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COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY - page 6

Rep. Lofgren Warns of “Big Fight” Looming In Congress Over Encryption

One of the staunchest defenders of digital rights on Capitol Hill rallied allies for a battle in Congress over secure communications technology. Addressing a “Crypto Summit” hosted by the Washington-based technology group Access, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) on Wednesday criticized members of the law enforcement community who are pushing policies she has been fighting—mandated pathways to encrypted communications, which she called “technologically unfeasible.” “Even if a backdoor is created with the best of intentions, it’s only a matter of time before a hacker finds and… Keep Reading

Comey Changes Gameplan in Crusade Against Encryption, Backs Off Legislative Ask

FBI Director James Comey paid a visit to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to continue his campaign against encryption. Unlike four months ago, however, he’s no longer asking lawmakers for a “legislative fix.” “There has not yet been a decision whether to seek legislation,” Comey said before the committee, in an opening statement. He testified alongside Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates. He reiterated later in the day, during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, that the FBI is not seeking to “impose a one… Keep Reading

In Bid To Embarrass Obama Appointee, McConnell Underestimates Federal Cyber Insecurity

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) took to the floor of the upper house on Wednesday to declare that the massive data breach at the Office of Personnel Management was strictly an agency “management problem”—a claim that’s belied systemic digital weaknesses looming over all federal IT systems. McConnell accused OPM Director Katherine Archuleta of “world-class buck passing” on Wednesday, claiming that testimony she gave before a Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday projected a “complete lack of accountability and urgency.” A number of lawmakers have come… Keep Reading

After One Congressman Warns of Encrypted “Dark Spaces” Another Says: “Ooooh It Sounds Really Scary”

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul called the use of encrypted communication a “tremendous threat to the homeland” on Wednesday. At a hearing called “Terrorism Gone Viral,” about possible lone-wolf terrorists, the Texas Republican warned: “They have the ability to go on to what’s called ‘dark space’ — to go on to another platform that is ‘secure-com’ that we don’t have the ability to monitor these communications.” Read more of this article at The Intercept. Keep Reading

Congress Still Skeptical About Giving Law Enforcement Encryption Backdoor

Unmoved by pleas from the administration, lawmakers appear resolute in their unwillingness to consider weakening privacy technology proliferating in the wake of revelations about government spying. “It’s impossible to build backdoor just for the good guys,” Rep. Jason Chaffetz, one of a number of skeptics of the executive branch said during an oversight subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, featuring witness testimony from the private sector, academic arena, and law enforcement. “If someone at the Genius Bar can figure it out, so can the bad guys in… Keep Reading

AT&T Net Neutrality-Related Deceptive Marketing Case to Proceed

A federal judge in San Francisco on Tuesday allowed a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit against AT&T to proceed, ruling that the telecoms giant’s controversial “throttling” practice is subject to a legal challenge on the grounds of deceptive marketing practices. Ninth Circuit District Judge Edward Chen noted that other issues with the so-called “network management” technique under review as a result of the recent Obama administration policy shift on Net Neutrality are irrelevant. The case, he said, has to do with smartphone customers’ awareness of their… Keep Reading

Tor Users Beware: D.O.J. Advances Rule that Could Crack Them Open to U.S. Spooks

An obscure rule change to Department of Justice criminal procedures quietly advanced through the agency on Monday, despite concerns that it will drastically increase the FBI’s power to pry into computers of individuals who have not been accused of doing anything wrong. In an 11-1 vote, the Judicial Conference Advisory Committee approved of changes to Rule 41, which centers on the power of judges to issue search warrants on electronic devices outside their jurisdiction. The rule change would allow law enforcement to hack into computers… Keep Reading

Along with Net Neutrality, FCC Endorses Internet “Public Option”

Shortly before the Federal Communications Commission passed rules protecting internet content access, it also approved of new safeguards for community broadband that could serve as a reliable “public option” style alternative to oligopolistic internet service providers (ISP). “You can’t say you’re for competition but deny local elected officials the right to offer competitive choices,” said FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, defending a proposal that partially overrules state laws in North Carolina and Tennessee that constrain community-run broadband infrastructure. The case dealt with two municipalities, Chattanooga, Tenn.,… Keep Reading

In Symbolic Video, Telecom Lobbyists Pay for Access – to Net Neutrality Hearing

Days before the Federal Communication Commission votes on new rules designed to protect internet access, a House hearing served as a reminder of just how rare the expected victory for Net Neutrality supporters is in a town beholden to the interests of deep-pocketed industry lobbyists. It’s actually what happened before Tuesday’s House Energy and Commerce hearing on internet regulations that highlighted the significance of the grassroots movement’s likely coming achievement. Video provided to The Sentinel by Demand Progress, a public interest organization calling for strong… Keep Reading

FCC Commissioners to Begin Poring Over Proposed Net Neutrality Rules This Week

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission announced on Wednesday that he would be distributing his proposal to ensure “Net Neutrality” to fellow commissioners this week, ahead of a formal vote later in the month. In an op-ed published in Wired, FCC chief Tom Wheeler said, “I am proposing that the FCC use its Title II authority to implement and enforce open internet protections.” Wheeler was referring to a mechanism authorized under of the Commutations Act that would give the FCC the ability to more… Keep Reading

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