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Cybersecurity & Tech
Cybersecurity & Tech
The Utah Approach to Emerging Technology & State Government
In the new economy, Technology and State Government go together like coffee and cookies in a Swedish Fika.
So, let’s look at how they do it in the Great State of Utah:
- WHO reviews new technology for the state: An agency review board made up of staff from various departments and business areas.
- HOW do the recommendations work? The board offers specific organizational perspectives on how a technology might be used to solve business problems for the state.
- DO THEY GET HELP? Yes, an external technology advisory board with representatives from outside of state government
- HOW DO THEY WORK TOGETHER? The two groups work together to ensure effective vetting before any tech investment are made
- NEW KID: The Center for Excellence for Artificial Intelligence established in 2019 is reviewing about a dozen major initiatives
Government Technology | CIOs on How to Reframe the Future with Emerging Tech
State Proposition. Create Stand Alone State Agency for Data Privacy
Where: California
What: Proposition 24 would creates a dedicated state agency to enforce data privacy laws & adds dozens of specifics and exceptions for privacy in certain business
Why are privacy advocates opposed?
- Privacy advocates support a opt-in framework for collection and use of people’s personal information, and the Proposition supports an opt-out system
- True enforcement only comes when it allows for civil causes of action, otherwise it is meaningless
- Creates a new loophole for “pay-for-privacy” for loyalty card data
- ACLU says it reinforces this notion that companies should be allowed to charge people for their privacy
Los Angeles Times via Governing | California Hopes to Further Refine Online Privacy
Public Official Disclosures of CryptoCurrency
Add Spain to the list of countries seeking financial disclosures for public officials of their bitcoin.
Why does this matter? Does your jurisdiction require crypto currency disclosures of public officials? Is your jurisdiction considering legislation related to crypto currency?
Reuters | Spain plans bill to force disclosure of crypto-currency holdings
BLM. City Procurement Changes
Where: Birmingham, AL
What is happening: A purchasing agreement for law enforcement software included specific disclaimer language to prohibit the software use for facial recognition purposes
Alabama Media Group | Birmingham Reassures: Police Tech Won’t Use Facial Recognition
Data. Migration Data = Election Data?
Since 2008, an estimated 700,000 Californians have moved to Texas.
The 2020 question is: Do the Californians that have moved to Texas vote in numbers that turn Texas to a swing state?
What do Texas experts say? Migration is an element, but so is the growth in Texas’ internal demographic shifts such as increased Latino population & growing metro areas
CalMatters | How California expats are helping turn Texas into a battleground state
CARES Act for COVID Broadband in Missouri
How much did Missouri set aside from its CARES Fund for rural broadband? $50 million
How many estimated households will benefit? 10,000 new households
Who else will benefit in Missouri from the CARES Act COVID funds for internet service? telehealth, libraries and remote learning
Kansas City Star via Governing | Over 70,000 Kansas Homes Finally Getting High-Speed Internet
CARES Act COVID Funds for Rural Broadband
Where: Kansas
How were the COVID funds allocated in Kansas for rural broadband? The State Finance Council previously approved the use of federal coronavirus relief funding to improve broadband access
What else will also be getting improved internet access?
- government buildings will get fiber optic cable
- libraries, schools and health departments will have connections they have not had access to before
Kansas City Star via Governing | Over 70,000 Kansas Homes Finally Getting High-Speed Internet
BLM. Protests + Private Surveillance Cameras + Local Government Access
Can local governments access private surveillance cameras- say like your doorbell’s camera or the cameras of your local improvement district?
Where is this happening? San Francisco, CA
What rules are in place for San Francisco to use private surveillance footage? They can if and only if they get approval from the local government
What’s alleged during BLM protests? That San Francisco police accessed real-time surveillance footage from private cameras in the Union Square area without first obtaining necessary approval from the Board of Supervisors
Why do we care?
- San Francisco was quick to stop using facial recognition software on the one hand but on the other police may have accessed private camera footage during a protest.
- National organizations are involved- the ACLU, EFF (Electronic Freedom Foundation)
- Camera and surveillance use legislation/regulation is common in response to BLM and this access to private video is an issue in all these public and stakeholder decisions
San Francisco Chronicle via Governing | San Francisco Sued for Allegedly Video Surveilling Protests
New Kid on the Block. New Board at TechNet
The new kid on the Executive Council at Technet: The DoorDash CEO
The TechNet Executive Council:
- Greg Becker CEO Silicon Valley Bank
- John T Chambers, CEO JC2 Ventures
- John Doerr Chair Kleiner Perkins
- Mike Gregoire Managing Director Brighton Park Capital
- Terry Howerton CEO TechNexus Venture Collaborative
- Ed Knight Vice Chair NASDAQ
- Bastian Lehmann CEO Postmates
- Aaron Levie CEo Box
- Kim Polese Chair Crowdsmart
- KR Sridhar CEO Bloom Energy
- Julie Sweet CEO Accenture
- Kelly Mahon Tullier General Counsel Visa
- Tony Xu CEO DoorDash
What is perception hacking?
What is perception hacking? Think of the election and social media.
Perception hacking is “manipulating people into thinking they are being manipulated”
Why do we care? perception hacking is being utilize din the 2020 election and could be a constant moving forward
Anatomy of a Veto: Social Media Data Privacy Bill
Where: California
The legislation that Govern Newsom vetoed: AB 1138 (2020 | CA)
Why did the Governor veto this bill? it would not meaningfully protect children & there is existing federal law overlap
The goal os AB 1138: to obtain parental consent for social media use by any person under the age of 13
Amending California’s Data Privacy Law: Employee Info
California’s AB 1281 (2020 | CA) extends an exception to California’s Data Privacy Law for information related to:
- job applicants
- employees
- business owners
- directors
- officers
- medical staff
- contractors
ADLaw | California Privacy Legislation Round-Up: Gov. Newsom Signs CCPA Employee Exemption Extension, Vetoes Others
+1 City OKs Facial Recognition Software
The city: Detroit, MI
What did city councilors say in support?
- Citizens say they’re afraid of being victims of crimes & want police to have all tools available to them
- It is a tool to make law enforcement more efficient, detectives still have to investigate
What is Detroit’s background with facial recognition software? The city began a contract in 2017. This vote updates that software to improve it.
Does the police department use the software across the board? No, the department has a “strict policy” to only use it for the most egregious violent crimes and home invasions
Detroit News via Governing | Detroit Approves Police Use of Facial Recognition Software
COVID Veto. Genetic testing privacy bill.
