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N2K Networks

Join us for thought provoking conversations on surveillance, digital privacy, and cybersecurity law and policy in the information age. Each week, hosts Dave Bittner and Ben Yelin break down the headlines, legal cases, and policy battles that matter most.

Caveat

This week we are joined by Petra Molnar, Harvard faculty associate, lawyer and author of the newly released book "The Walls Have Eyes: Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," sharing how Big Tech and AI will enable Trump's immigration policies. Ben has an update on the effort to ban TikTok in the United States. Dave's got the story of the NYPD using city-wide surveillance to help catch the United Health Care CEO killer.
While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 
﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 
Links to the stories:

TikTok Faces U.S. Ban After Losing Bid to Overturn New Law

NYT on how law enforcement is using NYC's public camera system to try to find the Brian Thompson killer.

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Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Caveat Briefing, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to N2K Pro members on N2K CyberWire's website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.
This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of how a federal appeals court upheld a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a U.S. ban by January 19, 2025, citing national security concerns. TikTok, arguing the law violates First Amendment rights, plans to appeal to the Supreme Court amid ongoing debates over censorship, free speech, and foreign influence. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Living in the shadow of AI borders.

This week, we are joined by Casey Bleeker, CEO of SurePath AI, who is speaking with Ben Yelin on how AI/GenAI regulation could roll out in the US in 2025. Ben's story focuses on a Texas mother, after suing Character.ai after discovering that AI chatbots encouraged her son, who has autism, to self-harm and even suggested violence against his parents, sparking concerns over the safety of AI companions for children. Dave's story is on the Biden administration taking action in response to China’s incursions into U.S. telecoms. 
While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 
﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 
Links to the stories:

An AI companion suggested he kill his parents. Now his mom is suing.

Biden Administration Takes First Step to Retaliate Against China Over Hack

﻿Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox.
Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Caveat Briefing, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to N2K Pro members on N2K CyberWire's website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.
This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of how the European Commission has launched formal proceedings against TikTok over its alleged failure to prevent election interference, particularly during Romania's presidential vote in November. The investigation will examine TikTok's political advertising policies, content recommendation systems, and potential manipulation risks, with no set deadline for completion. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
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The year AI regulation hits the U.S.

Please enjoy this encore episode of Caveat.
Michael Razeeq, 2024 New America #SharetheMicinCyber Fellow, is discussing his research on the ways that laws governing civilian cyber corps (C3s) in states like Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, and others can help or hinder those organizations. Ben covers the groundbreaking anti-trust Court decision against Google. Dave looks at a new bill that would elevate ransomware to a terrorist threat. 
While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 
﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 
Links to the stories:

‘Google Is a Monopolist,’ Judge Rules in Landmark Antitrust Case

Intelligence bill would elevate ransomware to a terrorist threat

Caveat Briefing
A companion weekly newsletter is available CyberWire Pro members on the CyberWire's website. If you are a member, make sure you subscribe to receive our weekly wrap-up of privacy, policy, and research news, focused on incidents, techniques, tips, compliance, rights, trends, threats, policy, and influence ops delivered to you inbox each Thursday.
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Navigating laws for civilian cyber corps.

Please enjoy this encore episode of Caveat.
This week Dave shares a story on new documents revealing Jacobs Technology's role in equipping local law enforcement with advanced cell-site simulators (CSS), and discreetly integrating it into vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado. Ben shares the story of a bipartisan effort to penalize platforms for hosting harmful deepfakes. 
While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 
﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 
Links to the stories:

The Next Generation of Cell-Site Simulators is Here. Here’s What We Know.

Ted Cruz Wants Platforms To Be Liable for Deepfakes

Caveat Briefing
A companion weekly newsletter is available CyberWire Pro members on the CyberWire's website. If you are a member, make sure you subscribe to receive our weekly wrap-up of privacy, policy, and research news, focused on incidents, techniques, tips, compliance, rights, trends, threats, policy, and influence ops delivered to you inbox each Thursday.
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

High-tech tales of Law and Order.

Caleb Barlow is joining Ben and Dave to discuss executive protection and the intersection with cybersecurity. They dive into the recent killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and how it has alarmed corporate America, prompting companies to reassess security measures and protect executives amid concerns of copycat attacks. Security firms report a surge in requests for protection, as experts warn of increased risks tied to public outrage over "corporate greed" and the attention the crime has generated. While many firms are investing in extensive security measures, the costs and logistical challenges are significant, leaving smaller companies and less prominent executives particularly vulnerable.
While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 
﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 
Links to the stories:
Fear in the C-Suite after UnitedHealthcare CEO gunned down

﻿Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox.
Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Caveat Briefing, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to N2K Pro members on N2K CyberWire's website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.
This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of the U.S. Court of Appeals' striking down of the FCC's net neutrality rules, ending a nearly two-decade battle over regulating broadband providers as utilities. The court ruled that the FCC lacked authority to reinstate these rules, citing a recent Supreme Court decision, Loper Bright, which limits agency powers. While the decision concludes a contentious chapter in tech policy, it leaves state-level net neutrality laws intact and signals a potential call for federal legislative action. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cybersecurity’s role in safeguarding leadership.

