Microsoft: UN treaty creates ‘ideal conditions’ for cybercrime

Amy Hogan-Burney, Associate General Counsel, Cybersecurity Policy & Protection at Microsoft, has voiced concerns about a Russia-led United Nations (UN) cybercrime treaty. 

As the global menace of cybercrime gains sophistication and extends its reach, a united front is crucial to effectively combat these digital threats. Concerted cooperation between law enforcement agencies, governmental bodies, international partners, and private corporations is required.

However,...

31 August 2023 | Legislation & Government

Surveillance balloons spotted over the US and Canada

High-altitude surveillance balloons have been spotted by US and Canadian authorities over their respective territories.

The first balloon was spotted in the US over sensitive American national security installations, including the Malmstrom Air Force Base. 150 nuclear-armed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles are located at the base.

The Pentagon claims the balloon belongs to China. Beijing has not taken responsibility but says that it’s looking into the...

3 February 2023 | Legislation & Government

UK ditches plan to force ISPs to conduct mass surveillance

The UK Government has ditched a plan to force ISPs to conduct mass surveillance of their users.

Former British Prime Minister Theresa May previously served as Home Secretary during a particularly difficult period for national security when there was a particularly high prevalence of terror attacks. A number of ministers and intelligence agencies called for increased data collection to help combat this scourge.

May intended to introduce a bill named the Draft...

4 March 2022 | Legislation & Government

FBI used the Patriot Act to gather web records without a warrant

The FBI used controversial provisions of the Patriot Act to gather the records of website visitors without a warrant.

According to the New York Times, the specific provisions the US government is using to justify its actions can be found in Section 215 of the Patriot Act—which lapsed, along with two other bits of surveillance legislation, earlier this year.

Data collected about Americans includes who has visited specific web pages. Federal investigators stop short of...

4 December 2020 | Legislation & Government

The UK wants the ‘Five Eyes’ to fund and procure Huawei alternatives

The UK is turning to its “Five Eyes” partners and beyond to find a replacement to Huawei’s equipment amid increasing security concerns.

Huawei has been cautiously welcomed in the UK’s telecoms networks for decades as relations between London and Beijing have enjoyed a relatively harmonious period. However, with 5G being used for ever more critical applications, Western countries are concerned about the influence foreign powers may have within their...

13 July 2020 | Legislation & Government

China begins imposing its ‘Great Firewall’ on the citizens of Hong Kong

China’s strict internet censorship is coming to Hong Kong following the passing of a controversial security law.

The so-called Great Firewall of China restricts what internet services and websites citizens can legally access. Google, for example, cannot be easily accessed in China as Beijing cannot control what information citizens can consume in the same way as national alternatives like Baidu.

Hong Kong is supposed to operate under a “one country, two systems”...

9 July 2020 | Legislation & Government