InfoHive – Data Security

What is happening? Connecticut is considering a bill, Senate Bill 208 (2022 | CT) that would require parental consent for children under the age of 16 to engage in social media. The bill is expected to be amended to allow parents to remove children’s accounts.

Why is this important? children’s welfare organizations support that bill because of the mental health issues that can arise because of social media such as depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts.

How will this be important? Look for this to be replicated.

Connecticut Post | Connecticut Bill Would Require Parental Social Media Consent

What is happening? Google is pledging $2.5 billion to diversify suppliers. Google has had a plan to diversify suppliers for 10 years.

Why is this important? Some are attributing Googles renewed interest in its diversification of suppliers to a renewed interest in diversity, equality, and inclusion after the heightened awareness of Black Lives Matter in 2020.

How will this be important? Google is including mentorship and training so that it’s suppliers also contract with a diverse group of suppliers. I guess we could call this trickle down supply chain diversification.

CIO Dive | Google pledges to spend $2.5B with diverse suppliers in 2022

What is happening? Russian citizens have been moving to  defeat Russia’s internet censorship by utilizing VPNs and encrypted messaging apps.

Why is this important? Most of these end runs around government oversight are lessons learned from Chinese citizens who seek uncensored internet communication

How will this be important? Some say the more people who use these types of technology the more censorship resistant technology is accepted.

CNN | Russian internet users are learning how to beat Putin’s internet crackdown

What is happening? A report released this week from Accenture says there is an uptick in politically motivated hackers, with more hackers motivated to hack Russia.

Why is this important? Cannot make this stuff up: ” the notorious Conti ransomware gang pledged allegiance to Moscow. In response, a Ukrainian security researcher decided to leak a trove of internal chats detailing Conti’s operations.”

How will this be important? The day of the Russia attacks on Ukraine Anonymous, the hacker group, announced it was targeting Russia.

Politico Weekly Cybersecurity

What is happening? Wyoming has amended its playing field for crypto currency by providing for more decentralized organizations, which use digital tokens to track membership and more. The jargon is decentralized autonomous organizations, or DAO. SF 68 (2022 | WY)

Why is this important? DAO status gave American CryptoFed the requisite structure to pursue federal recognition for its virtual currency

How will this be important? ” Wyoming is now recognized as one of the top blockchain destinations in the world,” according to the first DAO’s CEO

Governing | Wyoming Law Sets Federal Recognition Foundation for Virtual Currencies

What is happening? Wyoming Legislature is considering Senate File 106 (2022 | WY) that would allow the State Comptroller to create a state stable coin (a form of cryptocurrency).

Why is this important? Wyoming would become the first state to issue a stable coin.

How will this be important? There are 49 other states that could head in this direction.

Investing.com | Wyoming lawmakers introduce legislation for state-issued stablecoin

What is happening? As we’re not near federal rules on crypto currency, let’s see what the states are up to.

Why is this important? An overview of state crypto rules:

• Arizona is considering legislation to make bitcoin legal tender.
• California is considering legislation to allow people to pay for state services with cryptocurrency
• Colorado Governor announced on twitter that the state will accept tax payments in cryptocurrency.
  • Colorado will become the 1st state to do so
• Ohio had a 2018 pilot program for accepting cryptocurrency for some taxes but the program was short lived
• Wyoming has been laying the ground work for a state cryptocurrency

How will this be important? There are 50 states and no federal rules. There is a lot more legislative and regulatory action coming your way on crypto.

WFAE | With federal rules unclear, some states carve their own path on cryptocurrencies

What is happening? This week President Biden issued an Executive Order concerning cryptocurrency to  centralize regulatory enforcement, protect consumers, and mitigate the fiscal and human costs of crypto misuse.

Why is this important? The Federal Reserve back a new Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) thereby laying the groundwork for a US backed digital currency that is indexed to the value of real-world cash, rather than subject to wild price fluctuations.

How will this be important? The EU is steps ahead and near passing legislation on cyrptoassets.

Computer World | Biden issues executive order on crypto regulation, stablecoin proposal

What is happening? The Texas House of Representatives Committee on State Affairs will be deep diving into the status and adequacy of cybersecurity preparedness among state agencies and contractors.

Why is this important? The cybersecurity of those who receive procurement awards is increasingly important.

How will this be important? A quick search of InfoHive will show you for years states have passed laws and rules to improve cybersecurity standards for state contractors.

What is happening? Earlier this week Anonymous announced on twitter it will be focusing on Russia and Putin to aid the Ukraine

How is this important? Hackers on both sides for this conflict that has a strong cyber element.

Why will this be important? Case of first impression for a global “cyber warfare”

CNBC | Global hacking group Anonymous launches ‘cyber war’ against Russia