Welcome to the Future!
What’s happening? Hackers obtained law enforcement details and data for DC law enforcement officials. When negotiations broke down, the data and officer information was released.
Why is this important? In practical terms, release of specific law enforcement information could impact prosecutions and courts.
How will this be important? This is just the beginning
CNN | Ransomware group says it released ‘full data’ on DC police department
What’s happening? Florida has 18 different sports betting bills floating around its Legislature. None have data security provisions. And, if like Florida your state has tribal gaming, the Compact allow the tribes to set data security standards.
Why is this important? Does the sports betting law or legislation in your state include a data security standard?
How will this be important? Once hackers take control over betting data it will be too late.
Miami Herald via Governing | Florida’s Sports Betting Laws Don’t Include Data Protections
What’s happening? North Carolina Legislature approved an exception to warrant process to allow law enforcement to track cell phone data in real time if there is risk of death or serious body harm.
Why is this important? It is these types of constitutional issues where Libertarian leaning Republicans and ACLU agree. Because of that, oversight was added to the bill which the republican author purportedly refused initially.
How will this be important? Legislating around constitutional warrant requirements gets tricky when humans are involved. They want to push it further and take more, and then Legislatures pull back their laws. Before the retraction, other states will jump on the bandwagon.
News & Observer via Governing | N.C. Lawmakers Approve Police Tracking of Cell Phone Data
What’s happening? New York Legislature is considering S6486 (2021 | NY) that would prohibit bitcoin mining because of the environmental concerns.
Why is this important? NY will take 3 years to study the environmental impact. The industry says “A single cryptocurrency transaction uses the same amount of energy that an average American household uses in one month, with an estimated level of global energy usage equivalent to that of the country of Sweden.”
How will this be important? Bitcoin mining takes a lot of electricity. Some companies make arrangements with renewables or to mine at non peak hours. Some companies opt for very cold climates to minimize electric impact.
Bitcoin Magazine | NEW YORK’S MISGUIDED LEGISLATION TO PAUSE BITCOIN MINING WON’T STOP THE INDUSTRY
What’s happening? Ransomware hackers took over the Colonial Pipeline which led to gas station shortages in the Southeast
Why is this important? The pipeline owner paid $5 million in ransom to get gas flowing again. The lingering question is whether by paying the ransomware will other bad actors feel empowered?
How will this be important? Not the first, won’t be the last.
NY Times | Colonial Pipeline Paid Roughly $5 Million in Ransom to Hackers
What’s happening? “The National Guard Cybersecurity Support Act would give governors the power to deploy on their own, and allow states to quickly respond to cybersecurity threats against government programs and information systems.”
Why is this important? If you were watching the live stream of the Texas House of Representatives this week when it and other state agency websites went down, you might be read this.
How will this be important? Hackers took control of a pipeline this week and disrupted the gas market. This is just beginning.
Meri Talk | House Bill Would Allow Governors to Deploy National Guard for Cyber Threats
What’s happening? Extreme Vehicle Battery Technologies Corp. is developing technology that will limit the need for repairs in EV batteries
Why is this important? Imagine a world with remote diagnostics and repairs
How will this be important? Open any paper and see the stats of the growth of EVs and the predicted future growth
What’s happening? it’s a mouthful… In 2019 Wyoming passed a law to make bitcoin mining and blockchain a sort of safe haven in Wyoming, seeking to lure business to Wyoming.
Why is this important? This week the Federal Reserve announced it was opening up comment period for “Account Access Guidelines for the Reserve Banks” which would lead to Wyoming-chartered special purpose depository institutions ….bitcoin banks!
How will this be important? Wyoming was just the first, other states are following. Look to AZ which has been dabbling in finch sandboxes and UT too.
Wyoming News Now | Governor Gordon, Senator Lummis Continue to Lead Wyoming’s Rise in Digital Realm.
What’s happening? Florida was poised to pass a data security bill that put consumers in control of the use of their data, a a manner similar to California’s landmark legislation. The bill was a priority of the Speaker of the House and was in conference committee.
Why is this important? Florida’s largest companies hired 343 lobbyists.
How will this be important? The key talking point for both sides was whether Floridians should be in charge of their own data. Republicans supported protecting their own data, not allowing companies to make money off their data without consent, and a private cause of action to enforce violations.
Security Info Watch | Florida lawmakers reject data privacy bill
Governing | Florida Bill Would Allow Consumers to Sue Over Data Privacy
What’s happening? A groundbreaking new solution to gas flaring and monetization of stranded natural gas with the help of Bitcoin mining.
Why is this important? The energy use of bitcoin mining, which is enormous can offset flareups
How will this be important? Flareups are a constant regulatory and legislative creature and bitcoin mining offers a solution.