Where: California
What legislation: SB 980 (2020 | CA) would have established privacy protections over the data collected by genetic testing companies like Ancestry.com and 23andMe
What privacy protections?
- clear notice to individuals when their genetic material is shared to 3rd parties
- allow consumers to revoke their consent to certain disclosure procedures
The veto rational? bill could “unintentionally impede” the critical COVID-19 reporting requirements
How Governments Incentivize Tech Employees
Let’s look at how the CIA is incentivizing tech employees, since they can’t compete with private sector salaries.
The CIA created CIA Labs that will allow:
- CIA employees to publicly file patents on the intellectual property
- CIA employees for the 1st time would be able to collect a portion of the the profits & the CIA gets the remainder of the profits
- The cap for the employee: 15% of the total income from the new invention with a cap of $150,000 per year.
MIT Technology Review | CIA’s new tech recruiting pitch: More patents, more profits
New Economy: Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus
To remain competitive, an expanded use of AI is crucial for small business and education system, as members of the Congressional AI Caucus are calling for an use of artificial intelligence.
What kind o policy changes are we talking about?
- transparency regarding data
- AI should be promoted in schools to build a competitive workforce
- promote governmental efforts to develop innovative uses of AI
The Hill | Lawmakers call for expanded AI role in education, business to remain competitive
+1 State Uses More Facial Recognition Software
The state: Colorado
The expanded use of facial recognition software: law enforcement agencies have asked Colorado’s DMV 227 times to run facial recognition software against its data base. Including of protestors.
Does Colorado have a law about the use of facial recognition software? No
Have Colorado cities opted out? Yes, Denver opted out.
Denver Post via Governing | Colorado Police Have Quietly Expanded Facial Recognition Use
Securing IoT Devices with Legislation
The legislation: H.R. 1668: IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020
What will it require? all internet-connected devices purchased by the federal government this includes computers, mobile devices and other products with the ability to connect to the internet to comply with minimum security recommendations issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
What burden would be on the private sector?
- that their devices comply with the minimum security recommendations
- to notify agencies if the device has a vulnerability
Why the legislation? There are no national standards to ensure the security of these connected devices
The Hill | House approves bill to secure internet-connected federal devices against cyber threats
Agriculture Technology is the Future. COVID Repercussions.
What are the economic estimates if agricultural interests adopted the latest technology innovations? generate $18 billion to $23 billion annually
What does technology access look like for farmers?
- 2/3 of soybean farmers don’t have “adequate internet connectivity to run their businesses” according to a United Soybean Board report
- COVID has heightened the importance of the food chain supply
- 2 farmers in Maine reported their sales moved online but the internet is so slow they fill orders in the middle of the night
Solutions to bring technology to rural areas:
- electric cooperatives can provide middle-mile fiber
- Wabash Heartland Innovation Network is using an aerostat, a kind of blimp, to provide “broadband for tens of miles to improve broadband access
Government Technology | The Future of Farming Relies on Internet Connectivity
+1 State Adopts COVID Tracking App
The State: Pennsylvania
The App: COVID Alert PA
What technology does Pennsylvania’s App use? Exposure Notification System technology developed by Apple and Google
How does it notify app users of having been in close contact with someone who tests positive?
- The App sends a “COVID-19 Exposure Alert” to other users’ phones
- If the app user has been within 6 feet of a person who tested positive for 15 minutes or more
The App also provides COVID data for users.
Who composed the partnerships that brought the App to Pennsylvanians?
- Pennsylvania and Delaware
- technology company NearForm
- University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and Internet Privacy Research Institute
Pocono Record via Governing | Pennsylvania: Add Phones to the Fight and Download COVID App
How Connectivity Limited a Legislature’s Meetings & Hearings
Where: New Mexico
What connectivity issues does New Mexico have? lack of broadband and fiber. Residents within 10 minutes of the largest cities face connectivity issues as well as those in rural areas.
How has the connectivity issues impacted the Legislature?
- 1/3 of the usual number of interim hearings
- how to recognize legislators for questions during virtual hearings
- how to ensure video coverage of facial responses of legislators
- Operator issues such as
- “legislators had trouble unmuting themselves to vote”
- “sounds of sneezing and barking dogs”
How has the Legislature addressed some of these challenges? By offering 1 on 1 training for legislators by the legislature’s computer experts
Santa Fe New Mexican via Governing | New Mexico’s Legislative Activity Slowed by Bad Internet
Meet the New Kid: The Public Innovation Academy
Who started the Public Innovation Academy: Abhi Nemani of Code for America, former chief data officer of Los Angeles and CIO of Sacramento, CA
What will the Public Innovation Academy do?
- online training venture as being aimed at helping people who perform jobs that aren’t necessarily technical
- sharing lessons learned from large cities with civil servants in smaller and mid size cities
Goverment Technology | Public Innovation Academy Offers Practical Training for Gov
Texas Privacy Protection Advisory Council REPORT.
The Report offers these concepts to consider for future legislation:
- The regulatory and compliance costs of CCPA and GDPR which may have created uneven benefits and restrictions to certain consumers and businesses. Many companies in Texas are already complying with both laws and any Texas law should seek to compliment and not conflict with existing federal laws and frameworks.
- The Fourth Amendment protections.
- The duties and responsibilities of application resellers in governing privacy policies of third-party vendors.
- The impact of COVID-19.
The report offers these recommendations:
- Process for ensuring that all state agencies are adhering to privacy standards, and policies are continually updated to reflect new technologies, business practices, and risks.
- Proposals should consider a new and appropriate balance between additional consumer privacy protections and data security within a fair regulatory/compliance privacy framework.
- Proposals should consider the impact to highly regulated data, like health information or banking data, and how those proposals compliment applicable federal law.
- Legislation should be written broadly enough to allow the adoption of new technology and business standards.
- Proposals should consider existing laws in Texas and other states in order to not conflict.
- Texans have the right to know how their personal information is being used and the Legislature should consider ways to strengthen that right.
Texas Privacy Protection Advisory Council Report September 2020
+1 State Expands Data Breach Notification Statutes
The State: Michigan HB 4186 (2020 | MI)
What new information will trigger a notification if hackers get access to it?
- A state resident’s first name or first initial and last name in combination with one or more of the following data elements that relate to the resident:
- A nontruncated Social Security number, driver license number, state personal identification card number, passport number, military identification number, or other unique identification number issued on a government document.
- A financial account number.
- A medical or mental history, treatment, or diagnosis issued by a health care professional.
