The White House is willing to yield to demands for changes to Section 702 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act authority, which expires at year’s end, Cybersecurity Coordinator Rob Joyce said Wednesday at an Aspen Institute event. Joyce announced transparency measures for a program that gathers information on vulnerabilities resulting in “zero day” flaws in products and services. The software industry and some privacy groups welcomed the changes to the Vulnerabilities Equities Process (VEP) Charter as a step toward increasing public understanding of cyber threat information the government holds. Over the past few months, the administration developed a "rigorous standard" that will improve the process and release key detail, Joyce said.

The White House is willing to yield to demands for changes to Section 702 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act authority, which expires at year’s end, Cybersecurity Coordinator Rob Joyce said Wednesday at an Aspen Institute event. Joyce announced transparency measures for a program that gathers information on vulnerabilities resulting in “zero day” flaws in products and services. The software industry and some privacy groups welcomed the changes to the Vulnerabilities Equities Process (VEP) Charter as a step toward increasing public understanding of cyber threat information the government holds. Over the past few months, the administration developed a "rigorous standard" that will improve the process and release key detail, Joyce said.

Two Senate bills join House legislation to reauthorize Section 702 surveillance authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., vowed to reporters Wednesday to do “whatever it takes” to get public debate and a vote. “This needs to be debated” and there should be open amendments, Paul said. He’s worried Congress won’t debate legislation, but wait until the last minute and append 702 authority to a must-pass continuing resolution. The authority expires at year's end.

Two Senate bills join House legislation to reauthorize Section 702 surveillance authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., vowed to reporters Wednesday to do “whatever it takes” to get public debate and a vote. “This needs to be debated” and there should be open amendments, Paul said. He’s worried Congress won’t debate legislation, but wait until the last minute and append 702 authority to a must-pass continuing resolution. The authority expires at year's end.

It's time online platforms follow advertising disclosure rules long imposed on TV and radio, Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a news conference announcing bipartisan, bicameral legislation, as expected (see 1710180027). Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., supports the bill, which would require identification of ad purchases higher than $500 on platforms with at least 50 million monthly users. The Honest Ads Act “would prevent foreign actors from influencing our elections,” a McCain statement said. Reps. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., and Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., introduced companion House legislation.

It's time online platforms follow advertising disclosure rules long imposed on TV and radio, Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a news conference announcing bipartisan, bicameral legislation, as expected (see 1710180027). Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., supports the bill, which would require identification of ad purchases higher than $500 on platforms with at least 50 million monthly users. The Honest Ads Act “would prevent foreign actors from influencing our elections,” a McCain statement said. Reps. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., and Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., introduced companion House legislation.

House Judiciary Committee leaders unveiled legislation Wednesday to reauthorize surveillance authority under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, due to expire Dec. 31. The USA Liberty Act would enable government to compel U.S. communications service providers to disclose communications of those believed to be foreigners outside of U.S. borders. “This legislation marks an important step forward for reining in the overly broad government surveillance revealed by Edward Snowden more than four years ago,” said Nuala O’Connor, CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology. But the bill needs to do more to protect citizens’ rights, she said. CDT is concerned the legislation doesn’t close a “loophole” that would allow surveillance that should be permitted only if there's a court order showing probable cause. The bill will be introduced formally in coming days and taken up in the Judiciary Committee in coming weeks, committee officials said.

House Judiciary Committee leaders unveiled legislation Wednesday to reauthorize surveillance authority under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, due to expire Dec. 31. The USA Liberty Act would enable government to compel U.S. communications service providers to disclose communications of those believed to be foreigners outside of U.S. borders. “This legislation marks an important step forward for reining in the overly broad government surveillance revealed by Edward Snowden more than four years ago,” said Nuala O’Connor, CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology. But the bill needs to do more to protect citizens’ rights, she said. CDT is concerned the legislation doesn’t close a “loophole” that would allow surveillance that should be permitted only if there's a court order showing probable cause. The bill will be introduced formally in coming days and taken up in the Judiciary Committee in coming weeks, committee officials said.

Big business interests seek to “run out the clock” to avoid California legislators voting on broadband privacy rules based on the FCC rules repealed by President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, privacy advocates told us this week. The California legislature has a Sept. 15 deadline to pass pending legislation, but the state's chamber of commerce asked the state Senate leader to hold the privacy bill and he hasn't scheduled a vote. Meanwhile, big wireless companies are pushing for passage of small-cells legislation, but local governments remain opposed and plan to take the fight to the governor's office, a local lobbyist said.

Big business interests seek to “run out the clock” to avoid California legislators voting on broadband privacy rules based on the FCC rules repealed by President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, privacy advocates told us this week. The California legislature has a Sept. 15 deadline to pass pending legislation, but the state's chamber of commerce asked the state Senate leader to hold the privacy bill and he hasn't scheduled a vote. Meanwhile, big wireless companies are pushing for passage of small-cells legislation, but local governments remain opposed and plan to take the fight to the governor's office, a local lobbyist said.