Tag Archive for: Bill

Bill from Illinois Democrat seeks to bridge digital divide through free wifi in local parks

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A Democratic congressman announced legislation this week that aims to use multiple federal government programs to bring broadband internet and computers to local parks across the country, bridging the digital divide in underserved communities by providing free internet services.

The Technology in the Parks Act of 2023, introduced by Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., aims to boost innovation, increase technology training and decrease inequality through multiple relevant internet programs.

“I believe that this legislation aligns with the nation’s commitment to fostering innovation, education, and community development,” Davis said in a statement. “This legislation, once passed, will contribute to building a more technologically inclusive society, ensuring that the benefits of advancements reach all corners of our community.”

The bill proposes an expansion of the Federal Communications Commission’s E-rates internet program to include local parks, which Davis said is key to bringing broadband access to outdoor community spaces, similar to the existing coverage for schools and libraries.

The FCC’s E-rate program helps schools and libraries across the country gain access to affordable broadband internet and is the government’s largest educational technology program.

The legislation would include local parks in the U.S. General Services Computers for Learning Program, providing access to computer equipment that federal agencies have identified as excess property and enabling technological advancements and digital literacy in those areas.

The third piece of the legislation would require the Labor Department to establish a program to offer grants for technology training programs in local parks, supporting skill development and ensuring that local parks that host such programs are eligible for E-Rate support.

The legislation “is a crucial step in bridging the technological divide and promoting education and skill development in our communities,” Davis said. “By extending E-Rate support to local parks, we empower these spaces to become hubs for technology training, creating opportunities for skill acquisition in areas such as coding, cyber…

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EU’s Proposed CSAM Bill Poses Hacking Risks

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Endpoint Security
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Governance & Risk Management
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Legislation & Litigation

Hackers Would Exploit Client-Side Scanning, LIBE Committee Hears

Akshaya Asokan (asokan_akshaya) •
April 13, 2023    

EU's Proposed CSAM Bill Poses Hacking Risks

Members of a European Parliament committee heard Thursday an assessment warning them that a bill intended to fight child sexual abuse material would instead weaken online security.

See Also: Webinar | The Evolution of Network Architecture: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

The Child Sexual Abuse Material proposal unveiled by the European Commission in May 2022 faces a barrage of opposition from industry and civil liberty groups concerned that its mandate for digital communication services such as instant messenger apps to scan for CSAM is incompatible with end-to-end encryption.

Bart Preneel, a cryptography professor at Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, told the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, or LIBE, the only way mandatory scanning is compatible with end-to-end encryption by scanning for images on devices before they’re transmitted across the web. Preneel is co-author of an assessment of the CSAM proposal commissioned by the committee.

“The only way you could actually detect CSAM would be by scanning on the device of the user. You would have to insert additional software in the user device, and such a software will create new vulnerabilities that are open to attack and abuse,” he said.

Scanning communications would violate a right to confidential communications while client-side scanning “violates the essence of the right of protection…

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The National Security Bill and the press: a threat to reputable news publishers, an open door for foreign interference?

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By Nathan Sparkes

The National Security Bill is intended to protect the UK from “foreign powers” and has been described as an anti-spying bill.

However, national security legislation often poses a threat to journalists’ ability to do their jobs – and this bill is no different.

A threat to press freedom

The most concerning part of the Bill for UK-based journalists is Clause 3, which states:

Assisting a foreign intelligence service

(1) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) engages in conduct of any kind, and

(b) intends that conduct to materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities.

(2) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) engages in conduct that is likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities, and

(b) knows, or ought reasonably to know, that it is reasonably possible their conduct may materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities.

(3) Conduct that may materially assist a foreign intelligence service includes providing, or providing access to, information, goods, services or financial benefits (whether directly or indirectly).

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The penalty for this offence is imprisonment for up to 14 years, or a fine.

Reporters sometimes publish information which may assist a foreign intelligence service, yet its disclosure is in the public interest.

For example, the publication of data on unethical activities by UK intelligence services might both assist foreign intelligence services and be in the interests of the UK public to be known.

Some outlets, like the IMPRESS-regulated Declassified UK, specialise in reporting on alleged cases of unethical conduct committed by UK intelligence, diplomatic or military agencies.

It would be a significant threat to the freedom of the press if this provision was used to target Declassified UK and other, similar publishers acting in the public interest.

Unjustified exemptions

Alongside this heavy-handed provision, for which there is no defence for news publishers, other provisions in the bill benefit from a media exemption.

These provisions require individuals or organisations to register with the…

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Congress is about to ban TikTok from U.S. government phones in spending bill : NPR

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TikTok would be banned from most U.S. government devices under a government spending bill Congress unveiled early Tuesday, the latest push by American lawmakers against the Chinese-owned social media app.

Michael Dwyer/AP


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Michael Dwyer/AP

TikTok would be banned from most U.S. government devices under a government spending bill Congress unveiled early Tuesday, the latest push by American lawmakers against the Chinese-owned social media app.

Michael Dwyer/AP

Having TikTok on a device issued by the federal government is about to become illegal under a sprawling spending bill for the upcoming fiscal year released by lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday. It is expected to become law in the coming days to avert a partial government shutdown.

While the Chinese-owned app is already not allowed on many federal government devices, the measure in the new spending bill expands the prohibition. The ban will likely result in a hit to TikTok’s reputation at a time when the Biden administration is still attempting to complete a national security review of the popular app.

TikTok is used by more than 100 million monthly active users in the U.S. alone, and its ability to create instant viral hits has put it at the forefront of internet culture, though concerns about data security have long dogged the app.

If you count yourself among its users and you’re wondering how this crackdown might affect you, here is what you need to know:

Is this going to affect my use of TikTok?

Probably not — unless you’re a federal government employee who uses a work phone to browse TikTok. The White House, the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department already prohibit staff from having TikTok on government-issued devices, so this ban just extends the rule for all U.S. government employees….

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