- A health insurance policy number or subscriber identification number and any unique identifier used by a health insurer.
- A username or email address, in combination with a password or a security question and answer, that would allow access to an online account that is likely to have or is used to obtain sensitive personally identifying information.
Notification timeline: Not more than 45 days from determining that a breach has occurred
Potential fines: $2,000 for each violation or not more than $5,000 per day for each consecutive day up to a total of $250,000
COVID. State Bonds for State Data Security
The State: Massachusetts
The Legislation: H4932 (2020 | MA)
The Bonds: $1.8 billion for critical investments in IT infrastructure to assist children, underrepresented populations
+1 Country Banning Trade of Cryptocurrency
Add India to the list of countries considering a ban on cryptocurrency trading.
What have other Asian governments chosen to do with cryptocurrency markets? Regulation
What has China banned? initial coin offerings
Economic Times | India plans to introduce law to ban cryptocurrency trading
Social Media + Elections = Voter Registration By App
How many people have register to vote over Snapchat? 407,024
Were the registrations sparked by a paid ad by a political organization? No
How did the vote registration links to Snapchat work? Snap Chat added a new feature to its app that provided voter registration information
COVID Effect. More Cyber Attacks on Manufacturing
The industries most targeted by hackers from January-June 2020:
- manufacturing
- technology
- telecom companies
Manufacturing increased an uptick in cyberattacks by 11% over 2019.
The manufacturing equipment targeted:
- business systems
- front-office systems
Rational for the increase in cyber events for manufacturing?
- vulnerability from the large-scale disruption in their global supply chain of materials due to COVID
CQ Roll Call via Governing | Cyberattacks on Manufacturing Industry Increase During COVID
New Tech: Texas Economic Development Corporation “World-Class Website”
Texas Economic Development Corporation has a new website that it describes as world class. So what does the new website offer:
- mobile adaptability
- ” streamlined access to essential information and data about doing business in Texas”
- ” compiles key statewide information about infrastructure, workforce, taxes and incentives and other areas of importance in economic development”
2020 Elections + Google + Autofill
Google is removing autofill in its search bars for that target candidates or voting.
What Google’s senior director of global policy and standards has to say: “We’re acutely aware that with this upcoming election … people have strong opinions and given the backdrop of COVID, there’s a lot of questions about voting information and how that might play out against the backdrop of the pandemic.”
So this means no autofill supporting, opposing or endorsing candidates or for voting information. The searches can occur, but will not be autofilled.
Tech Crunch | Google says it’s eliminating Autocomplete suggestions that target candidates or voting
Google | Our latest investments in information quality in Search and News
+1 Country Moving Toward National CryptoCurrency
The Country: Japan
Which bank is pushing for a national cryptocurrency? one of the nation’s national banks, the Bank of Japan
Why the urgency in Japan? China has a forthcoming cryptocurrency. The result of this, and China and Russia’s move away from an economy dependent on the dollar, is that ” the global stage has likely pushed China to turn into a leader in the computerized cash race.”
Data Security in Ultrasonic Welding.
What specific data should manufacturers be concerned about? protection of vital manufacturing data that contains controls, testing, and product performance
Which 3 stakeholders find the data security important for manufacturers? businesses, consumers, and regulators
Machine Design | Rethinking Data Security in Ultrasonic Welding and Manufacturing
BLM. Portland Bans Public + Private Facial Recognition Software
Where: Portland, OR
What: City Council passed an ordinance, the 1st in the nation, to ban both the public and private use of facial recognition software in public accommodations
How is Portland’s ban on facial recognition software different than those in Boston, San Francisco and Oakland, CA? Portland bans private entities from using the software in public accomodation
The exceptions to the ban? Face ID to open your own mobile phone
What 3 reasons did elected officials offer to support the ban?
- gender inaccuracies
- racial bias and inaccuracies
- intrusion on Portlanders’ privacy
How have software companies pivoted? Amazon, IBM and Microsoft have scaled back their sales of the software to law enforcement
The Hill | Portland adopts landmark facial recognition ordinances
Meet the Non Profit Looking for Security Breached in Apps
The non-profit that seeks out security breaches by apps:IDAC
What is IDAC goal? To protect consumer data
What recent discovery did it make? A fertility app on android phones was collecting a lot of personal data with no opt out for consumers
Why was the IDAC alerted? the App masked personal health data in the same way TikTok was masking data that it sent out
Is this new, finding a breach of personal health data on Apps? No, last year Consumer Reports identified Ovia, a pregnancy-tracking app that shares users’ data with their employers and insurers.
Supply Chain Cyber Security Recommendations + It’s Personal
The Solarium Commission that delivered a list of policy recommendations earlier this year is working on supply chain policy recommendation next.
Why this new action? COVID
Are the recommendations being targeted at certain issues? Yes, ““We have to have a comprehensive information technology communications strategy to counter what could be perceived as Chinese aggression and to ensure the continued availability and trustworthiness of our critical technology supply chain,”
Inside Cybersecurity: The Cyberspace Solarium Commission is working up white papers
Public Private AI Pilot for State Agency Security
The pilot program is the brain child of: Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
The governments that have joined: Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Texas, along with Maricopa County, Ariz
What is this pilot project? cybersecurity automation by identifying the threats that should be prioritized and triaged
The goals for the state governments: cut down on manual tasks & promote the sharing of actionable threat information
State Tech | States Join Automated Security Pilot with MS-ISAC, Johns Hopkins
Anatomy of a Broadband – Public School COVID Contract.
The parties: Comcast & Reading (PA) School Board
The purpose of the contract: remote learning
What had the School Board tried before this contract to expand access to broadband for students? Added outdoor Wi-Fi to 14 school district buildings
What benefits will the district receive for its $700,000 expenditure?
- a couple months free broadband for students
- connect as many as 10,000 homes at a cost of $9.95/month
Does Comcast have other similar partnerships to offer broadband to students? Yes, in Chicago; Atlanta; Pittsburgh; Sacramento, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; & Arlington, Va.
Reading Eagle via Governing | Reading Contracts With Comcast to Get Students Broadband
COVID Bump for CIOs
How did Chief Information Officers and those who work in data and data security get a bump in their profile because of COVID? Because the spread and data related to the coronavirus rose in importance, so did the import of those in charge of the data.
Instead of data being thought of as a defense (protect ourselves from hackers), data became an offense by showing how data can show the spread and containment of disease.
CIO Dive | The profile of the chief data officer rose in the pandemic
Universities & Election Officials. Partnership for Election Security.
