
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

Feb 8, 2024 • 50min
Looking to other countries when regulating AI.
Josh Harguess, AI Security Chief at Cranium, discusses AI regulation comparisons between the US and other regions. Topics include the NSA purchasing US internet data, concerns about privacy and oversight, the ongoing legal battles between big social media platforms and states, and a comparison of AI regulation efforts. The chapter also explores the recent EU AI Act and its focus on risk-based regulation.

Feb 1, 2024 • 50min
Encore: 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

Jan 25, 2024 • 55min
Guarding the ballot box.
Padraic O'Reilly from CyberSaint sits down to discuss privacy and mitigating election security cyber risk. Ben discusses an important case in administrative law that may have profound effects on the tech industry. Dave's got the story of an alleged wrongful arrest based on facial recognition technology. 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. Links to the stories:
Not even the Supreme Court can make Congress do its job
Facial recognition used after Sunglass Hut robbery led to man’s wrongful jailing, says suit
Caveat BriefingA companion weekly newsletter is available CyberWire Pro members on the CyberWire's website. If you are a member, make sure you subscribe to receive our weekly wrap-up of privacy, policy, and research news, focused on incidents, techniques, tips, compliance, rights, trends, threats, policy, and influence ops delivered to you inbox each Thursday.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 21, 2024 • 35min
Two viewpoints on the National Cybersecurity Strategy. [Special Edition]
Earlier this month, the White House released the National Cybersecurity Strategy, the first issued since 2018. The strategy refocuses roles, responsibilities, and resource allocations in the digital ecosystem, with a five pillar approach. Those pillars are: defending critical infrastructure, disrupting threat actors, shaping market forces to drive security and resilience, investing in a resilient future, and forging international partnerships.We wanted to delve into the strategy and its intended effects further, so Dave Bittner spoke with representatives from industry and inside government. Dave first speaks with Adam Isles, Principal and Head of Cybersecurity Practice at The Chertoff Group, sharing industry's take on the strategy. Following that conversation, Dave had a discussion with Steve Kelly, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technology at the National Security Council, for a look at the strategy from inside the White House.Links to resources:
Point of View: 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy The Chertoff Group's blog
National Cybersecurity Strategy 2023
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 18, 2024 • 30min
Exploring the cosmic frontier: Unveiling the future of space law.
Bryce Kennedy, President of the Association of Commercial Space Professionals (ACSP), is sharing what is on horizon in space law. Bryce is also a space lawyer and a regular contributor to our T-Minus daily space podcast right here on the N2K podcast network.You can hear more from the T-Minus space daily show here.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. Caveat BriefingA companion weekly newsletter is available CyberWire Pro members on the CyberWire's website. If you are a member, make sure you subscribe to receive our weekly wrap-up of privacy, policy, and research news, focused on incidents, techniques, tips, compliance, rights, trends, threats, policy, and influence ops delivered to you inbox each Thursday.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 11, 2024 • 45min
Combatting the privacy pandemic.
Author Chris Smith is sharing his book, Privacy Pandemic: How Cybercriminals Determine Targets, Attack Identities, and Violate Privacy―and How Consumers, Companies, and Policymakers Can Fight Back. Dave's got word that the Federal Trade Commission is updating its Health Breach Notification Rule. Ben has the story of an upcoming court case relating to online video 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. Links to stories:
EFF Asks Court to Uphold Federal Law That Protects Online Video Viewers’ Privacy and Free Expression
The Most Critical Elements of the FTC’s Health Breach Rulemaking
Caveat BriefingA companion weekly newsletter is available CyberWire Pro members on the CyberWire's website. If you are a member, make sure you subscribe to receive our weekly wrap-up of privacy, policy, and research news, focused on incidents, techniques, tips, compliance, rights, trends, threats, policy, and influence ops delivered to you inbox each Thursday.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 4, 2024 • 54min
Swatting gets out of control.
Caleb Barlow from Cyberbit is talking with Dave Bittner and Ben Yelin about a swatting incident that got out of control after a Danvers police officer accidentally shot a gun on the floor of a private school. 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. Links to stories:
Video shows Danvers police officer accidentally firing gun in St. John's Prep shooting scare
Police shot gun during hoax school shooting at St. John’s: Here’s what happened
Students, staff evacuate St. John's Prep after 'swatting' incident
St. John’s Prep says police, counselors and comfort dogs will be on campus when classes resume on Wednesday
Caveat BriefingA companion weekly newsletter is available CyberWire Pro members on the CyberWire's website. If you are a member, make sure you subscribe to receive our weekly wrap-up of privacy, policy, and research news, focused on incidents, techniques, tips, compliance, rights, trends, threats, policy, and influence ops delivered to you inbox each Thursday.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 28, 2023 • 48min
Encore: The U.S. and China's cyber relationship.
Luke Tenery from StoneTurn joins Dave to discuss the OPM breach, including a look back at this hack, what the fallout has been, and what has changed in the U.S.- Chinese cyber relationship. Ben shares an appeals court case on free speech rights and social media. Dave has a story of online health tracking services oversharing with the popular social media app, Facebook. 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.
Victory! Federal Court Upholds First Amendment Protections for Student’s Off-Campus Social Media Post
Digital Medical Companies Funnel Patient Data To Facebook For Advertising
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 21, 2023 • 43min
Having your CISOs back.
Paul Kurtz from Splunk is sharing the CISO/board perspective on the SEC cyber regulations that just went into effect. Ben has the story of Google moving to end geofence warrants. Dave has got the story of the ongoing debate on whether or not to pay the ransom.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. Links to stories:
Google moves to end geofence warrants, a surveillance problem it largely created
Don’t ban payments to ransomware gangs, cyber experts say
Caveat BriefingA companion weekly newsletter is available CyberWire Pro members on the CyberWire's website. If you are a member, make sure you subscribe to receive our weekly wrap-up of privacy, policy, and research news, focused on incidents, techniques, tips, compliance, rights, trends, threats, policy, and influence ops delivered to you inbox each Thursday.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 14, 2023 • 54min
Diversity driving success.
Larry Whiteside Jr. from RegScale and Cyversity is sharing ways increasing diversity can benefit boards, companies, and industries at large, as well as challenges with attracting and retaining cybersecurity talent. Ben has an update on the first geofence warrant case to make it to the Federal Court of Appeals. Dave's got a rundown of upcoming Supreme Court cases that may affect social media platforms.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. Links to stories:
The Volokh Conspiracy
Supreme Court to consider giving First Amendment protections to social media posts
Caveat BriefingA companion weekly newsletter is available CyberWire Pro members on the CyberWire's website. If you are a member, make sure you subscribe to receive our weekly wrap-up of privacy, policy, and research news, focused on incidents, techniques, tips, compliance, rights, trends, threats, policy, and influence ops delivered to you inbox each Thursday.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