Caveat

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. 

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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 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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you.

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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:

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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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.

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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you.

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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

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 [email protected]. Hope to hear from you.

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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:

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

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:

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, 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:

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.

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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:

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.

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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:

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.

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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:

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