The University of Chicago is pairing their cybersecurity experts with local election officials to assist with cyber security issues surrounding the November election.
What is the Univeristy of Chicago’s program called? Election Cyber Surge & began with 50 volunteer experts who have been vetted
MSNBC | Volunteer hacker army boosts U.S. election cybersecurity
TikTok Fallout for Government Contracts?
Writing on the wall with the FCC calling for comment on security threats in the existing supply chain rulemaking.
Why should this matter? Data security standards will fall into place in state and local government contracts too.
COVID. E-commerce By the Numbers.
How e-commerce is fairing in 2020 for retailers overall:
- forecast to grow 18% to $709.8 billion this year
- anticipated to represent 14.5% of total retail sales this year
For Home Depot specifically:
- e-commerce is more than 14% of the approximately $38.1 billion of net sales
- up from about 9% compared to 2019
- Total sales growth in the quarter—23%—was the company’s strongest in nearly 20 years
What tech devices were quickly adopted:
- services to provide for on sight pick up
- converting stores or warehouses into distribution centers for ecommerce
- capacity for mobile apps and web based shopping tools
COVID Improved the Digital Divide
Examples of how the digital divide was closer to closed because of COVID:
- Seattle’s Digital Bridge pilot program connecting low-income residents with low-cost refurbished laptops
- Seattle partnered with Wave Broadband to offer low-income households free home Internet for 60 days
- Washington State created Wi-Fi hot spots across the state
- Chattanooga, TN & Hamilton County, TN announced a 10 year initiative to offer no-cost high-speed home Internet to the 28,500 children who receive free or reduced-price school lunches — about 60% of the county school system’s students
- Philadelphia is connecting 35,000 families with no-cost Internet from Comcast for the next two years
- San Antonio, TX pledged to invest more than $27 million to provide broadband access through private wireless networks using existing fiber infrastructure on traffic lights
Governing | Some Encouraging Steps on the Path to Digital Inclusion
Corporations: Legislation to Prohibit Corporate Use of Facial Recognition Software
The legislation: National Biometric Information Privacy Act of 2020
What would corporations be prohibited from doing?
- keeping or maintaining biometric, including facial recognition, information
- prohibiting profiting from biometric information
- permits corporations to collect & maintain the information with consent
How would it be enforced? By state Attorneys General & individuals could bring suit
Quasi Govermental Officials + Cyber Security Training
Does Texas require cyber security training for government officials? Generally yes.
Does this apply to appraisal review board members? No because there is no definition of elected official even though the act specifically mentions that it applies to Appraisal Review Boards
Do I need to know more? To get to this conclusion, it relied on an Opinion from 1984 which said the election code didn’t apply to appraisal review board members.
Why do we care? Appraisal Review Board members handle property tax information, appeals, commercial property tax documents, zombie or dark store tax issues. This is going to include a lot of financial information that hackers might like or use for hacking fun times.
How a State Insurance Regulator Responded to CyberSecurity Insurance Laws
What’s happening? Connecticut passed the Connecticut Insurance Data Security Law which was modeled on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Cybersecurity Law.
In response to this, the state insurance regulator, issued this guidance:
- Information Security Program
Licensees must develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive written information security program (ISP) that complies with the Act by October 1, 2020. The ISP must be based on a risk assessment and contain safeguards for the protection of both nonpublic information and the licensee’s information systems.
- Third-Party Service Providers
Covered licensees must exercise due diligence in selecting service providers and must, by October 1, 2021, require each service provider to implement appropriate administrative, technical, and physical measures to protect and secure the information systems and nonpublic information that is accessible to and held by the service provider.
- Annual Certification by Domestic Insurers
Annually, beginning February 15, 2021, non-exempt Connecticut domestic insurers must certify compliance with the Act.
- Cybersecurity Event Investigations
Licensees or an outside service provider must conduct a prompt investigation in accordance with the Act after learning of a “cybersecurity event,” which is defined as “an event resulting in any unauthorized access to, or disruption or misuse of, an information system or the nonpublic information stored thereon, except if: (A) The event involves the unauthorized acquisition of encrypted nonpublic information if the encryption process for such information or encryption key to such information is not acquired, released or used without authorization; or (B) the event involves access of nonpublic information by an unauthorized person and the licensee determines that such information has not been used or released and has been returned or destroyed.”
- Notification of a Cybersecurity Event
Licensees must provide notice of cybersecurity events to the Insurance Commissioner as promptly as possible, but in no event later than three business days after the date of the event when either (1) Connecticut is, in the case of an insurer, the state of domicile, in the case of a producer, the home state of the producer; or (2) the licensee reasonably believes that the event involves nonpublic information of 250 or more consumers residing in Connecticut and state or federal laws require notification to a government entity, or there is a reasonable likelihood of material harm to Connecticut consumers or the licensee’s normal operations.
- Notification to Consumers
Licensees must comply with Connecticut’s data breach notification law and also provide a copy of any required notice to the Insurance Commissioner.
- Notice Regarding Cybersecurity Events of Reinsurers
Licensees acting as an assuming insurer must notify affected ceding insurers and its domiciliary regulator of a cybersecurity event involving nonpublic information that is used by such assuming insurer or in its possession, custody or control when it is acting as an assuming insurer with no direct contractual relationship with affected consumers not later than 72 hours after the assuming insurer discovered that the cybersecurity event has occurred.
- Notice by Insurers to Producers of Record
If the cybersecurity event involves nonpublic information that is in the possession, custody or control of an licensee acting as an insurer or a third-party service provider for an insurer, the Act requires the insurer to notify the producer of record for any affected consumer residing in this state who accessed services through an independent insurance producer of the occurrence of such event not later than the time at which notice is provided to such consumer, provided the insurer has the current producer of record information for such individual consumer.
Hinshaw & Culbertson – Consumer Crossroads | Another Cybersecurity Wake Up Call: Connecticut Insurance Department Issues Guidance on Cyber Law Set to go Into Effect
COVID Legislation. Notifying Workers of Exposure.
The State: California
The Legislation: AB (2020 | CA)
Supporters: Unions
Opponents: Business Groups
What would the bill do?
- require public & private employers to notify an employee within 24 hours of exposure to COVID
- imposes a fine up to $10,000 for failing to provide notification
- failure to notify is a misdemeanor
What kind of notification is required? “make every reasonable effort necessary to notify workers verbally”
What provision is most controversial? The bill’s ‘name and shame’ provision that requires state agencies to post on their websites company-specific coronavirus exposure information
Governing | California Bill Would Notify Workers of COVID Exposure
1st State Adopts Google Apple COVID Tracing App
Virginia became the 1st state to implement a COVID tracing app from Apple and Google
What did the Governor clarify?