This week on the show, Dave and Ben are excited to welcome N2K's very own Ethan Cook, a trusted policy expert, who will be joining regularly for a new segment. Starting this month, Ethan will be contributing every second week to dive deep into the world of law, privacy, surveillance, and more, offering insightful analysis on the latest policy stories.
While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 
﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 
Links to the stories:
US state-by-state AI legislation snapshot

Policy Deep Dive
In this Caveat Policy Deep Dive, our conversation and analysis revolves around antitrust policy. Throughout this conversation, we break down what the current antitrust landscape is and how this landscape may change as the incoming administration takes over. Some key aspects focused on during this conversation center on some of the key antitrust cases currently being pursued, such as the landmark Google antitrust case, and how the Trump administration may utilize, revise, or remove Biden's antitrust policies, as with the 2023 merger guidelines. 

﻿Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox.
Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Caveat Briefing, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to N2K Pro members on N2K CyberWire's website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.
This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of the U.S. has announcing new regulations restricting the global flow of AI chips, aimed at maintaining its leadership in AI while limiting access to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The rules impose export quotas on about 120 countries, with exemptions for key allies like Japan and the Netherlands, while setting stringent conditions for major cloud service providers to build data centers abroad. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The path forward for mergers and monopolies.

This week, we are joined by Shiva Nathan, Founder & CEO of Onymos, talking about why data privacy is a critical priority for companies, yet a major challenge for them. Ben and Dave look at some of the early actions of the Trump administration and what they portend for the future. 
While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 
﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 
Links to the stories:

Trump's TikTok Executive Order and the Limits of Executive Non-Enforcement

President Trump Scraps Biden's AI Safety Executive Order

﻿Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox.
Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Caveat Briefing, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to N2K Pro members on N2K CyberWire's website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.
This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of President Trump revoking a 2023 executive order by Joe Biden that mandated AI developers to share safety test results for high-risk systems with the U.S. government before public release, citing it as a hindrance to innovation. While Biden’s order aimed to address national security and public safety risks associated with AI, Trump left intact a separate Biden order supporting energy needs for AI data centers. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking the SaaS paradigm.

This week, we are joined by Max Shier, Optiv's CISO, to discuss the newly-released CMMC 2.0, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, and how to ensure compliance. Ben discusses a federal court’s decision holding warrantless queries of the Section 702 database unconstitutional. Dave looks at a murder case in Cleveland that’s been derailed by the prosecution’s use of AI. 

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 

﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 

Links to the stories:

VICTORY! Federal Court (Finally) Rules Backdoor Searches of 702 Data Unconstitutional

Cleveland police used AI to justify a search warrant. It has derailed a murder case

﻿Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox.
Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Caveat Briefing, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to N2K Pro members on N2K CyberWire's website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.

This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of President Trump revoking a 2023 executive order by Joe Biden that mandated AI developers to share safety test results for high-risk systems with the U.S. government before public release, citing it as a hindrance to innovation. While Biden’s order aimed to address national security and public safety risks associated with AI, Trump left intact a separate Biden order supporting energy needs for AI data centers. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where are we going with warrantless searches?

This week, we are joined by Jeff Williams, former Global Chairman of OWASP and Founder and CTO of Contrast Security, who is discussing what could happen to "Secure by Design" in the next administration and how to secure software through regs. Ben has the story of Elon Musk’s and DOGE’s incursion into federal databases. Dave's got the story of a man who was wrongly convicted of identity theft.
While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 

﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 

Links to the stories:

Inside Musk’s Aggressive Incursion Into the Federal Government

He Went to Jail for Stealing Someone’s Identity. But It Was His All Along.

﻿Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox.
Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Caveat Briefing, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to N2K Pro members on N2K CyberWire's website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.

This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of the Department of Justice (DOJ) suing to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise's (HPE) $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks, arguing that the merger would reduce competition in the wireless networking industry. The DOJ claims Juniper has pressured rivals like HPE to lower prices and innovate, and consolidation would weaken these benefits, potentially harming industries reliant on wireless networks. HPE and Juniper dispute the DOJ’s claims, insisting the deal would enhance competition and improve networking infrastructure. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future of software security standards.

This week on Caveat, Dave and Ben are thrilled to welcome back N2K’s own Ethan Cook for the second installment of our newest policy deep dive segment. As a trusted expert in law, privacy, and surveillance, Ethan is joining the show regularly to provide in-depth analysis on the latest policy developments shaping the cybersecurity and legal landscape. 
While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. 
﻿Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing! 

Policy Deep Dive
In this Caveat Policy Deep Dive, we turn our focus to the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) policy. This month, the Caveat team delves into the key issues shaping political discourse around AI, exploring state-led initiatives, the lack of significant federal action, and the critical areas that still require stronger oversight, offering an in-depth analysis of AI legislation, the varied approaches across states, and the pressing challenges that demand federal attention.

﻿Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox.
Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Caveat Briefing, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to N2K Pro members on N2K CyberWire's website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.
This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of the Paris AI summit, where French President Emmanuel Macron and EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen announced plans to reduce regulatory barriers to support AI innovation. The summit highlighted the growing pressure on Europe to adopt a lighter regulatory touch in order to remain competitive with the U.S. and China, while also addressing concerns about potential risks and the impact on workers as AI continues to evolve. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The AI policy divide.

Ben describes a decades-long global espionage campaign alleged to have been carried out by the CIA and NSA, Dave shares a story about the feds using cell phone location data for immigration enforcement, and later in the show our conversation with Drew Harwell from the Washington Post on his article on how Colleges are turning students’ phones into surveillance machines.
Links to stories:
 ‘The intelligence coup of the century’
 RIGGING THE GAME Spy sting
 Federal Agencies Use Cellphone Location Data for Immigration Enforcement
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com or simply leave us a message at (410) 618-3720. Hope to hear from you.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rigging the game.

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