As the EU general data protection regulation nears its second anniversary May 25, privacy officials said this month the law is working well, but they need more resources. It's of "utmost importance" national governments fund data protection authorities (DPAs) effectively, European Data Protection Board Chair Andrea Jelinek said. Priorities for the third year include more intensive work on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, plus guidance on the implications of COVID-19 for data protection, said EDPB's annual report, issued Monday.
The House Homeland Security Committee will focus more on encryption and locked phones, House Intelligence and Counterterrorism Subcommittee Chairman Max Rose, D-N.Y., said Wednesday. During a subcommittee webcast, he said he doesn’t “love” the idea of terrorists communicating through encrypted platforms and police not having immediate access to such an alleged criminal's phone after an attack.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology should develop metrics and measurements to guide the cybersecurity framework (see 1909270056), said Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., Tuesday. The framework has helped organizations assess cyber risks, but it must be a “living document,” she told the Information Technology Industry Council. NIST didn’t comment.
LG sees many automotive applications on the ATSC 3.0 road map, John Taylor, senior vice president-public affairs and communications, told a CTA-NAB webinar Monday. “The automotive makers that we’re speaking to” see big opportunities for 3.0 in “backseat entertainment” and the technology’s “one-to-many architecture,” he said.
Recent changes to Congress’ operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are getting a mixed response from lawmakers and experts amid questions about implications. The House agreed 217-189 Friday to change its rules to temporarily allow proxy voting and virtual participation in committee business. Senate leaders resist allowing remote or proxy voting in that chamber, but the Rules Committee recently agreed to let senators and witnesses appear via webcam. Those changes followed almost two months in which legislating on telecom and tech issues was severely disrupted (see 2003130073).
EU rules on liability of online intermediaries shouldn't change under upcoming draft legislation, some stakeholders said. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is intended to update the 2000 EU e-commerce directive, which set minimum liability standards for internet intermediaries and established "safe harbor" exemptions. Although work on the proposal is in an early stage, digital rights activists and some European Parliament members urge retaining the safe harbor provisions. The European Commission told us it intends to unveil a proposal for consultation in coming weeks, and a draft measure "later this year."
The Senate passed the USA Freedom Reauthorization Act 80-16 Thursday. The House will now reconsider the bill (see 2005130056) with an amendment from Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
The Senate failed to approve an amendment, 59-37, that would have banned warrantless searches of browsing and internet search data under Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Offered by Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., the amendment fell one vote short of 60 votes required to pass, with 10 Democrats and 27 Republicans voting against.
Facebook should take a hands-off approach to content moderation, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr told us in arguing the company's new oversight board injects political bias and lets the platform avoid responsibility. Carr criticized the board in a series of tweets, calling it Facebook "speech police" and arguing most members have left-leaning bias. Facebook and several board members didn’t comment Tuesday.
Chairman Joe Simons suggested the FTC is examining Zoom’s privacy practices in light of COVID-19 concerns (see 2005070044). During a Monday teleconference with the House Consumer Protection Subcommittee, Simons didn’t directly link the company to any specific agency effort but said the agency monitors major events in the news media. “If you’re reading about it in the press, then you can be assured that either we’re looking at it already, or if we’re not, we will as a result of that media attention,” he responded to questions from Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif., about Zoom. The company didn’t comment.