- “Now, I want you all to listen to this very closely. I want to be clear, this app, Covidwise, does not — I will repeat that — does not track or store your personal information. It does not track you at all,”
How does it work? A person who tests positive may opt to anonymously notify the app to notify people who have been in their proximity
What data is used for notification? Bluetooth which means that the app dfoesn’t know where you are it only knows that you have been within a certain distance of another bluetooth device.
AP | Virginia first to roll out pandemic app from Apple, Google
+1 City Adding Internet for All
Add New Orleans to the cities adding citywide internet access to help students.
Where will New Orleans offer internet to help students with online classes this fall?
- rec centers
- parks
How will citywide internet access work? it will piggyback off city-owned fiber-optic cables
Is there a win for the city in addition to providing internet access to the estimated 30% of students who do not have access?
Yes, the city can use the internet access for traffic patterns or to determine whether streets are flooded
Governing | New Orleans Will Pilot Citywide Internet Access Program
BLM. Tech Companies + Diversity & Inclusion In Vendors.
Which tech companies are joining forces to improve diversity & inclusion?
- SurveyMonkey
- 23andMe
- Age of Learning (creator of ABCmouse)
- Box
- Chime
- Eventbrite
- Genesys
- HeadspaceI
- Intuit
- Leaf Group
- PagerDuty
- Slack
- Tile
- Tinder
- Upwork
- Zoom
What are these companies looking for in their vendors?
- representation of women in employees, leadership team, and board of directors
- representation of racial minorities in employees, leadership team, and board of directors
- representation of LGBTQ individuals within a vendor’s employee base, leadership team, and board of directors
How will diversity & inclusion be measured? By simple survey
COVID. Local TREND. Guaranteed Internet Access for all Students.
The City: Philadelphia, PA
What is Philadelphia promising students? Every student will have internet access (tools to access digital learning)
What partnership is necessary to achieve this goal? A partnership between the city, district officials, and internet service providers
What are some considerations to make this a reality?
- opening parts of school buildings, as well as city recreation centers and libraries
- providing child care for families who need it
- Meals and mental health services will be available to all students
Philadelphia Inquirer via Governing | Philadelphia Promises Internet Access for All Students by Fall
BLM +1 City Prohibiting Facial Recognition Software
Add Portland, Maine to the list of governmental entities prohibiting the use of facial recognition software.
Will the city permit lawsuits against city employees who violate the prohibition? No
Portland Herald Press via Governing | Maine’s Biggest City Decides to Ban Facial Recognition Tech
COVID Cares Act + Broadband Expansion
What are the competing interests in Cares Act funding of broadband projects?
- CARES Act is short-term funding response to COVID
- Broadband expansion is a long-term planning
- CARES Act requires that broadband projects be operational by Dec 31st to be funded
Which states are in this quagmire? Vermont, Alabama, Iowa, and New Hampshire
AP | States eager to expand broadband, wary of CARES Act deadline
COVID Tech Changes to Stay in Courts
The Courts keeping technology it relied on during DOVID: Ohio Court System
Why do Ohio Courts want to keep the technology changes from COVID?
- Judges realized the courts were actually behind in terms of technology
- They see the potential for ease & efficiency in the technology
- Webinar parenting classes were successful
Akron Beacon Journal via Governing | Ohio Courts Technology Upgrades Will Stay Post-Pandemic
California’s Blockchain Working Group Report
Recommendations for blockchain state implementation:
At the Department of Motor Vehicle:
- digital wallet for individual identification
- building a common blockchain platform for tracking a vehicle’s lifecycle
- creating a fine-grained security structure for sharing driver records across states
At the Department of Food & Agriculture
- To trace the source of food-borne contamination by collecting and organizing data from growers, transporters, wholesalers and retailers to locate products in the distribution system to speed recall and consumer notification
Move the State Archives online.
Recommendations for Blockchain industry:
- Offer incentives to blockchain companies that have an environmental sustainability plan or impact statement
- Industry should help the state develop blockchain policies and standards
California’s Blockchain Working Group Report to the Legislature
Meet the Texas Blockchain Council
Who are members of Texas Blockchain Council?
Hedera Hasgraph
Unchained capital
Ripple
A Real blockchain solution
Crestline Solutions
Foley
Kilroy Blockchain
Arski Tech
Vertalo
Austin Blockchain Collective
Dallas Baptist University
Houston Blockchain Alliance
Hyland
Vercey
Trammell Venture Partners
Mercintelli Healthcare Solutions
Interaxis
McCullough Sudan
HoneyComb Digital Investments
The goal: For Texas to become the top jurisdictions for U.S.-based blockchain businesses and investments
@txblockchain1
Cointelegraph | US State of Texas Saddles Up to Become the Next Blockchain Capital
+1 Country Adopts Collectible Bitcoin nationally
The country: Lithuania in coordination with the Lithuanian Bank
The name of Lithuania’s bitcoin? LBCOIN
What will a national bitcoin effectively be like? A credit card but Baltic & new
The numbers:
- €19.18 present value
- 4,000 collectable Independence currencies made by Lithuania
- 24,000 gatherer tokens
COVID partnership. Universities and health officials.
What partnership has emerged between health officials and universities? Utilizing university students as contact tracers
Where is this coming to fruition? Marin County, California in partnership with Dominician University & utilizing a contact tracing course from Johns Hopkins Univeristy
Route 50 | A Government-University Partnership to Train Students as Contact Tracers
COVID. Public Education Data Security Scrutiny
Who knows when in person school starts, but let’s face it before COVID schools relied more on technology. Technology that regulators can protect and used by children who regulators can protect. It is a regulatory free for all.
Leave it to the federal government to get to work. Congress is considering:
- the National Cyber Director Act that creates the federal cybersecurity director to oversee cybersecurity regulations nationwide
- PROTECT Act that will develop the cybersecurity skills of students in elementary and secondary schools
Why does this sound familiar? InfoHive subscribers will recall our easily digestible summary of the the Cyberspace Solarium Commission recommendations, including Cybersecurity Lessons from the Pandemic, released in May.
