A month before November's general election, the campaigns for Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., and his Democratic re-election challenger Ro Khanna squared off in a federal court Tuesday over allegations from Honda that his rival pilfered proprietary donor information (see 1609220059) -- which Khanna denied. In a lawsuit filed Sept. 22, Honda said Khanna, his campaign and former campaign manager violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) by illegally obtaining the information -- but several experts disagreed whether Honda's campaign is using the anti-hacking statute appropriately.

The Donald Trump transition team met with telecom and tech industry officials for about an hour Friday at the BakerHostetler law firm in what attendees described as a listening meeting that provided little insight into Trump’s agenda. The Republican presidential nominee's speakers were all from the government-funded Trump presidential transition team, not the campaign itself. The initial invitation suggested New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, chairman of the Trump transition, might attend (see 1609290070). He wasn't there due to scheduling issues, said attendees; the meeting previously was set for Thursday.

The Donald Trump transition team met with telecom and tech industry officials for about an hour Friday at the BakerHostetler law firm in what attendees described as a listening meeting that provided little insight into Trump’s agenda. The Republican presidential nominee's speakers were all from the government-funded Trump presidential transition team, not the campaign itself. The initial invitation suggested New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, chairman of the Trump transition, might attend (see 1609290070). He wasn't there due to scheduling issues, said attendees; the meeting previously was set for Thursday.

Early signs are that the industry attack on draft ISP privacy rules will center on the FCC’s determination of what kind of data is considered “sensitive” information requiring opt-in consent before it can be used or shared. USTelecom and NCTA already raised concerns the draft rules include eight categories of sensitive data, a broader definition than under the FTC’s privacy framework (see 1610060031).

The Donald Trump transition team met with telecom and tech industry officials for about an hour Friday at the BakerHostetler law firm in what attendees described as a listening meeting that provided little insight into Trump’s agenda. The Republican presidential nominee's speakers were all from the government-funded Trump presidential transition team, not the campaign itself. The initial invitation suggested New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, chairman of the Trump transition, might attend (see 1609290070). He wasn't there due to scheduling issues, said attendees; the meeting previously was set for Thursday.

Early signs are that the industry attack on draft ISP privacy rules will center on the FCC’s determination of what kind of data is considered “sensitive” information requiring opt-in consent before it can be used or shared. USTelecom and NCTA already raised concerns the draft rules include eight categories of sensitive data, a broader definition than under the FTC’s privacy framework (see 1610060031).

Yahoo's reputation was damaged further after a news report that Yahoo secretly scanned hundreds of millions of customer emails at the behest of the U.S. government -- which the company denies is happening -- coupled with its recent disclosure that it suffered a major breach two years ago (see 1609220046 and 1609280050), said technology and communications experts Wednesday. It remains to be seen how the reports will affect Verizon's acquisition of Yahoo. One analyst said Yahoo's alleged actions may have widened the distrust of U.S. brands among foreign customers.

Yahoo's reputation was damaged further after a news report that Yahoo secretly scanned hundreds of millions of customer emails at the behest of the U.S. government -- which the company denies is happening -- coupled with its recent disclosure that it suffered a major breach two years ago (see 1609220046 and 1609280050), said technology and communications experts Wednesday. It remains to be seen how the reports will affect Verizon's acquisition of Yahoo. One analyst said Yahoo's alleged actions may have widened the distrust of U.S. brands among foreign customers.

Intervenors defended the FCC net neutrality order against petitions for rehearing a court panel's June ruling upholding the order. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit twice before disagreed with FCC net neutrality decisions and provided "valuable guidance" the agency "faithfully and correctly applied," said a joint response (in Pacer) Monday from Cogent Communications, Dish Network, Free Press, Incompas, Netflix, New America's Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge and other intervenors in USTelecom v. FCC, No. 15-1063. Industry petitioners again attacked the rules even though the panel ruling doesn't conflict "with precedent or any issue of exceptional importance," they wrote. "As far as Intervenors can determine, this Court has not, in recent memory, ever granted rehearing to address such fact-bound and case-specific complaints." In another response (in Pacer), Full Service Network, which was denied in its challenge to FCC forbearance relief, asked the court to reconsider the panel ruling and precedents on which it relied. FSN said the ruling conflicted with other precedents and raised exceptional issues "because of the massive judicial expansion of agency authority inherent in that decision." Calling itself "the skunk at the party," FSN said the statute required the FCC to classify broadband as a telecom service under Title II of the Communications Act, but the commission decision to forbear from much ISP regulation was "unreasonable." The FCC and DOJ recently defended the order (see 1610030029).

Intervenors defended the FCC net neutrality order against petitions for rehearing a court panel's June ruling upholding the order. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit twice before disagreed with FCC net neutrality decisions and provided "valuable guidance" the agency "faithfully and correctly applied," said a joint response (in Pacer) Monday from Cogent Communications, Dish Network, Free Press, Incompas, Netflix, New America's Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge and other intervenors in USTelecom v. FCC, No. 15-1063. Industry petitioners again attacked the rules even though the panel ruling doesn't conflict "with precedent or any issue of exceptional importance," they wrote. "As far as Intervenors can determine, this Court has not, in recent memory, ever granted rehearing to address such fact-bound and case-specific complaints." In another response (in Pacer), Full Service Network, which was denied in its challenge to FCC forbearance relief, asked the court to reconsider the panel ruling and precedents on which it relied. FSN said the ruling conflicted with other precedents and raised exceptional issues "because of the massive judicial expansion of agency authority inherent in that decision." Calling itself "the skunk at the party," FSN said the statute required the FCC to classify broadband as a telecom service under Title II of the Communications Act, but the commission decision to forbear from much ISP regulation was "unreasonable." The FCC and DOJ recently defended the order (see 1610030029).