U.S. tech giants come under increasing scrutiny abroad

It seems somewhat unlikely that Washington will muster the willpower to regulate "big tech" in any meaningful way any time soon, even as the industry becomes the focus of growing criticism in the United States. Yet increasingly, the American companies that dominate the digital world are finding themselves the target of foreign critics and regulators. … Continue reading U.S. tech giants come under increasing scrutiny abroad

WCry ransomware attack exposes murky NSA-corporate ties yet again

Last week's cyberattack on computers in multiple countries via ransomware known as "WannaCry"  has made numerous headlines and sparked much discussion and criticism. One side of the story of this major security breach to receive less attention, however, is the light it shines on the cozy relationship between major tech companies and the National Security … Continue reading WCry ransomware attack exposes murky NSA-corporate ties yet again

Arrests in Turkey Show War on Terror Ambiguity

Following an incident in May when U.S. Special Forces were photographed near Raqqa, Syria, wearing patches representing what is considered a terrorist group by Turkey - and, technically, by the U.S. as well - a representative of the international press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders has been arrested by Turkish authorities on "terrorist propaganda" charges. … Continue reading Arrests in Turkey Show War on Terror Ambiguity

Anti-Terror Algorithms Raise Ethics, Effectiveness Questions

With a renewed focus on countering ISIS following the Orlando massacre, new tactics are being suggested for defeating the terror network and those it inspires. Among the suggestions are technologies to allegedly predict terrorist attacks and to automatically censor social media, although neither method is fully developed. The idea of predicting terrorist attacks using an … Continue reading Anti-Terror Algorithms Raise Ethics, Effectiveness Questions

Vulnerabilities Revealed Amidst Digital ‘Arms Race’

Although encrypted data has reportedly not yet posed a problem for investigators in the Orlando killing spree case, that didn't stop early media speculation that the investigation could reignite high-profile battles over data security. Earlier this year, Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation got into a fight over security features on a phone related to the … Continue reading Vulnerabilities Revealed Amidst Digital ‘Arms Race’