Ali Breland
House Commerce Committee Leaders Demand Answers on Spectre and Meltdown Cyber Flaws
House Commerce Committee leaders are demanding answers from major technology companies affected by the Spectre and Meltdown cybersecurity flaws that leave computer chips vulnerable to hackers. In a letter, lawmakers pressed the CEOs of Intel, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, AMD and ARM to explain the need for an "information embargo" agreement between the companies to keep information on the cybersecurity vulnerabilities from the public.
Rep Schiff, Sen Feinstein are demanding to know if Russian trolls or bots have tried to ‘manipulate public opinion’ on Facebook and Twitter again
House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) are calling on Twitter and Facebook to launch investigations of potential Russian-linked accounts pushing for the release of a controversial congressional memo. Rep Schiff and Sen Feinstein sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey asking that they “provide a public report to Congress and the American public by January 26” on the matter.
Russian Twitter accounts pushing for release of 'shocking' surveillance memo
Russian-linked bots on Twitter are pushing for the House Intelligence Committee to release a classified report written by committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA). Some Republicans believe the report shows political bias in the FBI and the Department of Justice investigation of possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. #ReleaseTheMemo is the top trending hashtag among Twitter accounts believed to be operated by Kremlin-linked groups, according to Hamilton 68, a website which tracks Russian propaganda online.
Senate Intelligence Committee Still Waiting for Twitter’s Answers in Russia Probe, Sen Warner Says
The Senate Intelligence Committee is still waiting on Twitter to answer questions in the committee’s Russia investigation, Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) said. “I’m disappointed. I’ve been disappointed throughout this” by Twitter Inc.’s failure to be more cooperative Vice Chairman Warner said. “The other companies met the deadline." Facebook and Alphabet's Google have delivered answers to detailed questions Senators posed after a public hearing with the three technology giants in 2017 on disclosures that Russians had exploited their networks.
Critical computer flaws set up security challenge in Washington
Two critical vulnerabilities that affect modern computer processing chips are about to become a huge headache for governments worldwide. The vulnerabilities could allow hackers to pilfer sensitive data from virtually all modern computing devices, ranging from computers to smartphones to cloud infrastructure. Experts believe that they may be the most dangerous computer processor flaws to date.
Five regulatory fights facing tech in 2018
Here are five fights the tech world will be watching closely in 2018:
- Net neutrality
- Election transparency
- AT&T-Time Warner merger
- Cryptocurrency
- Sex-trafficking
Uncertainty high after repeal of net neutrality rules
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) vote to scrap net neutrality rules has sparked a vigorous debate about what comes next. The effects of the FCC’s policy change will not be clear for some time, experts say. “In the short term, little to nothing is going to be changing,” said Doug Brake, a policy analyst at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a nonpartisan technology focused think-tank. Gigi Sohn, a former policy adviser to past FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and current fellow at Georgetown Law’s New Institute for Technology Law and Policy, has been a vocal critic
Zero hour nears for net neutrality rules
The Federal Communications Commission is moving forward with a plan to scrap net neutrality rules, defying a massive outcry from activists, Democrats and consumers. “I think what net neutrality repealed would actually mean is we once again have a free and open internet,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show.
Democratic lawmakers push for stricter antitrust rules amid merger boom
Democrats are ramping up their attacks on major corporate mergers after a series of mega-deals from corporate giants. But Democrats aren’t just taking aim at the behemoth deals themselves: they’re looking at the specific government policies that permit them. Sen Elizabeth Warren
(D-MA) on directly attacked the Chicago school of economics — the principles that have significantly influenced how federal regulators evaluate mergers.
Democratic Sens question privacy, security of Facebook's 'Messenger Kids'
Sens Ed Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are questioning the privacy and security of Facebook’s new messaging app, which is designed for kids under 13, expressing their concerns in a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “We remain concerned about where sensitive information collected through this app could end up and for what purpose it could be used,” they wrote.