The FOCAL approach for federal agencies.

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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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 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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we are joined by Pavlina Pavlova, 2024 New America #SharetheMicinCyber Fellow and Cybercrime Expert at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and she is discussing her research calling for a shift in the tech conversation to address gender-specific harms and promote safer, more inclusive digital environments. Ben has the story of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau trying to cut down on predatory data brokers. Dave's got the story of the FTC’s New Rule on Fake Consumer Reviews and Testimonials. 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 agency proposes new rule blocking data brokers from selling Americans’ sensitive personal data We’ll pay you to give our new rule a good review 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 NATO enhancing intelligence sharing and infrastructure protection in response to increasing sabotage, cyberattacks, and hybrid threats from Russia and China. A new strategy to counter these threats, including political interference and infrastructure sabotage, is being developed, though NATO members remain divided on how to publicly address suspected attacks. 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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we are joined by US Congressional candidate from Oklahoma, Madison Horn, who is speaking with Ben Yelin about national security and cyberwarfare. Ben's story has an update on TikTok’s lawsuit against the federal government. Dave looks at the latest ruling on privacy rights at the border. 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’s Chinese owner built search tool for users’ views on abortion, gun control, DOJ claims US border agents must get warrant before cell phone searches, federal court rules 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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Danny Allan, Snyk's CTO, discusses how AI regulations are influencing both the security of AI tools and the broader software ecosystem and the emphasis on compliance with security standards. This comes on the heels of a recent report which found that the majority of security leaders have begun contemplating banning the use of AI in coding due its security risks. Ben dives into policy changes we might expect from the next FCC chairman. Dave's got the story of a school shut down over deepfake nudes. 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 Picks Brendan Carr to Lead F.C.C. Explicit deepfake scandal shuts down Pennsylvania school 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 Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting with outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden at the APEC summit in Peru, discussing key issues like Taiwan, cybercrime, and trade while emphasizing China's desire for stable U.S.-China relations as Donald Trump prepares to assume office. Both leaders highlighted the importance of managing differences, though tensions remain over Taiwan, military provocations, and U.S. trade restrictions on Chinese technology. 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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s show, Ben and Dave share their reactions to the presidential election and what we might expect moving forward into a second term with President Trump. And later in the show, Dave has a conversation Sarah Hutchins, Partner at Parker Poe, to talk about the growing number of state data privacy laws, litigation trends related to targeted advertising and wiretapping, and key takeaways for companies on cybersecurity practices and risk reporting. 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! 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. Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we are joined by Brad Auerbach from Outside GC, who is talking about their research on "Trailblazing Tennessee Legislation – the ELVIS Act." Ben has the story of parents suing over a bad grade their kid got after using AI. Dave looks at bias in AI evaluations of resumés. 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: Parents Sue School That Gave Bad Grade to Student Who Used AI to Complete Assignment AI overwhelmingly prefers white and male job candidates in new test of resume-screening bias 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 Chinese researchers have repurposed Meta's open-source Llama AI model for military applications. The researchers, linked to China's People's Liberation Army, developed "ChatBIT," an AI tool fine-tuned for military intelligence, outperforming some models similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT-4. Despite Meta's restrictions against military use, the PLA's efforts raise concerns about the global implications of open-source AI availability and U.S. national security. 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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we are joined by Joseph Jarnecki from RUSI, who is talking about their work on "What Next for the UK–Japan Cyber Partnership?" Ben takes a deep dive into the particulars of a cell phone search warrant and seizure. While Dave looks at a lawsuit challenging online surveillance. 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: Left to Their Own Devices? A Conversation With Carrie Cohen The Global Surveillance Free-for-All in Mobile Ad Data 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 how Chinese hackers allegedly targeted the phones of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and running mate Sen. JD Vance, along with other high-ranking U.S. officials, as part of a broad espionage campaign compromising multiple telecommunications providers. The FBI and CISA are investigating, with concerns over potential data leaks, including sensitive communications and location data, which highlights ongoing risks of foreign surveillance on U.S. 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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ben Yelin is joined by Eoin Hinchy, Tines Co-Founder and CEO, sharing his perspective about straddling EU and US regulations as the AI guardrail conversation boils over. Ben's story looks into the doctrine of preemption and how it might impact efforts to regulate data privacy. While Dave look's at a major grocery chain getting pushback on its facial recognition program. 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: Big Tech is Trying to Burn Privacy to the Ground–And They’re Using Big Tobacco’s Strategy to Do It Kroger’s facial recognition plans draw increasing concern from lawmakers 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 how the U.S. Justice Department has proposed new rules to prevent foreign adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran from accessing sensitive American data, including genomic, health, and financial information, through business transactions. These regulations, part of an executive order by President Biden, would restrict the transfer of data to "countries of concern" and impose penalties for non-compliance, with specific limits on the types and amounts of data that can be shared. 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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Bowen, VP & GM Global Public Sector and Defense at Synack is sharing her thoughts on CISA's new guidance on Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) Operational Cybersecurity Alignment (FOCAL) Plan & federal vulnerability management practices. Ben does a deep dive into one of the biggest misconceptions about the First Amendment. Dave looks at the fallout from an alleged Chinese hack of a US telecom surveillance program. 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: Yes, Tim Walz, You Can Shout 'Fire' In A Crowded Theatre Lawmakers press agencies, telecoms for more details on Salt Typhoon hacks 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 growing collaboration between Russia, China, and Iran with criminal networks for cyberespionage and hacking against the U.S. Microsoft’s report highlights instances where these state-sponsored activities blur the lines with criminal motives, raising concerns among national security officials as adversaries leverage cybercriminals for enhanced cyber capabilities. 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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices