ICD Brief 142.
08.07.2019.-14.07.2019.
Greetings from London. I’ve been meeting with colleagues in Paris and London all week. Last year’s more proactive activities regarding threats and innovations are producing this week’s top news.
USA
Lawmakers, Experts See Combating Russian Disinformation as a “Battle”
“House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) is describing the fight against Russian efforts to spread disinformation on social media as a conflict that the U.S. has “got to win.” The Hill
Joint Chiefs Nominee Wants to Boost Information Warfare
“The White House nominee to be the Pentagon’s top uniformed official said the Department of Defense needs to improve its non-kinetic capabilities.” C4isrnet
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Signals It Will Investigate NSA Surveillance, Facial Recognition, and Terror Watchlists Electronic Frontier Foundation
“After a long dormant stretch, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) has signaled it’s ready to tackle another big review of government surveillance and overreach. The PCLOB, an independent agency in the executive branch, last published a 2014 report on warrantless surveillance of the Internet by the U.S. intelligence community. While EFF welcomes the PCLOB’s efforts to bring oversight and transparency to the most controversial surveillance programs, we’ve disagreed with some of the Board’s findings, particularly on surveillance under FISA Section 702. So while it’s a good sign that the board is turning its attention to other major issues, its mixed history means it may be a little too soon to get your hopes up.”
Mayors Pass Resolution Against Paying Ransomware Ransoms
“Baltimore Mayor Jack Young announced on Wednesday that the U.S. Conference of Mayors has passed a resolution calling on cities not to pay ransom to hackers who have taken over government computer systems through cyberattacks.” Statescoop
Mozilla Blocks UAE Bid to Become an Internet Security Guardian after Hacking Reports Reuters
“Firefox browser maker Mozilla is blocking the United Arab Emirates’ government from serving as one of its internet security gatekeepers, citing Reuters reports on a UAE cyber espionage program.”
Small Business Cybersecurity Assistance Act Offers Training, Tools, and Resources SmallBizGenius
“If the Small Business Cybersecurity Assistance Act makes it through the Congress, U.S. small businesses will gain access to top-notch cybersecurity training, consulting, tools, and resources developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).”
NASCIO Endorses State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act
“The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) announced today that it endorsed S. 1846, the State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act of 2019.” Meritalk
New ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance Accelerates Education, Readiness, and Knowledge Sharing ISA
“The International Society of Automation (ISA), developer of ANSI/ISA 62443 series of automation and control systems cybersecurity standards (adopted by the International Electrotechnical Commission and endorsed by the United Nations), has created an open, collaborative forum to advance cybersecurity awareness, readiness, and knowledge sharing.”
Australia
Defence Gives Penten AU$2.2m to Up Australian Army’s Cyber Capability ZDNET
“Under the deal, Penten will develop technology that seeks to enhance the Australian Army’s capacity to send communications over unsecured networks. A statement from Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said funding has also been provided to help the Canberra-based startup develop a cyber-management capability and enhance security countermeasures.”
Baltics/Estonia
RIA Urges Residents to Pay Greater Attention to Data Protection
“In a press release published after reports that data security flaws have allowed outsiders to get access to the data of customers of some Estonian retailers and service providers, the Information System Authority (RIA) urged all individuals and businesses to take a serious approach to data protection.” Baltic Times
China
Second Chinese Cybersecurity Centre Opens in Brussels
“China’s ZTE is opening a cybersecurity centre in Brussels, four months after a similar move by Huawei. ZTE said in a press release that its “lab” will be installed “in the political and administrative heart of the European Union.” Brussels Times
EU
“The EU imposed record fines this week on British Airways and Marriott, in fact the largest fines under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which is just over one year old.”
France
France Passes Tax on Tech Giants Despite US Threats BBC
“France has approved a digital services tax despite threats of retaliation by the US, which argues that it unfairly targets American tech giants. The 3% tax will be levied on sales generated in France by multinational firms like Google and Facebook.”
Germany
German Banks Are Moving Away from SMS One-Time Passcodes
“Multiple German banks have announced plans to drop support for SMS-based one-time passcodes (OTP) as a login authentication and transaction verification method.” ZDNet
India
Businesses in India Tapping AI to Improve Cybersecurity
“Businesses in India are increasingly tapping the potential of artificial intelligence to defend themselves against cyberattacks, according to a new study by French consulting firm Capgemini Research Institute.” Fortune India
Israel
Israeli Firm Presents Its Anti-Terror Tech to High-Profile US Delegation
“A bipartisan delegation of US House members headed by Florida Representative Ted Deutch visited an Israeli cybersecurity company Cobwebs Technologies during their visit to Israel last week.” Jerusalem Post
Singapore
Coding Classes for Primary School Pupils to Be Rolled Out Next Year Channel News Asia
“The Government is taking steps to make sure that Singaporeans, both young and old, will have the fundamental skills and attributes to thrive in the digital age.”
UK
UK Businesses Face One Cyber-Attack Every 50 Seconds
“Businesses in the UK faced an average of 146,491 attempted cyber-attacks in the second quarter of 2019, according to an analysis from Beaming. This equates to one attack every 50 seconds, the highest level since Beaming started monitoring attacks in 2016.” SC Magazine
Feature
Former Heads of DHS and NSA Explain How the U.S. Can Keep Huawei at Bay
Michael Chertoff and Mike McConnell
- “Former DHS secretary Michael Chertoff and former NSA head Mike McConnell write for CNBC that Wednesday’s FCC spectrum upgrades are a positive step in 5G support, and bring us another step closer to a more connected internet of things.
- But the move also means the U.S. needs to expand it’s cyber industrial base as well as its cooperation with other countries beyond our four biggest allies, in order to avoid using products developed by companies including Huawei.”
Machine Politics: Europe and the AI Revolution
By: European Council on Foreign Relations
“Across Europe, governments are either writing or have already published national strategies on how best to support the development and application of AI. The European Union’s AI strategy, called the “Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence”, asks its member states to put in place national AI strategies or programmes by mid-2019. So far, at least seven EU member states – Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom – and the Nordic-Baltic region have published such strategies. At least ten others – Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Spain – are in the process of writing them. (…) The paper concentrates on two main issues. Firstly, it examines the role of European cooperation. (…) Secondly, the paper examines the extent to which their strategies deal with the role of AI in defence and security.”