U.S
NASCIO, Public Technology Institute on What’s Coming in 2024 for State and Local IT
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) and the Public Technology Institute (PTI) have released their 2024 forecast of the issues and priorities that will impact state and local government IT in the coming year. The forecast seeks to guide state and local government IT and cybersecurity communities in addressing the key challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Tech executives say their priorities for 2024 include cybersecurity and risk management, digital government and digital services, artificial intelligence and machine learning, legacy modernization, data management and data analytics, broadband and wireless connectivity, identity and access management, and cloud services, among others. Another area of focus in the forecast is federal advocacy priorities, which include initiatives related to artificial intelligence, dotGov domain adoption, responsible implementation of the state and local cybersecurity grant program, state cybersecurity workforce expansion, and harmonizing federal cybersecurity regulations. Read more at Government Technology.
Another NY lawyer faces discipline after AI chatbot invented case citation
A New York lawyer is facing potential disciplinary action for citing a non-existent case generated by the AI tool ChatGPT in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals referred the lawyer to its attorney grievance panel for further investigation after she included the fabricated case in an appeal. She admitted to using ChatGPT for research but claimed no bad faith or willfulness in citing the non-existent case.
This incident is part of a trend prompting courts to consider new rules governing the use of AI in legal proceedings. Read more at Reuters.
US Court case: does drone surveying require a license?
The Fourth Circuit courts are considering whether selling maps and models created using drones constitutes protected free speech or if the individuals involved must obtain licenses as land surveyors. Michael Jones and his business, 360 Virtual Drone Services, challenged the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors after being told he couldn’t use drones to produce and sell land maps.
Jones’s legal team claims that requiring a surveying license infringes on his First Amendment rights, arguing that the act of creating and sharing information should not necessitate years of training and licensure. The court has yet to make a decision on the matter. Read more at Courthouse News Service.
US regulator admits cyber-security lapse before rogue Bitcoin post
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) admitted to a cybersecurity lapse, revealing that multi-factor authentication (MFA) was suspended on its X account for six months when hackers posted a fake announcement about Bitcoin in January. The absence of MFA allowed the attackers to reset the password, log in, and make a post that temporarily surged Bitcoin’s value.
The SEC acknowledged that MFA was disabled due to access issues but has since re-enabled it for all its social media accounts. The breach occurred through a SIM-swapping attack, where the hacker convinced a mobile operator to transfer an SEC employee’s phone number to a new SIM card. The incident highlights the vulnerability of government agencies’ social media accounts and the potential for more severe consequences. Read more at BBC.
Canada
Global Affairs Canada systems compromised in data breach
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has experienced a data breach, resulting in the unauthorized access of users’ personal information, including employees. In an internal message, GAC noted that it was taking steps to secure employee information and network security after discovering that its Virtual Private Network (VPN), managed by Shared Services Canada (SSC), was compromised and used to access GAC VPN-related network traffic. In a statement, the department said that “an unplanned IT outage is currently affecting remote access to GAC’s network in the country.”
GAC is collaborating with IT partners and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to restore full connectivity. An investigation is underway, and
affected individuals are being contacted with mitigation measures. This incident follows a previous cyber-attack on Global Affairs’ network in January 2022. The department, involved in diplomacy and intelligence, has reported the breach to Canada’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Read more at Global News.
UK / EU
Regulator of doctors in the UK, the General Medical Council launches its updated professional standards ‘Good Medical Practice 2024’ with a focus on culture
The UK’s General Medical Council has updated its Good Medical Practice, a set of professional standards that outlines the principles, values, and standards of care and professional behavior expected of all medical professionals registered with the General Medical Council. Good Medical Practice is an ethical framework that supports medical professionals to deliver safe care to a good standard, in the interests of patients.
An area of focus in the updated professional standards is culture. The latest iteration of Good Medical Practice reflects people’s values and behaviors with an aim toward changing culture in a way that benefits medical professionals, the patients they care for, and the environment in which they work Read more at General Medical Council.
The Financial Reporting Council (UK) launches its revised Corporate Governance Code 2024
The UK Corporate Governance Code was updated in January 2024 and applies to financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025. Made up of five sections, it operates on a ‘comply or explain’ basis. Notable changes include the introduction of a declaration on the effectiveness of material internal controls (Provision 29) and a new principle encouraging outcome and activity reporting.
The 2024 Code covers Board Leadership and Company Purpose; Division of Responsibilities; Composition, Succession and Evaluation; Audit, Risk, Internal Control; and Remuneration. Read more at Financial Reporting Council.
Dutch watchdog fines Uber 10 million euros over privacy regulations infringement
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) has fined Uber 10 million euros ($11 million) for violating privacy regulations related to the personal data of its drivers. The DPA found that Uber failed to specify the duration of data retention and the security measures when transmitting data to unspecified entities outside the European Economic Area. Additionally, Uber impeded drivers’ privacy rights by complicating their access to personal data. Although Uber has addressed some of the issues, the fine was imposed following complaints from over 170 French drivers and ultimately forwarded to the DPA (Uber’s European headquarters are in the Netherlands). Uber claims the DPA acknowledged the resolution of some issues while dismissing the majority of the drivers’ claims. Read more at Reuters.
Disclaimer: The thoughts, opinions, and commentary of the articles we share links to in Week in Brief do not necessarily reflect those of Ascend Magazine or Thentia.
IN BRIEF
U.S. regulators discuss finalizing bank capital rules as soon as August: Weekly regulatory news
The Week in Brief is your weekly snapshot of regulatory news and what's happening in the world of professional licensing, government technology, and public policy.
This week in regulatory news: U.S. regulators discuss finalizing bank capital rules as soon as August: Bloomberg News, Shein faces EU regulations over user data, National regulatory reform would promote economic growth for Canadians, and more.
Digital leaders gather in Dublin: Weekly regulatory news
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This week in regulatory news: Digital leaders and regulators to gather in Dublin, how SEC regs will change cryptocurrency markets, existing
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U.S. and UK sign agreement to test the safety of AI models: Weekly regulatory news
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This week in regulatory news: U.S. and UK sign agreement to test the safety of AI models, Coinbase secures Canadian registration even as U.S. regulatory troubles persist, lawyer who raised ‘boys’ club’ concerns over judgment accused of misconduct, and more.
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The Week in Brief is your weekly snapshot of regulatory news and what's happening in the world of professional licensing, government technology, and public policy.
This week in regulatory news: Muted modernization for the regulation of BC legal practitioners, federal agencies issue new warning about DDoS attacks, how Europe’s regulatory battle with Apple could signal what’s to come for American customers, and more.
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The Week in Brief is your weekly snapshot of regulatory news and what's happening in the world of professional licensing, government technology, and public policy.
This week in regulatory news: UK’s plans for an independent Football Regulator, calls in Canada for regulation to protect young people from tobacco products, and Premier Doug Ford’s demands for the removal of regulatory barriers and the elimination of the carbon tax.
Scholar proposes a new US regulatory system that would be more accountable to the public: Weekly regulatory news
The Week in Brief is your weekly snapshot of regulatory news and what's happening in the world of professional licensing, government technology, and public policy.
This week in regulatory news: Scholar proposes a new US regulatory system that would be more accountable to the public, Hong Kong’s Central Bank starts regulatory sandbox for stablecoin issuers, EU parliament greenlights landmark artificial intelligence regulations, and more.
