InfoHive – Data Security

What’s the deal? Washington State recently created the Office of Cybersecurity and now it’s beefing up its powers by adding the ability to create best practices for safely storing sensitive data by all state offices and agencies.

Why is this important? SB5432 (2021 | WA) will be the first major extension of power for this office. As the bill’s author characterizes his state, “Washington state has a ferocious addiction to decentralization.” Washington State is not alone.

How ill this be important? More and more states are creating standalone executive offices to specifically oversee cybersecurity. Other states can use these states as models and guides for how their state cybersecurity office will function.

Seattle Times | Washington state lawmakers want to strengthen cybersecurity in Olympia after massive data breach

What’s the deal? Michigan has released an app, Michigan Secure, which will alert users if their devices  have suspicious activity.

Why should we care? The state is expressly not collecting data with the app.

How can this impact me? Its going to impact everyone. The App is the brainchild of Former Michigan Chief Security Officer Chris Derusha. Derusha left his post to be chief information security officer for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in June 2020, and was recently named the CISO of the federal government

Route Fifty | Michigan Secure app warns of phishing attempts, vulnerable software, risky settings and more.

What’s the deal? Body cameras are the norm for law enforcement. California is paying for body cameras for corrections officers to gain transparency on the treatment of disabled prisoners. Its the result of a lawsuit alleging mistreatment of disabled prisoners.

Why should we care? Transparency. Everyone loves calling for it. For the state of California to supply body cameras and security cameras to corrections facilities, it carries a price tag of $30.5 million over the course of three fiscal years to pay for the installation of security and body cameras.

How can this impact me? Look for this California pilot project to be modeled elsewhere that the management of corrections facilities is at issue.

Sacramento Bee via Governing | California to Require Body Cams on Correctional Officers

What’s the deal? Hackers gained access to the city of Oldsmar, Florida’s water treatment system and increased the level of sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, by a factor of more than 100.

Why should we care? The process affirms the vulnerability of systems we rely on but also highlights the need for internal checks and balances. Oldsmar said monitors watched as the hackers manipulated the system and immediately returned it to normal levels. But, also highlighted other checks and balances that would have caught it before the water was released for consumption.

How can this impact me? We may as well include hackers in the new economy. Corporations and governmental enemies are including c-suite level leadership on data, information and security.

Tampa Bay Times via Governing | Hackers Attempt to Poison Florida City’s Water Supply

Star Tribune | Hack exposes vulnerability of cash-strapped US water plants

What’s the deal? tech companies are pushing for federal data protection standards. The states moved into this territory when the feds didn’t do anything. Remember California’s much touted Data Protection Bill. Well, states are still acting. Virginia has SB 1392 (2021 | VA) Much like California it gives the consumer more power to pull and protect their data. Viriginia’s draft is a lot like Washington state’s SB 6281 (2020 | WA)

Why should we care? Let’s face reality- even if the feds act, the states will keep at it too. 

How can this impact me? Data protection and data security are top line messages. Just last week Tim Book took aim at Facebook’s lack thereof. Data security is also a new factor in procurement, and concern for clients and business.

Politico | STATE PRIVACY PUSH QUIETLY BUBBLES UP 

What’s the deal? Connecting students to the internet for virtual learning, and let’s face it, learning when school is in person all the time. Every state is trying to fill gaps in internet access. Nevada brought together their COVID task force, a former each of the State Board of Education and private partners for Connecting Kids NV. They reached all 485,705 students and got them devices and internet connection.

Why should we care? Every state and city is trying to find a successful way to get full internet, broadband, coverage. The state with the Extraterrestrial Highway managed to pull this off successfully.

How can this impact me? The internet is the marketplace. Everyone and everything is connected.

Governing | Nevada State of the State Address

What’s the deal? In the Arizona State of the State the Governor stressed keeping new economy work from home for state employees. That work from home could eliminate the need fro office space and free up state funds.

Why should we care? This is emblematic of the new economy. There will be an increased move to work more from home, or out of the traditional office. Less about how many hours you log and more about what you accomplish.

How does this impact me? Office Space Market Price. Glad handing online. This will change the landscape for commercial office space when the scarcity is removed from the economic equation. There are generations that are accustom to building personal relationships online. Opportunities are limitless.

Governing | Arizona State of the State Address

What’s the deal? Florida Governor has a legislative proposal to fine companies that block elected officials from platforms. The Florida House Committee on Commerce wants to take it further and “imposes daily fines on a technology company that uses its content and user-related algorithms “to suppress or prioritize the content related to political candidates.”

Why should we care? These nascent issues will decide how tech laws will be written. If one state acts, others will follow. There hasn’t been any laws directing tech companies one way or another. Issues of first impression like this are often wrought with unintended consequences.

How does this impact me? Tech is changing government affairs and lobbying. Tech is spending more money in the arena and the visions are clear. Whether it is protect data privacy or protect integrity of elections, tech is going to be in the middle of everything. For those of us who are science and math loving nerds, this is the time when we do our happy dance.

Governing | DeSantis: Penalize Social Media That Blocks Politicians

What’s the deal? After Twitter blocked Donald Trump, proposals have emerged to prevent the blocking of elected officials. Florida Governor is now chiming in with a proposal that will impose a fine “if a technology company de-platforms a candidate for elected office in Florida during the election, a company will face a daily fine of $100,000 until the candidate’s access to the platform is restored again.””

Why should we care? Hypocrisy. Some time ago, consistency mattered. So did facts. But, it’s a new economy and we’re entering new territory. Do we pick the same old choice of disregarding facts and consistency? Do we care if we need to reconcile the notion that a private company should be able to deny customers for religious reasons, can a private company deny a person a social media platform for safety or other reasons?

How does this impact me? Representing an elected official in a cancel culture should wake us up. If your client is silenced, could your account could also be silenced? On the flip side, could your work entail negotiating terms to reinstate the account of your client.

Governing | DeSantis: Penalize Social Media That Blocks Politicians

What’s the deal? SB 475 (2021 | TX) by Nelson came from the Texas Privacy Protection Advisory Council. Its going to require consent before agencies retain data about you or your location & requires consent for bio markers and GPS.

Why should we care? Data Privacy legislation is the new big fight between federal law and state law. States are acting to protect their people.

Why does this matter to me? Everyone loves the Texas- California who is doing things better discussion. As the two states split tech company homes, they’re also taking 2 different approaches to data privacy.

Flower Mound Leader | Cybersecurity, data privacy among bills filed by Nelson