1st Election Security Conference in the US. Where. Who. What. How to Pay for Election Cybersecurity.

Location: West Virginia

Invitees: 55 election clerks representing all counties in West Virginia

Speakers training West Virginia Election Clerks: WV Secretary of State & the Department of Homeland Security

Topic: Cyber security of elections and how to pay for election cybersecurity, which is mostly federal funds

WBOY | WV is the nation’s first state to host the ‘Election Security Conferece’ 

 

State Data Encryption by the Numbers in Illinois

WSRP | Gov. Rauner signs bill to officially recognize DoIT 

Regulatory TREND. 10 Requirements for a Initial Coin Offering in NJ

New Jersey Financial Services Commission has 10 requirements for Jersey ICO issuers:

  • Be incorporated as a Jersey company.
  • Receive consent under the COBO from JFSC before any action is taken (the consent process is detailed further in the Guidance Note).
  • Comply with JFSC’s Sound Business Practice Policy.
  • Apply relevant anti-money laundering and other such requirements to ICO purchasers.
  • Appoint and maintain a trust company business (“TCSP”).
  • Appoint and maintain a Jersey resident director.
  • Be subject to an ongoing audit requirement.
  • Implement procedures and processes to mitigate and manage the risk of retail investors investing inappropriately in the ICO, and to ensure that retail investors understand the risks involved.
  • Prepared and submit an Information Memorandum such as a white paper or prospectus.
  • Ensure that marketing materials are fair and not misleading.

NJFSC | The Application Process for Issuers of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) 

Lege TREND. Cost of a Populous State Election Security Bill

The fund allocations from California’s 2018 election security legislation:

  • Federal Funds: $34.5 million
  • 57.9%, $20 million, goes to voter implementation at the county level
  • 11.58%, $4 million goes to VoteCal statewide system updates
  • 13.16%, $4.45 million goes to county voter cyber security
  • 8.69%, $3 million, goes to cybersecurity training for counties
  • 4.53%, $1.56 million, polling place accessibility
  • 2.98%, $1.03 million, personnel costs
  • 1.16%, $400,000, election auditing

KCRA | California spends millions, enacts new law to strengthen election security 

Lege TREND. Anatomy of an Election Data Security Veto

State: Illinois

Vetoed legislation: SB 2273 (IL | 2018)  limiting Illinois to participating in 1 interstate voter database system

3 Reasons given for the veto:

  • combat voter fraud by “participation in programs that allow cross-referencing voter information from various states to identify where individuals are and are not eligible to vote”
  • limiting Illinois to one voter fraud program creates inefficiencies and gaps in knowledge
  • limiting the number of the programs for IL to use is not the solution, the solution for voter fraud is other safeguards that “ensure the security, reliability, and appropriate use of any data being shared”

Capitol Fax | Rauner vetoes anti-Crosscheck bill

Regulatory TREND. 5 Activities Requiring BITLICENSE in NY

NY Department of Financial Services requires a bitLicense for any of the following acitivities:

  • Virtual currency transmission
  • Storing, holding, or maintaining custody or control of virtual currency on behalf of others
  • Buying and selling virtual currency as a customer business
  • Performing exchange services as a customer business
  • Controlling, administering, or issuing a virtual currency
     

BitLegal | The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), grants a virtual currency (VC) license to fintech company Square Inc. 

Lege Trend. States Regulating BOTS. Especially BOTS attacking Bill Author Legislation.

State: California

The legislation: SB 1001 (CA | 2018)

What would the bill do? Require automated social media accounts (BOTS) to identify themselves as bots

What’s an example of BOT use? The California Seantor filed a bill on bail reform and hundreds of ots attacked with social media posts like ” “Unconstitutional bail reform doesn’t work and is racist.”

Supporters:

Opponents:

  • Electronic Frontier Foundation

Somewhere in the middle:

  • Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech Policy Lab

NYTIMES | Bots of the Internet, Reveal Yourselves!

Local Government TREND. Hiring CIOs and CDOs

Chief Information Officers and Chief Data Officers are on the rise for local governments.

What does a Chief Data Officer do? In Cook County, IL the job description is:

  • “organizational governance and policy directives around data usage,”

  • ensuring proper accessibility standards for data

  • evidence-based decision making

  • innovative projects 

  • oversee a communications technology team

  •  holding a leadership position on a Data Governance Council charged with “applying the precepts of data principles; standards; policies; and guidelines.”

State Scoop | Cook County, Illinois, hires first chief data officer, puts new CIO on deck