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Lawmakers in the US state of Florida have passed a new law focused on data collection and handling by education platforms. The Student Online Personal Information Protection Act restricts the collection, disclosure, and sale of student data by websites, online services, and applications used for K-12 schooling. Operators of these platforms are restricted from conducting targeted advertising based on any data obtained through their sites, and they can no longer create student profiles or share or sell student data to third parties (except when required by law or used for research purposes). As the Capitolist notes, just one month ago the Board of Governors for the State University System (SUS) of Florida gave universities across the state the power to prohibit the use of platforms considered dangerous on SUS devices and wireless infrastructure. The move was made in response to security concerns linked to Chinese-owned video-streaming app TikTok, and members of the Florida Senate Fiscal Policy Committee also recently approved a measure banning TikTok on state government devices and Wi-Fi networks.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Wednesday issued the Fiscal Year 2023 Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project (REMCDP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will provide funding for up to two demonstration projects aimed at improving emergency communications infrastructure for rural medical care. As well, Homeland Security Today explains, the funding will be used to alleviate gaps in the implementation of the National Emergency Communications Plan. Applicants may apply for up to $2,000,000 for a two-year period of performance, and after a competitive review process, funding will be awarded to a maximum of two recipients for a total of up to $4,000,000. CISA established REMCDP to find ways to use existing technologies and engage non-medical professionals to bolster the delivery of medical care in rural areas. Applications for the NOFO must be submitted by July 28.
General Daniel Hokanson, head of the US National Guard Bureau, appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday where he addressed concerns about the Discord Papers, a sensitive military intel leak discovered earlier this year. “I’m very confident this will never happen again,” Hokanson stated, “This one individual took an individual action and is not indicative of the entire system. We are looking at safeguards that we can put in place that would prevent any individual in the future from ever being able to do this.” Hokanson was referring to Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira, who was recently alleged to have used his security clearance as an information technology specialist to access top-secret military documents, which he then posted on social media. Teixeira was arrested in April and has been accused of violating the Espionage Act, the Military Times recounts. Hokanson stated that in the wake of the incident, Air Force leaders have launched an inspector general investigation. “That is just about complete and we look forward to the results soon,” he stated. “Any and all recommendations they make will obviously be implemented immediately.” He added that several senior leaders have been temporarily removed from their commands as the chain of command is examined for weak links. However, some legislators seemed unconvinced. “This was not a deviation that came out of the blue,” said committee Vice Chairwoman Senaqtor Susan Collins, a Republican of Maine. “In fact, [Teixeira] had been observed taking notes on classified intelligence materials. … It appears that this serious breach might have been prevented or stopped much sooner if the airman’s guard unit had taken greater action to restrict his access to classified information.”
To Compete with China, Promote Internet Freedom from Space (The National Interest) Promoting domestic competition in the satellite internet industry is a critical aspect of geopolitical competition with China and an essential element in the pursuit of global internet freedom.
New law protects student data privacy, restricts targeted advertising on education apps (The Capitolist) The Student Online Personal Information Protection Act was signed into law this week, introducing new restrictions on education websites and applications to prevent data harvesting and targeted adv…
Senate Bill 662 (2023) (The Florida Senate) Student Online Personal Information Protection; Citing this act as the “Student Online Personal Information Protection Act”; prohibiting operators from knowingly engaging in specified activities relating to students’ covered information; providing circumstances under which an operator may disclose students’ covered information; providing construction; providing for enforcement under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act; providing that the Department of Legal Affairs is the sole entity authorized to bring specified actions, etc.
CISA Releases the FY 2023 Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project (REMCDP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (Homeland Security Today) Applicants must demonstrate their ability to leverage technologies and engage non-medical professionals to help enhance statewide or regional medical communications systems.
What the debt ceiling deal means for U.S. cyber agency (Washington Post) Debt ceiling agreement has little impact on old CISA money, agency says, but prospects are dicier going forward
Don’t Leave the NSA in the Dark (Bloomberg) A vital surveillance tool is up for reauthorization. A group of lawmakers wants to kill it. Lives are in the balance.
Homeland Official Defends Domestic Intelligence Work to Congress (Bloomberg Law) The Department of Homeland Security is defending its domestic intelligence-gathering tactics after critics accused the agency of violating Americans’ civil rights and civil liberties.
FTC’s Khan Says Enforcers Need to Be ‘Vigilant Early’ With AI (Bloomberg) Agency already seeing AI used to ‘turbocharge’ fraud, scams. Laws against deception, discrimination already apply, she says.
The Illusion of China’s AI Prowess (Foreign Affairs) Regulating AI will not set America back in the technology race.
Top National Guard officer vows intel leaks ‘will never happen again’ (Military Times) Gen. Daniel Hokanson said investigations so far have not shown systemic problems with who has access to the military's most sensitive secrets.
Federal vision to streamline cyber incident reporting expected this summer (Nextgov.com) The Cyber Incident Reporting Council will issue a report to Congress "in the next month or two" with recommendations on ways to achieve harmony across a complex network of federal cyber mandates.
DNI Haines Statement on President Biden's Nomination of Lt. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh to Lead the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command (ODNI News Release) “I am delighted to congratulate Lieutenant General Timothy D. Haugh on his nomination to serve as the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command, the Director of the National Security Agency, and the Chief of the Central Security Service.
