lawmaker says (Washington Post) There are growing concerns that U.S. adversaries may be seeking ways to benefit from the Capitol assault – and that some of rioters may have been looking to work with them.
Purges force extremists off social media sites. That can complicate investigators’ work. (Washington Post) The dramatic move by big technology firms to evict tens of thousands of users from their social media accounts because of concerns over violence is posing a challenge for law enforcement, which has lost a valuable resource to monitor the growing threat.
With Parler ban, Utah police and others may have lost a window into planned protests (The Salt Lake Tribune) The ban on Parler may have cost Utah law enforcement a key look in gathering intelligence on plans for protests.
Local Police Force Uses Facial Recognition to Identify Capitol Riot Suspects (Wall Street Journal) An Alabama police department is using facial recognition software to help identify people who were present during the riot at the U.S. Capitol this week, one of its officers said.
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Doxxing insurrectionists: Online extremism researchers divided (Protocol — The people, power and politics of tech) The uprising has sparked a tense debate about the right way to stitch together the digital scraps of someone's life to publicly accuse them of committing a crime.
OPM Releases New Security Vetting Principles (Meritalk) The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published an updated doctrine on Jan. 13 that details new core security vetting principles for the government to use in managing security clearances.