EdWeek | Congress Heightens Emphasis on K-12 Cybersecurity During COVID-19
COVID Contact Tracing Privacy Concerns
- North Dakota’s COVID contact tracing app collected GPS data that was being sold to FourSquare
- Apple & Google contact tracing tech is relying on blue tooth technology and not GPS
- 71% of Americans have said that they would not use a contact-tracing app
- Kansas passed emergency legislation prohibiting contact tracing that uses cellphone location data to identify or track individuals
State Scoop | Privacy concerns have states taking it slow on contact tracing apps
Legislative TREND. Laws against weak passwords
Where: The UK
What? UK wants to reign in hacking, especially hacking of the internet of things, like your thermostat that could come with a preset password like hello, by prohibiting weak passwords.
Anatomy of North Carolina’s Data Security Bill
The North Carolina Legislation: HB 904 (2019-2020 | NC)
The goal: Protect the personally identifiable information of North Carolina residents- even if the business is located elsewhere
What requirements are on businesses? reasonable security procedures must be in place + 30 day notification requirements after discovery of a breech
This legislation also rolls in Equifax response legislation of free credit freezes & notification to all credit reporting agencies of freezes.
WRAL Tech Wire | States enacting protections against data breaches – here’s what NC is proposing
COVID Greets Emerging Technologies + New Regulations
The COVID reality has bestowed attention on these emerging technologies:
- thermal imaging is being bought by private industry & governments to measure temperatures
- social distance measuring tools, mostly from cellphone data
- delivery robots
- drones
Government Technology | Pandemic Acts as Trial Run for Many Emerging Technologies
Can a cryptocurrency transfer be traced?
When verified twitter accounts were held by hackers last week, questions emerged about crypto currency transactions. Here’s how our recollection was refreshed:
Crytocurrency transactions are irreversible
Cryptocurrency transactions are virtually untraceable
State Agency Innovation: a state grant portal
The state agency: California State Library
The grant portal: the California Grants Portal, more than 100 grants totaling more than $17 billion
What kind of information can be searched? applicant type, grant category, and timeframe for application deadlines
What grant categories are included? environment and water; disadvantaged communities; education; health and human services; housing, community, and economic development; libraries, parks, recreation and arts; disaster prevention and relief; and science, technology and research and development.
The legislation creating the grant portal: AB2252 (2018 | CA)
Government Technology | What’s New in Civic Tech: California Creates Grants Portal
BLM. Banning Facial Recognition Software in a Police Reform Bill.
Where: Massachusetts
The legislation: S2800 (2020 | MA)
How would the bill impact facial recognition and biometric software?
- Temporarily bans the state’s use of the software
- Prohibits a government agency, office, department, commission, bureau, agent or contractor from acquiring, possessing or accessing any form of biometric surveillance
- Creates a special commission to study the use of facial recognition by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies
Government Technology | Massachusetts Police Reform Bill Could Ban Facial Recognition
Legislation to Exempt BitCoin from Ad Valorem Taxation
Where: Alabama
What: HB 177 (2020 | AL)
Include a constitutional amendment? Yes
Legislative TREND. Control Over Personal Data.
Which states have given residents control over the data collected about them? States that have adopted California’s Consumer Privacy Act
How can residents have control over their data under this legislation?
• Residents can know whether and why businesses collect and share your data.
• You can access your collected personal information.
• You can delete your collected data.
• You can opt out of the sale of your personal information.
• If you are under 16 years old, be explicitly protected from having businesses sell your information without your consent.
How do business websites comply with this?
- Pop up windows about the use of cookies with consent /opt out of tracking
- Access to an email contact that will help you exercise your rights
- Available downloadable form or a toll-free phone number to submit your privacy requests
- Responses within 10 days, & 45 days to complete your request
Which state agency has regulatory authority? The California Attorney General
San Francisco Chronicle | How to exercise your online privacy rights in California
BLM Data solution for pay and promotion disparities
Where: New Mexico
What: HB 15 (2020 | NM)
- Defines institutional racism
- Requires all state agencies to assess their anti-institutional racism policies in hiring, promotion, retention, pay equity, community engagement and workplace participation
- Requires the collection of data to track progress toward ending institutional racism
- Adopts statewide evaluation of race and gender gaps in hiring, promotion, retention, and pay and institute an action plan for rectifying inequities in hiring, promotion, retention, and pay
Anatomy of a Public Private Cyber Security Center
Who is proposing a public private cyber security center? U.S. Appropriation Committee wants to add one to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency budget
What would the partnership look like?
- $11.6 million funding to establish a new Joint Cyber Center for National Cyber Defense
- Establish a Joint Cyber Planning Cell to coordinate planning and readiness across government and industry
- Follows Cyberspace Solarium Commission recommendations
- (InfoHive subscribers can find a history of these recommendations summarized in quick bits in the InfoHive archive)
FCW | House’s DHS funding bill would create public-private cyber center
New Kid on the Block. Privacy Bee.
A new day. A new way to protect personal data. Meet Privacy Bee.
What does Privacy Bee do? “remove users’ data en masse from thousands of databases across the Internet”
What role do data scrubbing companies fill?
- the US has no strong national data protection laws
- the US is a developed country with no Data Protection Agency (most do)
ZDNet | Privacy Bee scrubs your personal data from companies to reduce your risk of identity theft
BLM Legislation. Legislative Caucus Opposition to Facial Recognition Software
Where: Michigan
The Caucus: Michigan Legislative Black Caucus
Where is the ban on facial recognition software being attached? A police reform bill
Why the opposition?
- data shows software misidentifies Blacks and POC
Detroit Free Press via Governing | Black Lawmakers Call for Ban of Police Facial Recognition
New Kid on the Block: PropTech
What are examples of prop tech?
- planning
- real-estate development companies improve labor efficiency & reduce overhead with digital platforms like LegalZoom, QuickBooks and Google Drive
- Citybldr to clarify land title issues
- Coda Compliance streamlines entitlement — the process of obtaining government permissions for a property’s specific use
- construction
- 3-D-printed prefab materials
- marketing
- Matterport cameras to offer virtual touring of units
- Latch smart door locks that allow self-guided in-home tours
- sale and rent of homes and commercial property
- for the management and maintenance of buildings
- digital dashboards to monitor and operate indoor utilities
Local government policy issues:
- is the data transparent?
- is the data tractable?
Governing | Why Local Governments Should Nurture the Growth of Proptech
Local Government Keeps Facial Recognition.
What local governmental entity has one of the longest running facial recognition software programs? Tampa Florida’s Pinella County
Has the software been used to identify protestors? No
What would cause the Sheriff to stop using the facial recognition software? Regulations
Tampa Bay Times via Governing | Tampa Has No Plans to Discontinue, Pause Facial Recognition
BLM Local TREND. Banning Predictive Policing.
