May 2019

Beyond the Ballot: How the Kremlin Works to Undermine the U.S. Justice System

The US justice system is under attack as part of a long-term Russian effort to undermine the appeal of democracy and weaken the West. Via multi-platform disinformation opera­tions, Kremlin-backed operatives work to exacerbate existent divisions within populations and increase overall mistrust and paranoia against democratic institutions. In the process, justice systems are portrayed as corrupt, inept, and hypocritical. This report describes the nature of this threat and proposes measures for countering it.

Next Up for House Democrats

As the House Commerce Commerce settles in after the latest recess, Telecommunication Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) has been talking up Democrats’ near-term tech and telecom policy plans. He and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) both reaffirmed their plans to soon bring in Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission commissioners before their respective subpanels for separate hearings (the telecom panel was eyeing May 15 for an FCC oversight hearing).

Sponsor: 

Department of Justice

Date: 
Thu, 05/02/2019 - 18:30 to Fri, 05/03/2019 - 18:00

The Department of Justice will hold a public workshop on May 2 and 3, 2019 to explore industry dynamics in media advertising and the implications for antitrust enforcement and policy, including merger enforcement. The workshop will cover the different types of television and online advertising, and it will highlight, among other developments in the industry, the role of online and mobile advertising networks.



White House has signaled it may seek permanent renewal of controversial surveillance power

Apparently, the Trump administration has signaled in recent weeks that it may seek the permanent renewal of a surveillance law that has, among other things, enabled the National Security Agency to gather and analyze Americans’ phone records as part of terrorism investigations. The White House was prepared to issue a public statement calling on Congress to reauthorize in full Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which in the past has been the focus of heated debate over the acceptable bounds of government surveillance.