“Industrial Espionage Cases Soar In U.S.,” The Wall Street Journal, September 20, 2019 A1. Theft of trade secrets at a medical technology start-up. Chinese spies. $180 billion a year.
The headline says it all.
Monthly Archives: September 2017
Burned by a phone
Apparently, NCAA rules prohibit coaches from using a burner phone to contact football recruits. Or lying about it when you do.
“‘Burner Phone’ Accusation Marks New Chapter in Ole Miss Scandal,” The Wall Street Journal, September 20, 2017 A16. Coaches accused and investigated, and asked to sign certifications that they had never used pre-paid phones for recruiting or other work-related purpose.
Is this a question you normally ask your employees, or is this a form you have them sign? Should you ask for a certification that exiting employees do not have any company information on a non-company asset or location?
Investigations
“Makers Of Opioids Are Asked For Data,” The Wall Street Journal, September 20, 2017 A6. Subpoenas served on 5 manufacturers, as 41 states investigate marketing and sales of painkillers.
How much will this cost? Who will pay? What will we learn?
Filed under Discovery, Information, Legal, Value
Online reviews
On the internet, no one knows you’re a dog. Maybe.
“Lawsuit Highlights Online Reviews,” The Wall Street Journal, September 20, 2017 A6. Plastic surgeon sues former patient for negative online review. Accuses her of making false accusations. Case appears to be going to trial, which is unusual. Offer to settle now at $1.8 million, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Wouldn’t you want to know if your doctor screwed up? And if he didn’t, where does he go to get his reputation back?
Filed under Access, Accuracy, Data quality, Duty, Duty of Care, Information, Value
Useful information
“Senator Presses for Disclosure Of Hospital Inspections,” The Wall Street Journal, September 20, 2017 A2. Senate wants to publicly disclose the inspection reports of accreditors of hospitals who review health and safety issues.
Wouldn’t you want to know?
Filed under Access, Corporation, Duty, Governance, Government, Information, Oversight, Value
Barclays culture, continued
“Compliance Officer To Leave Barclays,” The Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2017 B1. The compliance officer at Barclays responsible for the whistleblower program settled “an employment dispute” with Barclays right before a hearing in London. The CEO had earlier tried to learn the identity of the employee who complained about his hiring of a buddy. The UK regulatory authority is still investigating that matter.
But the CEO remains in place. Go figure. I guess the Board’s sense of ethics is flexible.
I wonder what the employment dispute was about?
Filed under Board, Compliance, Compliance, Controls, Corporation, Culture, Culture, Directors, Duty, Duty of Care, Governance, Internal controls, Oversight, Oversight, Policy, Privacy, Supervision, Third parties
Equifax ripple
Looking beyond your own credit profile for impacts from the Equifax hack?
“Exchanges Warn Of Hacking Risks,” The Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2017 B11. NYSE execs, and others, warn that post-Equifax, a likely “juicy target” will be a database established to detect market manipulation.
Is your company a participant in a program that builds targets that would be especially attractive to hackers? How well are you protecting it, and what will you do to reduce the impact of a hack?
Those who don’t learn from history …
Caesar’s wife he’s not
“CEO Quits Embattled Firm,” The Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2017 B2. The CEO of SoFi (an online lender) quits after allegations of improper workplace behavior. He also steps down as chairman of the board. His behavior towards women was an issue.
Five years earlier, there had been similar allegations. It only took five years!
What does it say about a company where it takes five years to oust the Chairman of the Board for inappropriate behavior? What does it say about the culture that was allowed to persist?
Who’s in charge when the Chairman is bent? Will the ads stop now?
Filed under Board, Compliance, Compliance, Controls, Corporation, Culture, Culture, Directors, Duty, Employees, Governance, Internal controls, Oversight
Equifax, Chapter 3
“Two Equifax Officials Exit,” The Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2017 B1. In the biggest surprise since the sun set last night, the CIO and the chief security officer at Equifax have retired. A week after the hack of 143 millions account records.
What about the members of the Board of Directors, who knew of the risk of a cybersecurity breach and didn’t take sufficient steps to prevent it? The shareholders – who didn’t have the power to makes sure Equifax’s network was secure – will certainly pay. But what about the directors? And the other officers, starting with the CEO.
By the way, what are their names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and driver’s license numbers? Inquiring minds want to know.
Filed under Access, Board, Compliance, Controls, Corporation, Directors, Duty, Duty of Care, Employees, Governance, Internal controls, IT, Oversight, Oversight, Privacy, Protect assets, Protect information assets, Security, Value
Controls at the border
We all know that when we enter the US, the computers and phones we carry are subject to search without a warrant. Don’t we?
“Lawsuit Targets Phone Seizures,” The Wall Street Journal, September 14, 2017 A5. Customs screenings at border aren’t subject to same controls as when you are already here. [NB: Same rules apply when going into another country. They can demand your password to make sure you don’t have porn on your phone. Or whatever.]
Does this shock you? Is this a control over your information or a limit on your autonomy?
Filed under Access, Controls, Governance, Oversight, Privacy, Security, Third parties
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