First came local bans on facial recognition software.
Now, Santa Cruz, California is banning predictive policing.
What’s predictive policing? An algorithm that uses crime data to predict where crime is most likely to occur in the future
Arguments against the use of crime data for predictive policing:
- cements biased police practices
- disproportionately impact minority residents
- “put officers in conflict with communities” – Santa Cruz Police Chief
Santa Cruz Sentinel via Governing | Santa Cruz, Calif., Becomes First to Ban Predictive Policing
Anatomy of a Cybersecurity Bill for Autonomous Vehicles
The legislation: The Security and Privacy in Your Car S2182 (116th Congress)
What does the legislation require?
- Establish standards to guarantee cybersecurity in computerized vehicles
- Protect users’ privacy
- Establish a “cyber dashboard,” a rating system about a vehicle’s performance capabilities
- The Federal Highway Administration would develop a “cybersecurity tool,” to identify, detect, safeguard and respond to cybersecurity concerns
Transport Topics | Democratic Senators Raise Cybersecurity Concerns About Autonomous Vehicles
Legislative TREND. Mandating Encryption and Tech Companies
The legislative proposal: The Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act
What would the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee ask of Tech Companies? “end to “warrant-proof” encryption that’s disrupted criminal investigations”
What does this mean in practical terms? Requires tech companies to help law enforcement access encrypted data if their help would assist in carrying out a warrant
Is this the same as a backdoor into encrypted devices? Almost, but no, it is not the same
What else does the bill do? The Attorney General can create a competition for who can devise a way to access encrypted data while protecting privacy and security
CNET | Republicans push bill requiring tech companies to help access encrypted data
Legislative TREND. Banning TikTok
Where: New York
The legislation: So8600 (2020 | NY)
What limitations would be placed on TikTok? it could not be placed on any government owned device
Why ban Tiktok?
- data privacy concerns
- accusations it censors content critical of the Chinese government
Have there been other TikTok bans? Yes
- federal agencies including the State Department & Homeland Security
- The U.S. House passed an amendment to ban Tiktok
- A Republican U.S. Senator is also proposing legislation
Times union | Bill would ban TikTok from state-issued devices
Local Scooter Data = Federal Lawsuit. Who. What. Where. Why.
Who is suing over locally collected scooter data? ACLU
Where is this happening? Los Angeles
What data is in dispute? Data collected by Mobility Data Specification (MDS), developed by LADOT and a private-sector consultant that collects trip data
Why is this important to businesses & government?
- need clear data privacy rules. Privacy advocates want privacy protections and anonymized data
- need to document policy decisions tied to data collection. The lawsuit concerns whether there is a policy connection derived from the data collection
Governing | Los Angeles DOT in Federal Lawsuit over Scooter Data
BLM Legislation: Tracking Local Surveillance Methods
The Local Government: New York City
The legislation to shine light on surveillance methods: The POST Act
What steps would law enforcement have to take under the POST Act?
- Requires police to inventory & publicize all of the surveillance devices that they use
- Requires a “surveillance impact and use” policy, or privacy policy, that creates guidelines for data collection and protection
- Requires an annual audit by the Office of the NYPD Inspector General
Which cities are model cities for transparency & oversight? Oakland and Seattle
Government Tech | New Legislation Could Mean Oversight of NYPD Spy Tools
Tech Startup. Using Property Records to Find Unclaimed Tax Exemptions.
How does The Exemption Project identify un-utilized tax exemptions?
- Offers county governments an online portal and data service
- The data service identifies unqualified and unclaimed exemptions on tax rolls
- it’s like homestead exemption auditing
- By processing a county’s tax roll through more than 80 data sets that aren’t stuck at 1 single point in time
Why was the project created? 2 government data experts wanted to create a project that was socially responsible
Gov Tech Biz | Startup Aims to Modernize the Property Tax Exemption Audit
States Considering California Style Data Privacy Legislation
- Iowa SF 2351 (2020 | IA)
- Washington
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Nebraska
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Illinois
- South Carolina
- Mississippi
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
- New Hampshire
- Hawaii
States that have enacted California style data privacy laws: California, Nevada, Maine
COVID Data Privacy Issues
Contact Tracing.
- Unpopular among Americans
- Concern from tech companies about implementation while protecting privacy
Governing | Contact Tracing Apps Aren’t Going to Solve the Pandemic
COVID testing and data privacy
- Community testing centers in Florida were collecting social security numbers at testing sites
- Testing labs have no healthcare experience, and thus, no experience with HIPPA
Governing | Florida Residents Worry COVID-19 Tests Risk Personal Data
BLM Legislation. Moratorium on Facial Recognition Software
Where: New Jersey
What legislation is New Jersey considering? A4211 (2020 | NJ)
What will A4211 do? Prohibit the use of biometric recognition software by law enforcement
Why? Biometric software (facial recognition software) has been pulled by developers for its potential to contribute to racial profiling
COVID Funds + Broadband Service. Anatomy of a Auction Program.
Who is awarding broadband funding? The FCC
How much funding will be awarded? $16 billion
When will the funds be available? The FCC will commence the auction on Oct. 29
Could broadband under this auction be delivered by satellite? Yes. “SpaceX is developing a low latency, broadband internet system using low Earth orbit satellites.”
Reuters | FCC awarding up to $16 billion to address U.S. areas lacking broadband service
This week in Facial Recognition Software
Amazon halted sale of its facial recognition software to police forces for the next year.
CNET | Amazon announces one-year pause on police use of its facial recognition tech
Microsoft & IBM cease selling their facial recognition software
Massachusetts faces stronger calls for statewide prohibition of facial recognition software.
Governing | Call to Ban Mass. Facial Recognition Grows Amid Protests
Key Legislation to Bring BroadBand to Rural Areas
Where: Mississippi
What legislation has closed the internet divide and brought broadband to rural areas? Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act, HB 366 (2019 | MS), allowing electric cooperatives to offer broadband service
How can Electric Co-ops offer broadband?
- by establishing, acquiring and wholly or partially owning 1+ broadband affiliates
- co-ops can create a separate entity that provides and sells broadband service
What gap in service is being filled? traditional internet providers aren’t providing accessible service in rural areas
Governing | Mississippi’s ‘Broadband Revolution’ Picks Up Speed
Paper Ballots + Electronic Voting = Election Security?
Say you’re a state that replaced its former electronic voting system with electronic voting systems that also produce a paper ballot.
What 2 data security issues still exist?
