Google received nearly 49,000 government requests globally for user data involving more than 83,000 accounts for the first half of 2017, it reported Thursday. Richard Salgado, director-law enforcement and information security, blogged that the information includes requests for user data in criminal case and national security matters. In the first six months of 2016, Google received nearly 45,000 requests globally for data involving more than 76,700 accounts. In the U.S., Google received more than 16,800 requests -- including subpoenas, search warrants, court orders and emergency disclosures -- for user data from more than 33,700 accounts in the first six months of 2017. In the year-ago period, the company got nearly 13,700 requests about more than 27,200 U.S. accounts.
Google received nearly 49,000 government requests globally for user data involving more than 83,000 accounts for the first half of 2017, it reported Thursday. Richard Salgado, director-law enforcement and information security, blogged that the information includes requests for user data in criminal case and national security matters. In the first six months of 2016, Google received nearly 45,000 requests globally for data involving more than 76,700 accounts. In the U.S., Google received more than 16,800 requests -- including subpoenas, search warrants, court orders and emergency disclosures -- for user data from more than 33,700 accounts in the first six months of 2017. In the year-ago period, the company got nearly 13,700 requests about more than 27,200 U.S. accounts.
Walter Copan, National Institute of Standards and Technology director nominee, emphasized the importance of increasing the visibility and private sector use of the agency's cybersecurity framework, during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday. He faced questions on cybersecurity and on providing support for FirstNet (see 1709270056). Meanwhile, Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman nominee Ann Marie Buerkle, up for reconfirmation, faced a question from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., on the extent to which the CPSC should factor into its work IoT and other emerging technologies. The NIST framework is an “essential underpinning for both national security and economic security,” Copan said in response to a question from Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. “If confirmed, I look forward to leading this organization to further develop and communicate” the framework and adapting other cybersecurity tools to a rapidly changing marketplace. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., asked Copan to talk about how he would “ensure FirstNet is able to provide reliable priority service” to first responders. NIST's role “in understanding the allocation of spectrum and supporting technologies for FirstNet is a high priority,” Copan said. Cortez Masto suggested Buerkle consider how CPSC's interest should expand in response to “this new technological age,” particularly in relation to IoT and digital products. “We are beginning our inquiry” into how IoT and other digital products will change how CPSC conducts hazard inquiries and recalls, Buerkle said. “It is something that we are paying attention to and will look to invest some funds into it.”
Walter Copan, National Institute of Standards and Technology director nominee, emphasized the importance of increasing the visibility and private sector use of the agency's cybersecurity framework, during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday. He faced questions on cybersecurity and on providing support for FirstNet (see 1709270056). Meanwhile, Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman nominee Ann Marie Buerkle, up for reconfirmation, faced a question from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., on the extent to which the CPSC should factor into its work IoT and other emerging technologies. The NIST framework is an “essential underpinning for both national security and economic security,” Copan said in response to a question from Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. “If confirmed, I look forward to leading this organization to further develop and communicate” the framework and adapting other cybersecurity tools to a rapidly changing marketplace. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., asked Copan to talk about how he would “ensure FirstNet is able to provide reliable priority service” to first responders. NIST's role “in understanding the allocation of spectrum and supporting technologies for FirstNet is a high priority,” Copan said. Cortez Masto suggested Buerkle consider how CPSC's interest should expand in response to “this new technological age,” particularly in relation to IoT and digital products. “We are beginning our inquiry” into how IoT and other digital products will change how CPSC conducts hazard inquiries and recalls, Buerkle said. “It is something that we are paying attention to and will look to invest some funds into it.”
Walter Copan, National Institute of Standards and Technology director nominee, emphasized the importance of increasing the visibility and private sector use of the agency's cybersecurity framework, during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday. He faced questions on cybersecurity and on providing support for FirstNet (see 1709270056). Meanwhile, Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman nominee Ann Marie Buerkle, up for reconfirmation, faced a question from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., on the extent to which the CPSC should factor into its work IoT and other emerging technologies. The NIST framework is an “essential underpinning for both national security and economic security,” Copan said in response to a question from Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. “If confirmed, I look forward to leading this organization to further develop and communicate” the framework and adapting other cybersecurity tools to a rapidly changing marketplace. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., asked Copan to talk about how he would “ensure FirstNet is able to provide reliable priority service” to first responders. NIST's role “in understanding the allocation of spectrum and supporting technologies for FirstNet is a high priority,” Copan said. Cortez Masto suggested Buerkle consider how CPSC's interest should expand in response to “this new technological age,” particularly in relation to IoT and digital products. “We are beginning our inquiry” into how IoT and other digital products will change how CPSC conducts hazard inquiries and recalls, Buerkle said. “It is something that we are paying attention to and will look to invest some funds into it.”
Early results of the third nationwide test of the emergency alert system Wednesday indicate few problems and a response in line with expectations, according to interviews with officials from broadcast and pay-TV EAS participants, state EAS representatives and the equipment industry. Roughly half the participants received the alert through the internet-based Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and half through the older, broadcast-based system, as expected (see 1708250053).
California slammed FirstNet and AT&T for a little-improved state plan and “vague” responses to the state’s hundreds of questions. Meanwhile, an NTIA delay in delivering key details about the opt-out process created uncertainty for states that haven’t decided whether to accept AT&T state plans, state officials said. By statute, the 90-day shot clock for governors to decide begins after FirstNet provides the state plan and NTIA determines the funding level for the state. The agency will release information soon, a spokesman said.
FCC commissioners voted 4-1 to adopt an NPRM on auctioning toll-free numbers while setting aside some phone numbers for public purposes. Commissioner Mignon Clyburn dissented, saying a notice of inquiry would have been more appropriate, given "significant uncertainties." At their meeting Tuesday, commissioners also unanimously approved an NOI on the provision of 911 service by centralized enterprise communications systems (ECS) in office buildings, hotels, schools and other complexes. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency should undertake a broader effort to usher in Next-Generation 911 systems: "Today's inquiry regarding enterprise systems is a start -- but we need to do much, much more."
The Department of Homeland Security asked the FCC keep industry reporting requirements on undersea cable circuit capacity. The reports are "critical to national and homeland security functions," said the department's National Protection and Programs Directorate in a filing posted Monday in docket 17-55. The NPPD said the information, combined with other data, provides its Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis "a unique and more complete overall communications network picture." The department "uses these data to protect and preserve national security and for emergency response purposes," NPPD said. "The resulting analysis is also relied upon in the classified setting to influence key national security decision-making." It said commercial sources of the information are not viewed with high confidence and don't include a breakout of "owned," "leased," and "indefeasible rights of use" capacity. NPPD took no position on international traffic and revenue reporting duties. Industry parties urged the FCC to scrap the traffic and revenue reporting duties, and many also backed eliminating the circuit capacity reporting duties (see 1705190028).
The Department of Homeland Security asked the FCC keep industry reporting requirements on undersea cable circuit capacity. The reports are "critical to national and homeland security functions," said the department's National Protection and Programs Directorate in a filing posted Monday in docket 17-55. The NPPD said the information, combined with other data, provides its Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis "a unique and more complete overall communications network picture." The department "uses these data to protect and preserve national security and for emergency response purposes," NPPD said. "The resulting analysis is also relied upon in the classified setting to influence key national security decision-making." It said commercial sources of the information are not viewed with high confidence and don't include a breakout of "owned," "leased," and "indefeasible rights of use" capacity. NPPD took no position on international traffic and revenue reporting duties. Industry parties urged the FCC to scrap the traffic and revenue reporting duties, and many also backed eliminating the circuit capacity reporting duties (see 1705190028).