The Senate Homeland Security Committee is investigating the SolarWinds cyberattack and exploring a potential hearing, Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., told us: “We’re going to do an investigation, look into that and look at a potential hearing.” Microsoft, Google, FireEye and several federal agencies were potentially exposed in the Russia-linked attack (see 2101190067).
A Bureau of Industry and Security spokesperson dismissed criticism from national security experts that technology is moving too fast for BIS export controls (see 2101290021) and said the agency is committed to continuing its congressionally mandated emerging technology efforts. “That technology is developing quickly does not negate the imperative of appropriate export controls to prevent access by actors who would use those technologies contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests,” the spokesperson said in a Jan. 29 email. Although BIS has issued 38 emerging technology controls, the House’s Republican-led China Task Force last year criticized BIS for being too slow to roll out a substantial list of emerging and foundational technologies (see 2010010020). The spokesperson said BIS is still reviewing the roughly 80 comments it received on its pre-rule for foundational technologies (see 2008260045 and 2011130037).
Jessica Rosenworcel’s first meeting as acting FCC chairwoman was a video call with public interest groups Wednesday, according to interviews and a filing posted Monday in docket 20-445. Free Press, Public Knowledge, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, Electronic Frontier Foundation and 22 other groups laid out preferred policies.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee is investigating the SolarWinds cyberattack and exploring a potential hearing, Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., told us: “We’re going to do an investigation, look into that and look at a potential hearing.” Microsoft, Google, FireEye and several federal agencies were potentially exposed in the Russia-linked attack (see 2101190067).
The European Union wants to work more closely with the U.S. on sanctions and technology issues and is hoping to establish an international trade and technology council to regulate emerging technologies, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said. Speaking during a Feb. 1 event hosted by the German Marshall Fund, Dombrovskis also called for more EU-U.S. unity on a range of other topics, including reform at the World Trade Organization and measures to counter illegal Chinese trade practices. “This is precisely why we need to put our current trade disputes behind us,” Dombrovskis said, referencing the Boeing/Airbus dispute and U.S. Section 232 tariffs on European steel and aluminum (see 2101270049).
The Senate Homeland Security Committee is investigating the SolarWinds cyberattack and exploring a potential hearing, Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., told us: “We’re going to do an investigation, look into that and look at a potential hearing.” Microsoft, Google, FireEye and several federal agencies were potentially exposed in the Russia-linked attack (see 2101190067).
More foreign investors are opting to submit a filing with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. out of an abundance of caution, even when there is no mandatory filing requirement, George Grammas, a trade lawyer with Squire Patton, said. Grammas said “sophisticated” investors are especially likely to file before the investment is complete, particularly as CFIUS continues a trend of reviewing years-old investments.
Sinclair taps Jeffrey Lewis, ex-AT&T, for chief compliance officer, new position supervising functions including regulatory, competition and privacy; broadcaster promotes Billy Robbins to vice president-general manager, WBFF Baltimore, also overseeing company’s services to WNUV Baltimore ... Rob Leathern, ex-Facebook, says he joins Google Privacy and Data Protection Office to lead product development and is a vice president; company doesn't comment ... Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Leadership Conference Education Fund add Kiersten Thornton, ex-National Association of Home Builders and Wiley law firm, as vice president-people and culture; and Stephen Peters, ex-Modern Military Association of America, as director-media relations; and moves Tamara Chrisler to senior adviser-organizational compliance and development.
Sinclair taps Jeffrey Lewis, ex-AT&T, for chief compliance officer, new position supervising functions including regulatory, competition and privacy; broadcaster promotes Billy Robbins to vice president-general manager, WBFF Baltimore, also overseeing company’s services to WNUV Baltimore ... Rob Leathern, ex-Facebook, says he joins Google Privacy and Data Protection Office to lead product development and is a vice president; company doesn't comment ... Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Leadership Conference Education Fund add Kiersten Thornton, ex-National Association of Home Builders and Wiley law firm, as vice president-people and culture; and Stephen Peters, ex-Modern Military Association of America, as director-media relations; and moves Tamara Chrisler to senior adviser-organizational compliance and development.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, President Joe Biden’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said she would support sanctions against China and will lead an effort to stop the country from taking over international standards-setting bodies. She said she also will take aggressive measures to counter China’s growing role at the United Nations and its human rights violations. “I see that as my highest priority,” she told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jan. 27 during confirmation proceedings.