
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

Sep 28, 2023 • 48min
Challenges in the cyber industry.
Monica Shokrai, Google representative, discusses challenges in the cyber industry, including Google's use of an actuarial team. Topics covered include a TikTok account using facial recognition, information shared in the Google antitrust case, and the difficulties of cyber insurance. They also explore the role of brokers and the increasing concern over privacy invasion.

Sep 21, 2023 • 46min
Make your mark CISOs.
This week, our guest is Karen Worstell from VMware to discuss how CISOs can make their mark with the new SEC rules. Ben's story discusses a Michigan case dealing with persistent unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) surveillance. Dave's got the story of a California judge blocking a law aimed at increasing the online safety for kids, by saying it violates the first amendment in the constitution.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 to Michigan Court: Governments Shouldn’t Be Allowed to Use a Drone to Spy on You Without a Warrant
Judge blocks California law meant to increase online safety for kids
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

Sep 14, 2023 • 46min
Europe leading the way on data privacy and data sharing.
Guest Rachael Ormiston of Osano discusses the US and EU's Data Privacy Framework with Ben. This week's stories include, Ben discussing an Appeals Court decision mostly reversing a District Court order that barred communication between federal officials and social media companies. Dave's got the story of policy makers putting the intelligence community on notice when it comes to warrantless wiretapping.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:
Order limiting Biden admin contacts with social networks is mostly overturned
Top US Spies Meet With Privacy Experts Over Surveillance ‘Crown Jewel’
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

Sep 7, 2023 • 51min
Laws outpace compliance programs.
This week, our guests are Cinthia Motley and Sean Buckley from Dykema, who are discussing cybersecurity law and compliance with data collection. Ben has the story of a Federal Judge blocking an Arkansas law limiting minors’ access to social media. Dave's got the story of court-ordered blocking of websites at the Domain Name Service (DNS) level.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:
Quad9 Founders on the Dangers of Global DNS Blocks by Rights Holders
Judge blocks Arkansas law requiring parental approval for minors to create social media accounts
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

Aug 31, 2023 • 51min
Compliance can't wait.
Igor Volovich from Qmulos sits down with Dave to discuss how compliance can’t wait for the government to find alignment on security and risk. Ben shares the story of a Federal Judge dismissing a lawsuit from the Republican National Committee against Google. Dave's got an opinion piece from the New York Times making the case that social media platforms should provide algorithmic choice.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:
Judge tosses Republicans’ lawsuit accusing Google’s spam filters of bias
What if You Knew What You Were Missing on Social Media?
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

Aug 24, 2023 • 45min
Where oh where in the world is that information?
George Tziahanas from Archive360 is talking about what happens when the information is no longer in boxes but could be anywhere in the world. Ben has the story of a raid on an independent journalist who leaked unaired clips from Fox News. Dave's got the story of a DC court ruling that AI generated content is not eligible for copyright protection.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:
Did a Journalist Violate Hacking Law to Leak Fox News Clips? The Government Thinks He Did.
AI-Generated Art Lacks Copyright Protection, D.C. Court Says (1)
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

Aug 17, 2023 • 48min
ChatGPT: The ban chronicles.
Chris Denbigh-White from Next DLP sits down to reflect on with the EU banning ChatGPT and the U.S. looking to create rules around it, how will regulation likely land? This week, Ben discusses the police raid on a local Kansas newspaper, and its implications for digital privacy. Dave has got the story of the Supreme Court possibly taking on a social media moderation case and what that looks like.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:
Police stage ‘chilling’ raid on Marion County newspaper, seizing computers, records and cellphones
The Internet Speech Case That the Supreme Court Can’t Dodge
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

Aug 10, 2023 • 56min
Encore: Follow the money along the blockchain.
Guest Alex Iftimie of Morrison Foerster to discuss how the Department of Justice seized nearly $500,000 in ransomware payments made to a North Korean hacking group that targeted U.S. medical providers. Dave and Ben have some follow-up about GitHub Copilot from listeners Micah and Steve. In his story, Ben explores the potential legal and policy issues surrounding the new AI chatbot, ChatGPT. Dave has a case which questions the legality of livestreaming the 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.
The Brilliance and Weirdness of ChatGPT
Threatened with jail for live-streaming traffic stop, he sued
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

Aug 3, 2023 • 49min
Roll out the red carpet for cyber regulations.
Valerie Abend, Global Cyber Strategy Lead from Accenture sits down to discuss the Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently announced cyber regulations. Ben shares the story of an interesting case concerning internet preservation law. Dave takes a look at an article from Lawfare that ponders the cybersecurity insurance market.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:
Nevada Magistrate Judge Recommends Rejecting Internet Preservation Challenge—And Why It's Wrong
If Cyber Is Uninsurable, the United States Has a Major Strategy Problem
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

Jul 27, 2023 • 47min
A darkside to AI.
Ken Cox from Hostirian joins Dave to discuss the darkside of AI and how to safeguard your privacy. Ben has the story of a proposed law from Ted Cruz, regulating IoT devices, from an unlikely sponsor. Dave's got the story of a novel proposal to limit social media platforms to help control and diminish harmful content.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:
Ted Cruz proposes bill to help detect if your house is spying on you
Unjust Enrichment by Algorithm
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