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-- 2017 --
March 28: The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to repeal Internet privacy protections that were approved by the Federal Communications Commission in the final days of the Obama administration.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/28/technology/house-internet-privacy-repeal/index.html
March 30: President Trump will sign a bill repealing the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband privacy rules
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/326554-trump-to-sign-resolution-nixing-broadband-privacy-rules
March 30: Internet users are fighting back after Congress voted to block Obama-era internet privacy protections. Two fundraising campaigns have so far raised more than $215,000 to purchase and reveal lawmakers' browsing histories.
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/326462-internet-users-raise-more-than-200000-to-buy-lawmakers-browsing-histories
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March 31: The rules to protect customer data were passed in October of last year but wouldn’t have taken effect until December 2017, [Wired reporter Klint] Finley said. So the bill passed on Tuesday simply blocks those rules from taking effect, Finley said.
“Mostly it means that internet service providers now have the go-ahead to sell [your] data,” Finley explained. “It was already technically legal, but if any companies were holding off on doing it while they waited to see if the laws went into effect or not, they don’t have to wait anymore.”
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/lament-end-internet-privacy-read
May: The WannaCry ransomware attack was a worldwide cyberattack by the WannaCry[a] ransomware cryptoworm, which targeted computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system by encrypting data and demanding ransom payments in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency.[7]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WannaCry_ransomware_attack
May 26: The WannaCry ransomware that attacked computers in 150 countries has lines of code that are identical to work by hackers known as the Lazarus Group, according to security experts. The Lazarus hackers have been linked to North Korea, raising suspicions that the nation could be responsible for the attack. ... While the revelation stands as the most substantial public details about the cyberattack's origin, it's not seen as enough to assign blame — at least in part because it's common to copy code.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/16/528587064/north-korea-may-be-linked-to-wannacry-ransomware-researchers-say
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May 22: The ransomware attack on worldwide computer networks earlier this month largely spared those of the federal government. While the government dodged a bullet this time, experts say, its systems are still vulnerable — although perhaps less so than in the past. ... the Obama administration put quite a bit of emphasis on getting things patched, getting things up to date and cleaning up unsupported operating systems ... In an executive order signed earlier this month, President Trump called for more robust deterrence against attackers.
http://www.npr.org/2017/05/22/529518708/federal-computers-dodge-global-malware-attack-this-time
June 28: No, Donald Trump Isn't Calling for an Internet Tax
https://www.wired.com/story/donald-trump-internet-tax-amazon/
September 8: Fact checking President Trump's repeated claim of credit for Foxconn's deal in Wisconsin
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-trump-foxconn-wisconsin-fact-check-20170908-story.html
September 23: Trump Administration Sued Over Phone Searches at U.S. Border
The Trump administration is increasingly allowing federal border agents to seize and search -- sometimes violently -- the mobile phones and laptops of thousands of U.S. citizens and lawful immigrants as they enter the country, two advocacy groups said in a lawsuit.
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The lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal challenges to President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, including a travel ban against several Muslim-majority countries and the halt to a federal program allowing undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, known as Dreamers, to avoid deportation. The administration argues the steps are needed to improve security and stop terrorism, but rights groups say there are limits.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-13/trump-administration-sued-over-phone-searches-at-u-s-border
December 12: GOP Rep. Calls for Delaying Net Neutrality Vote ... Coffman Says Congress needs to first hold hearings, strike legislative compromise
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/gop-rep-calls-delaying-net-neutrality-vote/170609
December 18: Bloomberg, Twitter launch global news network TicToc
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/social-media/bloomberg-twitter-launch-global-news-network-tictoc/article9995835.ece
-- 2018 --
February 2: President Trump backs online sales tax: What it means for you http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2018/02/02/president-trump-backs-online-sales-tax-what-it-means-for.html
February 21: Officials from the U.K. Government’s Home Office have been working with London-based ASI Data Science to develop the technology, which uses machine learning to detect online terrorist propaganda. Tests have shown that the new tool can automatically detect 94 percent of Islamic State propaganda with 99.995 percent accuracy, according to a Home Office statement. Crucially, the tool can be integrated into the upload process, officials say, a bold move that could prevent terrorist propaganda reaching the internet.
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2018/02/13/uk-touts-way-to-block-isis-propaganda-from-appearing-online.html
March 5: Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow Internet sales tax collection
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-to-allow-internet-sales-tax-collection
March 6: Washington becomes first state to pass law protecting net neutrality
http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/06/technology/washington-state-net-neutrality-law/index.html
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May 10: Trump Administration Loses Effort to Halt Phone-Search Suit
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-10/trump-administration-loses-effort-to-halt-phone-search-lawsuit
May 16: The battle over net neutrality isn’t over yet.
The U.S. Senate is voting on Wednesday on whether to rollback the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality. Several Democratic senators pushed for the vote using the Congressional Review Act — allowing Congress to thwart agency regulations. The FCC struck down Obama-era net neutrality rules last December, with the move spearheaded by Ajit Pai, President Trump’s appointed chairman.
