
Caveat
Join us for thought provoking conversations on surveillance, digital privacy, and cybersecurity law and policy in the information age. Each week, hosts Dave Bittner and Ben Yelin break down the headlines, legal cases, and policy battles that matter most.
Latest episodes

Mar 2, 2023 • 47min
Cybersecurity and SMEs.
This week, Ben speaks with Melanie Teplinsky, Senior Fellow at American University's Washington College of Law to discuss cybersecurity for innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Ben and Dave both share thoughts and discuss what happened at the much anticipated Supreme Court oral arguments for Gonzalez v. Google, a major Section 230 case. While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney. Have the Justices Gotten Cold Feet About ‘Breaking the Internet’?Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 23, 2023 • 46min
The stand up of U.S. Cyber Command.
Charlie Moore, who is a former Deputy Commander of U.S. Cyber Command is discussing the stand up of U.S. Cyber Command, the development of U.S. cyber policy, and the development of DoD Cyber Policy. Ben discusses a proposed California law that would restrict so-called “reverse warrants.” Dave's got a story on the ruling from the fourth circuit on the first amendment right to film police.While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.
STOP REVERSE WARRANTS (AB 793)
Fourth Circuit Latest To Say Filming Cops Is Protected By The First Amendment
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 16, 2023 • 53min
Data privacy around the world.
Annick O'Brien, Global Data Privacy Lawyer at CybSafe sits down with Dave to discuss data privacy around the world, data minimization, GDPR and how tech companies are fighting against regulations. Ben's story talks about the debate around reauthorizing Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act. Dave's story covers data brokers capitalizing on the recent boom in mental health and the online data associated with tele-health and therapy apps.While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.
If Congress Wants to Protect Section 702, It Needs to Rein in the FBI
Now for sale: Data on your mental health
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 9, 2023 • 47min
Surveillance and the threat to press freedom.
Carrie DeCell, Senior Staff Attorney of Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, sits down to discuss the threat malicious surveillance technology poses to press freedom around the world. Dave and Ben share some listener follow up from Steve, who writes in asking about the Google Algorithm case before the Supreme Court. Ben discusses the debate around the nationwide ban on TikTok. Dave has the story on encryption technology that may improve online privacy.While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.
The Problem With Taking TikTok Away From Americans
Can a new form of cryptography solve the internet’s privacy problem?
Spyware and the Press
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 2, 2023 • 47min
Safely and securely moving to the cloud.
Willie Hicks, Federal Chief Technologist from Dynatrace, sits down to discuss accelerated adoption and use of secure cloud infrastructure and services by the federal government. Ben’s story is on a new academic paper on the terms of service documents provided by different internet providers, and whether they alter Fourth Amendment rights. Dave discusses the story of a recent federal court ruling on a section 230 case.While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.
Terms of Service and Fourth Amendment Rights
Federal Court: Service Providers Can’t Be Sued Over User-Generated Content, No Matter How Creatively The Allegations Are Framed
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 26, 2023 • 48min
Are there complications with digitizing healthcare?
This week, the CyberWire's UK Correspondent, Carole Theriault is discussing digitalization of healthcare with former BBC guru Rory Cellan Jones. Ben discusses a recent op-ed about the “danger of privacy at all costs” and response from critics. Dave's story is about the Supreme Court asking the Biden administration for input on social media laws in Florida and Texas.While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.
The Signal App and the Danger of Privacy at All Costs
Supreme Court seeks Biden admin input on Texas and Florida social media laws
Privacy and Its Discontents
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 19, 2023 • 55min
The relationship between organizations and their data.
Stephen Cavey, co-founder and chief evangelist from GroundLabs sits down with Dave to discuss the relationship between organizations and their data. Ben has the story of lawyers being denied entry to Madison Square Garden as the result of facial recognition software. Dave's got the story of some law professors worried about the new app sweeping the nation, ChatGPT.While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.
Lawyers Barred by Madison Square Garden Found a Way Back In
Some law professors fear ChatGPT's rise as others see opportunity
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 12, 2023 • 49min
New year, new data privacy.
Chris Gray from Deepwatch joins Dave to discuss 2022's shifts, as well as expectations in 2023 for data privacy from an international regulation standpoint. Ben's story covers a Seattle Public School District lawsuit against big tech companies, including TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Dave's got the story of an AI avatar generator that just can’t seem to resist sexualizing Asian women.While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.
Seattle Public Schools sues TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and others, seeking compensation for youth mental health crisis
The viral AI avatar app Lensa undressed me—without my consent
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 5, 2023 • 46min
Inside the largest data breaches in world history.
Andrew Hollister of LogRhythm joins Dave to discuss the Shanghai National Police data exposure incident, and how whether or not we will know the full details of one of the largest data breaches in world history. Ben's story discusses a groundbreaking Wisconsin court case relating to files stored in Dropbox, while Dave revisits the legality of AI generated code as a copyrights storm may be brewing.While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.
Ownership of AI-Generated Code Hotly Disputed A copyright storm may be brewing for GitHub Copilot
Dropbox search was illegal
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 29, 2022 • 49min
Encore: Do copyright laws threaten the open market?
Journalist Glyn Moody joins Ben to discuss his new book and specifically to focus on how copyright laws threaten the open market of ideas on the internet, and how the copyright world is throttling creativity in the digital realm. Ben shares a story on a new Executive Order from President Biden on surveillance and data sharing with the European Union. Dave's got the story of the consequences of a community banning ransomware payments.While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.
Under New Order, Europeans Can Complain to U.S. About Data Collection
NC is one of only two states to ban paying ransomware attackers. Is that wise?
Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices