Senate Republicans released an updated version (PDF) this week of their cybersecurity bill (S 3342), but the changes failed to assuage privacy advocates concerned about the bill's information sharing provisions. The Senators tightened the bill's language so the government can only use information shared for national security purposes, but privacy advocates say the changes don't address the heart of their concerns about the bill. They note companies are still not required to strip personal information from the data they share with the government, and argue the legislation would still allow the National Security Agency to collect data on Americans' Internet use.
While the bill attempts to ameliorate some of the privacy concerns outlined by third parties, it still doesn't place any requirements on critical infrastructure providers, the true sticking point of the debate in the upper chamber. Provisions comprehensive bill favored by the Senate and White House (S 2105) that would authorize DHS to regulate critical private networks has drawn fierce resistance from industry, and prompted Senate Republicans to offer their original legislation (S 2151) as an alternative. Talks have been underway to find a compromise on the issue, but this latest release of the GOP bill indicates those talks have yet to bear fruit. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has promised to bring cybersecurity legislation to the floor after recess. Whether he has the 60 votes he needs to pass a bill remains very much in doubt.
Democrats Want Transparency on Trade Talks: The drumbeat for more congressional access to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks got louder on Wednesday, as 132 House Democrats including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., signed a letter complaining about the White House's secretive negotiations. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle including House Oversight chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have complained about their lack of access to the talks, which could significantly change the way foreign companies are affected by U.S. laws. The issue is already drawing comparisons to SOPA and PIPA, because of the closed-door nature of the talks and rumors the Obama administration could expand the ability of copyright holders to go after infringing websites. VA Panel Approves Data Breach Measure: The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight approved a bill (HR 3730) on Wednesday that would require the VA to notify individuals of data breaches that might compromise their sensitive personal information. VA has had significant problems with major data breaches in the past, losing a pair of laptops in recent years that contained the personal information of millions of veterans. As a result, the department has begun tracking every single mobile device that it loses, including laptops and smartphones, and publishing that information online. Calls for a national data breach standard have amplified over the past year, but the details continue to hold up progress in Congress. Inspector General: DHS Needs to Secure Mobile Devices: A new report (PDF) from the DHS inspector general notes the increasing adoption of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices by DHS employees have opened up a new set of security risks that must be managed. The lack of consistent authentication procedures and other security precautions means outside actors have new methods of gaining inroads into the department's systems, which could attract a new level of malware. Federal technology officials are traditionally slower to react to changes in technology than their private sector counterparts, so the disruption is predictable, if inconvenient. Expect DHS to start working on new policies for smartphone and tablet users in the near future. Lawmakers Wants FTC to Probe Online Travel Agencies: Coming on the heels of reports earlier this week that the online travel agency Orbitz directs Mac users to more expensive hotels than PC users, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. asked the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday to take a closer look at how online advertisers use information collected to target ads and offers. Reed cited the privacy concerns of such targeting, and said consumers should be protected from being unfairly steered toward bad deals. He asks the FTC what the current regulations are in the area and what it is doing to ensure consumer information is being used appropriately. House Committee Says Cable Regs Need Updating: The rising popularity of Internet video has House lawmakers considering an overhaul of cable and broadcast laws, according to statements at yesterday's House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing on the future of video. Whether that means de-regulation or extending current rules to online companies remains unclear. Another issue that came up repeatedly was the implementation of data caps and metered pricing by the ISPs, who are often also the dominant cable providers in their local markets. Internet companies like Netflix argue the caps are anti-competitive and designed to hamstring competition to cable from online upstarts. The cable industry responded by arguing that online video actual builds demand for cable services. The ISPs have also argued that companies like Netflix are seeking to leverage their network without having invested in its creation or maintenance. Full Transcript of the House Future of Video Hearing here. T-Mobile CEO Resigns: T-Mobile USA CEO Philipp Humm resigned on Wednesday after two years in his position leading the wireless carrier. Chief operating officer Jim Alling will step in as interim CEO. The news comes months after the government blocked AT&T's $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile, leaving the company's future up in the air. Humm reportedly told T-Mobile he planned to leave to spend more time with his family, but several reports claim he will join an unnamed European competitor. At least one report named that company as Vodafone. While the failed AT&T takeover has left T-Mobile as the smallest of the four national wireless carriers, the company also received $3 billion in cash and $1 billion worth of spectrum from AT&T as a breakup fee. Still, parent company Deutsche Telekom claims it lacks the resources to deploy a 4G network nationwide, and is said to be courting merger opportunities. FCC Fines Comcast $800K: The FCC's Enforcement Bureau announced Wednesday that it has fined Comcast for violating a condition placed on its merger with NBC Universal. The commission adopted a consent decree that would extend the condition requiring Comcast to provide standalone broadband service for $49.95 without also purchasing a cable TV package for three years. The FCC contends Comcast didn't do enough to promote the option, and is forcing the company to provide the service for an additional year. Comcast also agreed to pay $800,000 as part of the agreement. FCC officials said the announcement was proof that companies must abide by the conditions placed on them during merger reviews.