- The electronic voting systems could still be connected to the internet (hackable)
- The paper ballot requires the voter to check that their votes are correctly recorded. Will voters do that? Would you do that?
Governing | Georgia Bolsters Election Security with Upgraded Technology
Lege TREND. Protecting Seniors from COVID Scams
The legislation: Protecting Seniors from Emergency Scams Act S 3824 (116th Congress)
What does S3824 require to protect seniors from COVID scams?
- FTC will track senior scams & list them on their website
- FTC will provide seniors guidance on avoiding scams
Supporters of this legislation: AARP, the Elder Justice Coalition, the American Society on Aging, and the National Adult Protective Services Association
The Hill | Senators introduce bill to protect seniors from coronavirus scams
COVID Era Hacking of Water Facility
Where: Israel
Which parts of Israeli water facilities were hacked? water pumping stations and treatment plants
What portion of these plants were targeted? control systems
What did the head of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate say? “The coronavirus pandemic has reaffirmed that hackers are unwilling to refrain from attacking critical infrastructure.”
Cyberscoop | Israeli official confirms attempted cyberattack on water systems
New Tech. Face Blurring Software Goes Mainstream.
Which company is offering face blurring services? Signal, an encrypted messaging app
Which photos can have faces blurred? any photos are shared on the app
What else is Signal Foundation doing? Seeking a manufacturer to make physical face coverings for demonstrators free of charge
Cyberscoop | Signal wants to protect protesters’ privacy with new face-blurring feature
Data Security Standards Amended for COVID
Who is amending their data security recommendations? Cyberspace Solarium Commission
What is the Cyberspace Solarium Commission? A bicameral, bipartisan organization with co-chairs, Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin). Its 14 Commissioners include 4 legislators, 4 senior executive agency leaders, and 6 nationally recognized experts from outside of government
What are the new COVID recommendations ?
- Pass an IoT law: The law would subject IoT devices to “reasonable security measures” and compliant with basic security protocols
- Think about medical devices that can be hacked
- IoT= internet of things (connected devices from lamps to pace makers)
- Collaborate with trusted nonprofits that are capable of and flexible enough to disrupt cybercrime
- Establish the Social Media Data and Threat Analysis Center
- Increase nongovernmental ability to find and defense against foreign misinformation campaigns
CIO | Commission amends cyber recommendations to reflect COVID-19 vulnerabilities
Business TREND. Subscription Services.
Who is moving into subscription services? Tesla
How is Tesla moving into a subscription service?
- By adding software subscriptions to its app
- By moving autonomous driving to a subscription service
What do financial analysts think of subscription services?
- Tesla will be the only auto manufacturer fully monitoring its software
- The market has an appreciation for this emerging revenue stream
Electrek | Tesla going into software subscription service could become big business
Meet the New Kid on the Block: North Texas Innovation Alliance Consortium
Who are the 21 Founding Members of the North Texas Innovation Alliance Consortium?
Addison, Allen, Arlington, Coppell, Corinth, Dallas, Dallas County, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas Innovation Alliance, Dallas Regional Chamber, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Frisco, Garland, Irving, McKinney, McKinney Economic Development Corporation, North Texas Commission, North Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), Plano, Richardson, and the Texas Research Alliance.
What are its goals?
- Create the most connected, smart, and resilient region in the country
- Solve “pressing challenges to improve quality of life, inclusive economic development, and increase resource efficiency through the use of data, technology and community”
- Establish strategic advisory committees to tackle complex topics including data standards and privacy, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, financial models and procurement
Think Tank Policy Push State Laws to Limit Biometric Data
Where: Utah
The think tank: Libertas Institute
What does the Libertas Institute propose Utah Legislature pass?
- Create a new office of citizens’ privacy
- Led by the State Privacy Officer & a Personal-Privacy Oversight Committee
- Create standards for related laws, technology use and data security
- Inform citizens of their rights concerning their data
- Train government employees on best practices and civil liberty concerns
- Surveillance-reform legislation
Biometric Update.com | Anti-government nonprofit wants to rebalance biometrics law in Utah
3 Reasons Bitcoin Miners Heading to Oil Country
- The industry is expected to return to profitability in 2020
- Bitcoin miners can upload energy to the grid with bitcoin energy storage solutions
- They’re open to working with grid operators to switch off mining in peak times in exchange for lower rates
OilPrice.com | Why Bitcoin Miners Should Head To Oil Country
Data Security Risks + Chemical Plants
What: A newly released Government Office of Accountability report highlights the need for more cybersecurity at chemical plants
Why?
- outdated systems.
- There have been no upgrades to cybersecurity protocols in 10+ years
- no inspector oversight.
- There is no tracking of the cybersecurity knowledge of inspectors at chemical plants + training standards
- cyber integration.
- Better track facilities’ cyber integration levels
The Hill | Federal watchdog finds chemical facilities vulnerable to cyberattacks
Small Texas Town Welcomes Bitcoin Miners
Where: Rockdale, Texas
Why did Rockdale attract bitcoin miners? Rockdale was home to the country’s largest smelting operation, which has ceased its operations
What local governmental entities worked to recruit bitcoin miners? Rockdale Municipal Development District
Governing | A Small Town in Texas Turns to Bitcoin Mining to Survive
New COVID Tracing Tracker
Who developed this COVID tracing tracker? MIT
What is a Covid Tracing Tracker? “a database to capture details of every significant automated contact tracing effort around the world”
Why?
- No single, standard approach by developers and policymakers
- Radically different levels of surveillance and transparency
- No one was tracking all the methods
How many countries are using tracers? 23. You can see their methods here.
Texas Court System: Bonjour, Ransomware
The Texas Court sites impacted by a ransomware attack:
- Texas Supreme Court
- Texas appellate courts
- Office of Court Administration
When did the attack occur? May 8, 2020, during the overnight hours
What may have limited the attack? Disabling the branch network including websites and servers to prevent further harm
Was a ransom paid? No
CISO Mag | Texas Court Systems Affected by Ransomware Attack
More Data on COVID numbers legislative trend
Where: Massachusetts
The legislation: S2695 (2020 | MA)
What COVID data does the legislature want public?
- Daily data on resident and staff COVID-19 cases at state licensed facilities
- long-term care facilities
- skilled nursing facilities
- assisted living residences
- Daily reports on the number of cases and fatalities among inmates and staff at all correctional facilities
- staff cases would be listed by occupation to guide better training
- Daily number of people tested for the virus
- number who test positive within 24 hours
- including demographics: gender, race, place of residence, age, disability status, & primary language
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