The 49 Democratic senators will need help on Wednesday, though, from at least one more Republican. To force the review to head to the House of Representatives, the Democrats will need 51 votes. The Dems have already added Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, to join their side.
https://www.thewrap.com/senate-vote-net-neutrality-how-to-watch-live/
June 7: Net neutrality will be repealed Monday unless Congress takes action
Senate voted to save net neutrality, but the House hasn't scheduled a vote.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/06/net-neutrality-will-be-repealed-monday-unless-congress-takes-action/
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June 7: Senate Democrats on Thursday made a last-ditch request for a House vote to reverse the Federal Communications Commission’s decision due to take effect on Monday repealing so-called net neutrality rules that sought to ensure equal internet access.
On May 16, the U.S. Senate voted 52 to 47 to overturn the FCC decision with three Republicans voting with 47 Democrats and two independents to reverse the Trump administration’s action.
But to retain the net neutrality rules, the U.S. House must vote in line with the Senate, and President Donald Trump would also have to sign the measure.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet/democrats-urge-u-s-house-vote-on-net-neutrality-rules-as-end-nears-idUSKCN1J32XH
June 7: Facebook Breached Your Privacy, Again ... Facebook Shares Your Secrets: Facebook says it accidentally changed settings for 14 million users last month causing posts they may have thought were private to be public.
http://money.cnn.com/2018/06/07/technology/pacific-newsletter/index.html
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June 20: Bitcoin could 'bring the internet to a halt,' banking group warns
That's one of the messages from a new report by an organization that represents dozens of the world's central banks.
The report's authors were unimpressed, detailing a range of problems with trying to adopt cryptocurrencies as a widely used form of money.
They include the danger that just processing all the payments "could bring the internet to a halt," said the report, which was published Sunday.
http://money.cnn.com/2018/06/18/technology/bitcoin-cryptocurrencies-internet-bis/index.html
June 21: Supreme Court rules states can require online retailers to collect sales tax
The justices broke with 50 years' worth of legal rulings that barred the states from imposing sales taxes on most of the purchases their residents make from out-of-state retailers.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-states-can-require-online-retailers-collect-sales-n873416
June 21: Trump praises Supreme Court ruling in internet sales tax case
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/393560-trump-praises-supreme-court-ruling-in-internet-sales-tax-case
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September 30: The Department of Justice said it is filing a lawsuit against the state of California over its new net neutrality protections, hours after Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law on Sunday.
The California law would be the strictest net neutrality protections in the country, and could serve as a blueprint for other states. Under the law, internet service providers will not be allowed to block or slow specific types of content or applications, or charge apps or companies fees for faster access to customers.
https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/30/technology/california-net-neutrality-law/index.html
October 3: A nationwide wireless emergency test was sent out Wednesday afternoon, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency conducted its first "presidential alert."
While users can choose not to participate in messages of missing children and natural disasters, they are required to receive presidential alerts, which are sent out at the direction of the White House and activated by FEMA.
Rules outlined in a 2006 law states that the White House can issue a presidential alert only if the public were in peril, or during national emergencies. The alert cannot be a personal message on behalf of the president.
The wireless alert system launched in 2012.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/fema-tests-presidential-alert-to-225-million-electronic-devices
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October 27: The Russia Investigations: The U.S. Launches A Digital Offensive — Gently
https://www.npr.org/2018/10/27/661149098/the-russia-investigations-the-u-s-launches-a-digital-offensive-gently
November 30: Marriott says breach of Starwood guest database compromised info of up to 500 million
The breach could potentially be one of the largest in history, behind the hacking of about 3 billion Yahoo accounts.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/marriott-says-data-breach-compromised-info-500-million-guests-n942041
December 6: China is demanding the release of telecoms giant Huawei's chief financial officer, who has been detained in Canada.
Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the company's founder, could face extradition to the US.
She was arrested in Vancouver on 1 December, but the news was not made public at her request.
The charges remain unknown but the US has been probing Huawei over possible violation of sanctions against Iran.
China says her detention is possibly a rights abuse.
Ms Meng has sought a publication ban on the details of the arrest, which has been granted by the courts.
Huawei said it was "not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms Meng".
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46465768
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December 6: Internet Users Are Finding Creative Ways To Mess With Giuliani’s Old Tweets
Trump’s attorney claims people are invading his texts, but he’s just forgetting to put spaces after periods.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/giuliani-tweet-pranksters-collusion_us_5c0950c1e4b069028dc7a12d
December 14: U.S. Tech Giant Cloudflare Provides Cybersecurity For At Least 7 Terror Groups
Among its customers are the Taliban, al-Shabab and Hamas.
In the United States, it’s a crime to knowingly provide tangible or intangible “material support” — including communications equipment — to a designated foreign terrorist organization or to provide service to an OFAC-sanctioned entity without special permission. Cloudflare, which is not authorized by the OFAC to do business with such organizations, has been informed on multiple occasions, dating back to at least 2012, that it is shielding terrorist groups behind its network, and it continues to do so.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cloudflare-cybersecurity-terrorist-groups_us_5c127778e4b0835fe3277f2f
-- 2019 --
-- 2020 --
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