Cyber Sip

Host Kevin Szczepanski examines the bipartisan backlash against data centers, weighing concerns about electricity costs, water use, land, and jobs against their economic and strategic value. Using an August 2026 Wall Street Journal editorial as the basis and also touching on the topic of anxieties around the AI boom, Kevin argues for growth that pays its own way, careful siting, tangible local benefits, and better disclosure—rather than blanket opposition or automatic approval.

In this timely episode, host Kevin Szczepanski examines New York’s pause on large data center development and the uncertain legal, political, and regulatory landscape surrounding it. Along with Kevin, guests Kevin McAuliffe and Matt Moses, co-leaders of Barclay Damon's Data Center and Digital Infrastructure Practice Area, discuss election pressures, rising electricity costs, limited generation capacity, and public anxiety about artificial intelligence. They cover the growing power demands of AI facilities, long-term grid investments, renewable energy, and nuclear generation. Their view: communities should evaluate projects carefully, while developers should engage early, address concerns directly, and counter misinformation with project-specific evidence.

In this brief episode, Kevin Szczepanski discusses how AI agents (vs. chat bots) create a new cybersecurity risk: they can act, not just answer. Using the Hugging Face incident as an example, Kevin discusses how agents may misunderstand goals, be manipulated, or receive too much authority. During this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the episode is especially relevant—important actions organizations can take include reassessing AI permissions, requiring human approval for consequential actions, keeping records, and ensuring governance keeps pace with rapidly expanding AI capabilities.

Kevin Szczepanski speaks with Bruno LeCoq of BEMO about why cybersecurity compliance is fundamentally a leadership and culture issue, not merely an IT or legal function. They posit that effective compliance starts with the C-suite, is reinforced by middle managers, and becomes meaningful only when employees consistently make the right decisions under pressure. Kevin and Bruno highlight the value of hidden tabletop exercises, operational discipline, regular reviews, and traceable processes. The two also caution against treating compliance as a checkbox, emphasizing that organizations must commit to it as an ongoing business practice.

Erie County in New York State has a new Biometric Transparency and Privacy Act that went into effect June 5, 2026. In this episode, Kevin Szczepanski introduces the new local law—the first such law in New York State—and explains that, according to the law, most commercial establishments in Erie County must stop collecting, storing, using, transmitting, or monetizing customer biometric information. Businesses possessing biometric data must notify the county director by July 5, post clear notices and destruction policies at their locations, and certify deletion within 30 days. Violations may trigger daily civil penalties. Listen in to learn about both the benefits and risks of biometric data and key exemptions to the law.

In this episode, Kevin Szczepanski discusses the potential harms to businesses when they rush into AI vendor agreements without careful contract review. Kevin explains that while AI, biometric, and automation tools can improve efficiency and competitiveness, related contracts often shift major legal, cybersecurity, and financial risks onto the customer. He highlights key provisions to negotiate, including a clear scope of work, specific cybersecurity obligations, rules on data use and model training, indemnification, adequate insurance, and protection against auto-renewal. Listen in for straight talk about negotiating balanced, enforceable terms before signing.

In this episode of Cyber Sip, host Kevin Szczepanski and returning guest Kelly Geary explore the growing impact of AI on the insurance landscape, focusing on the rise of AI exclusions in policies and the challenges insurers face in underwriting an evolving risk. They discuss how carriers are proactively addressing “silent AI” exposure through exclusions, definitions, and sublimits while highlighting the uncertainty these changes create for policyholders. The conversation emphasizes the importance of realistic expectations about coverage as the gap between rapidly advancing technology and slower-moving insurance frameworks continues to widen.

In this brief episode, Kevin Szczepanski breaks down the critical importance of cybersecurity risk assessments, explaining legal requirements across industries, what a robust risk assessment looks like, and how organizations must use these insights to bolster their security posture. Aimed at cybersecurity professionals and organizational leaders, the discussion offers practical steps for compliance and security improvement.

Kevin Szczepanski examines the landmark Kaley G. M. trial, in which a Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million against Google and Meta for harms allegedly caused by YouTube and Instagram use during Kaley’s childhood. This episode explains how the jurors were persuaded to focus not on user generated content but on allegedly addictive platform design features, such as algorithms, engagement loops, and filters. The verdict’s broader significance lies in its implications for thousands of similar pending cases, increased settlement pressure on platforms, and a shifting legal and public focus on social media product design rather than simply content.

Based on an American Psychological Association advisory published in 2025, “Artificial Intelligence and Adolescent Well-Being,” and a recent California jury decision that awarded $3 million in damages to a young adult who sued Meta and YouTube, Kevin Szczepanski discusses the impact of AI on adolescent well-being, highlighting risks, legal implications, and necessary safeguards. From the viewpoints of both parents and corporations, Kevin discusses AI’s growing influences on youth mental health, the importance of responsible design, and the role of parents, professionals, and those seeking to profit from AI.