Posts Tagged: "NSA"

What Does GDPR Mean for Your Business?

It has been a big last couple of years for the European Union in the political and business spectrums; what with Brexit and changes to the cybersecurity paradigm. The latter, in particular, will see even bigger changes once the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) becomes instantiated into law. The scope of this initiative is as broad as it comes, and will alter how business is done in technology, cybersecurity, marketing and even human resources… GDPR takes measures to ensure that EU citizens have individual rights exceeding any claims made by any company that deals with collecting, processing or storing their data; as such, there are guidelines that cover how an organization should properly track all such information in order to facilitate compliance checks.

Can better facial recognition technology prevent the next ISIL attack?

Facial recognition technologies often raise privacy concerns, but as it becomes more reliable and accurate it can also identify suspicious persons before they are able to execute an attack. Research taking place at Old Dominion is also leading to better prototypes for facial recognition technologies that can recognize terrorists before they enter the country. A project funded by the DoD has been looking into ways to improve facial recognition technologies for use at vulnerable locations like airports and sports stadiums.

Google surveillance programs bring out the creepier side of tech

The mainstream media has been aflame over a recently unveiled Google innovation which poses an Orwellian challenge to family privacy in the eyes of some critics. A patent application published May 21st by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describes a smart toy developed by Google which can respond to a child’s voice or gestures. Some of the creep factor inspired by this invention might simply be the result of Google’s ability to create products which naturally ingratiate themselves with users. For instance, the patent application cites the benefits of the anthropomorphic device taking on a “cute” and “toy-like” form, specifically where it comes to attracting the attention of young children.

The Government vs. General Alexander: Who Owns His Inventions

Certainly, Gen. Alexander can seek to leverage his NSA experience and expertise in developing a lucrative post-government career, however, the filing of the patent applications so soon after leaving government service and their cybersecurity subject raises serious questions about who actually owns these inventions and whether Gen. Alexander is seeking to profit from inventions that actually belong to the government. In interviews, Gen. Alexander has asserted that he discussed the ownership of these patent applications with lawyers at the NSA and has been assured that his inventions are not related to any work he did for the NSA, and, consequently, the inventions belong to him and not to the government. That NSA lawyers have purportedly concluded that his inventions are unrelated to his work is cold comfort in this era of Edward Snowden revelations.