The First Water War | What Constitutes ‘Critical’ Software | Covid Authoritarianism Sweeps Europe, and more
The treaty “will reinforce our ability to jointly respond swiftly and effectively to terrorist threats in the Channel,” he added. There was no immediate communication on the new treaty from the French government. The British government emphasized that the treaty is aimed at fighting terror threats and incidents in the Channel and is not intended to tackle illegal migration.
ADL Urges IRS to Investigate as It Warns Extremist Groups Exploit Being Registered as Charities (Jemima McEvoy, Forbes)
The Anti-Defamation League is urging action from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) against a number of extremist and hate groups, including some associated with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, that it says may be using their non-profit status to “further their violent objectives or enrich their leaders.” The ADL published a report Monday identifying a number of extremist and hateful groups operating as “charitable” 501 (c)(3) or (c)(4) organizations it said appear to be abusing their tax-exempt status. Through analyzing the filings of more than 30 different groups, the ADL found some had misrepresented their purpose to gain non-profit status. For example, American Patriot Vanguard, a group that appears to be connected to the anti-government militia known as the Three Percenters, was granted tax-exempt status in 2019 after it said its purpose was to “provide assistance to underserved communities and our veterans.” Once registered as non-profits, a number of groups seem to have abused their status in other ways, says the ADL, which found instances of dealing leaders excessive salaries (representing more than half of an entity’s annual revenue in some cases) and diverting funds to enrich friends and family members.
Homeland Security Would Need Years to Prepare for New Amnesty (Stephen Dinan, Washington Examiner)
Secret study found 11 million man-hour work backlog at citizenship agency.
What the Review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Tells Us About How Far We Have Come Since 9/11 (Eelco Kessels and Melissa Lefas, Just Security)
Twenty years after 9/11, the upcoming 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September is sure to be a time for reflection on U.N. and global efforts to counter terrorism and prevent the spread of violent extremism. However, the real story can already be gleaned from the recent negotiations and review of the U.N. Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (Strategy). First adopted by consensus in 2006, the Strategy was significant for its comprehensive approach to countering terrorism, including a focus on addressing the conditions conducive to its spread and centering human rights in responses to it. The seventh review resolution, adopted by the General Assembly on June 30, shows both the progress that has been made since 2001 and reveals the many challenges that still lay ahead.
What Constitutes ‘Critical’ Software in Biden’s Executive Order on Cybersecurity? (Robert J. Bowman, Supply Chain Brain)
At the direction of President Biden, the National Institute of Standards and Technology recently issued an updated definition of what constitutes “critical” software components that are commonly found within supply chains. But according to one cybersecurity expert, the language reveals a curious omission.
In proposing which aspects of cybersecurity technology should be included in the initial implementation phase of the Administration’s executive order to review and secure the nation’s critical supply chains, NIST excludes embedded software and firmware components, notes Eric Greenwald, general counsel with Finite State, a provider of connected device security systems.
Acknowledging that such components are often “critical” to securing I.T. systems, NIST nevertheless suggests that they’re too complex in nature to be included in the early implementation phase of the Administration’s efforts.
Targeting Trucking: How to Prepare for a Cyberattack (Aaron Huff, CCJDigital)
The recent shutdown of America’s largest gasoline pipeline recently resulted in a shock to the U.S.’s infrastructure topped off with a $5 million payout to hackers while serving as another warning that cyberattacks pose ever-present risks.
As of early May 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates a nearly threefold increase in ransomware attacks during the past year. A majority of these attacks targeted smaller businesses.
A new whitepaper by Polaris Transportation Group (PTG) outlines a strategy it has been successfully using to mitigate these risks.
Technology that Enables Real-Time Collaboration is Key to Combatting Wildfires and other Natural Disasters (Techwire)
Emergency organizations are benefitting from a web and mobile-enabled “Common Operating Picture” that helps coordinate response.
