Europe Is Expected to Approve E.U.-U.S. Data Transfer Pact
(The New York Times, Jun 29, 2016)
European officials are expected to approve a new agreement with the United States aimed at helping companies like General Electric and Google, among others, move online data between the two regions despite concerns about how the digital information of Europeans may be retrieved by the American government. The decision is based on renewed assurances by United States officials that Europeans’ data will be sufficiently protected when it is transferred outside the 28-member bloc.
Facebook wins privacy case against Belgian data protection authority
(Reuters, Jun 29, 2016)
The Belgian data protection authority on Wednesday lost a legal battle with Facebook in which it sought to stop the social network from tracking the online activities of non-Facebook users in Belgium who visit the social network's pages. The Belgian Privacy Commission said the Brussels Appeals Court had dismissed its case on the grounds that the regulator has no jurisdiction over Facebook, which has its European headquarters in Ireland.
Talk Of Moving TSA Checkpoints Outside
(CBS Local, Jun 29, 2016)
TSA checkpoints are a hassle travelers have come to accept, but new layers of security could further test your patience. Recent attacks on international airports in Brussels and Istanbul have some government agencies looking at expanded security perimeters. In both cases, terrorists in Brussels and Istanbul were able to bring bombs into airports, but not past checkpoints. Moving those checkpoints to the curb or inspecting cars as they first enter the airport could keep terrorists from ever making it inside.
Get Through Airport Customs Faster With This Free App
(The Wall Street Journal, Jun 29, 2016)
Even if you’re not planning a trip immediately, do yourself a favor and download the free Mobile Passport for Apple and Android phones now. With the app, American and most Canadian citizens can skip the slowest part of U.S. Customs by using a smartphone to import passport details, snap a selfie and answer basic questions. By entering all your info in the app, there’s no filling out forms or queuing to use one of the newer photo-booth kiosks.
Policymakers Not Focused Enough on Grid Cybersecurity, Think Tank Says
(The Wall Street Journal, Jun 29, 2016)
Policymakers aren’t focused enough on cybersecurity threats facing the country’s electric grids as more of the infrastructure becomes connected to the internet, a think tank said Wednesday. “Cybersecurity has simply not been a priority,” said Mark Mills, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of a forthcoming paper about the growing vulnerability of U.S. electric grids. More grid connectivity expands the attack surface for hackers looking to break into, control or damage physical grids.
Committee Releases Encryption Report
(House Homeland Security Committee, Jun 29, 2016)
On Wednesday the Majority Staff of the House Homeland Security Committee released a new report entitled, “Going Dark, Going Forward: A Primer on the Encryption Debate.” This first Congressional in-depth analysis of the issue summarizes the Committee’s findings, based on more than 100 meetings and briefings Committee staff and Members have held with key stakeholders over the past year.
Home Office Biometrics (HOB) Programme Delivery Partner, multi-location IT transformation
(UK Home Office, Jun 27, 2016)
The UK Home Office has released a solicitation for a partner to create a unified, integrated biometric service that that spans law enforcement and immigration applications, among others. The deadline to submit questions about the notice is July 4, and the closing date for applications is July 11. The budget for the program is expected to exceed £15 million, and work on the initiative is expected to begin no later than September 2016.
CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske Announces Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol
(CBP, Jun 20, 2016)
Last week CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske announced the selection of Mark Morgan as Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. Mr. Morgan is currently the Assistant Director of the FBI, leading the Training Division. His selection was based upon a nationwide search process that produced an extremely qualified group of law enforcement executives within the Border Patrol and among other federal law enforcement agencies.
DHS Announces Grant Allocations for Fiscal Year 2016 Preparedness Grants
(DHS, Jun 29, 2016)
As part of the Department of Homeland Security’s ongoing efforts to support state and local partners, Secretary Jeh Johnson Wednesday announced final allocations of $275 million for six FY 2016 DHS competitive preparedness grant programs. These allocations total more than $1.6 billion in FY 2016 to assist states, urban areas, tribal and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector with their preparedness efforts.
Safran expands business activities in Central America and Carribean with new location in Costa Rica
(Safran, Jun 23, 2016)
Safran Identity & Security, the global leader in identity and security, has announced it is expanding its business activities in Central America. The company has acquired the former office location of the Colombian-based Carvajal Group in Costa Rica. For Safran Identity & Security, this new location marks another important strategic development for its business activities in Central America and Carribean.
Safran board to meet to narrow bids for Morpho business
(Reuters, Jun 29, 2016)
The board of French aerospace group Safran will meet on Thursday to make a preliminary selection from a dozen offers for its Morpho biometrics and security business. Chief Executive Philippe Petitcolin said last week that it planned to narrow down the bids for Morpho and then carry out a second round of an auction in the autumn.
