“In Reversal, NIH to Allow Doctors to Speak to Investigators,” The Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2019. The National Institutes of Health (a government body) was refusing to allow two senior doctors to speak to safety investigators from another federal government body.
How can one government agency think it has the power to prevent its employees from talking to federal investigators from another agency? What were they trying to hide?
Governance. Information. Compliance.
Does having too much information limit your “reach”?
“The Online Tool That Helps—and Hinders?—College Applicants,” The Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2019. Application shows where earlier classes report what colleges they applied to and where they got accepted. May result in students not applying to schools that they might get into.
How do you use information, even if you know it is incomplete? Not all colleges are listed, and there may be other data defects.
Use. Information.
Filed under Theme Four: Use, Theme One: Information
“Potential Facebook Settlement With FTC Likely to Include WhatsApp,” The Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2019. Privacy settlement over misuse and disclosure of users’ information may include WhatsApp, but maybe not Instagram.
The government steps in to apply privacy protections to Facebook and its subparts. That’s potentially good for your information security. The fines (rumored in the $5 billion range) may be the least of it.
Governance. Privacy. Information.
Filed under Uncategorized
“Facebook Bans Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones and Others as ‘Dangerous’,” The Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2019. Facebook bans selected individuals from the platform.
If a government did this, there would be problems. But is it okay for a private party with nearly monopoly power in a bit of social mediaverse? How will these people be able to communicate to their audiences?
Those who are big fans of Freedom of Speech might reconcile themselves to the fact that writing something down isn’t speech. And those who are fans of Freedom of the Press may feel this isn’t “the Press.” Others may think it’s time to amend our Founding Documents to reflect some of the new technologies. And the private/public distinction.
Should we allow a private party to make these calls? Is the alternative chaos?
Governance (Facebook decides what it will and won’t allow). Information.
Filed under Theme One: Information, Theme Two: Governance
“U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May Fires Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson Over Huawei Leak,” The Wall Street Journal, May 2, 2019. He allegedly leaked sensitive information about the use of Huawei equipment in the UK’s 5G network.
One wonders what will happen if the equipment leaks, too.
Information. Security. Compliance. Governance.
Filed under Uncategorized
“Elon Musk: Judge Approves Deal Spelling Out Oversight of Tesla CEO’s Tweets,” The Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2019. After a long-running feud with the SEC, Tesla now has agreed to control it’s CEO’s tweets.
Interesting interplay of old rules (First Amendment, Securities Exchange Act, etc.) and new technologies (Twitter).
Governance and Information and Compliance.
NSA doesn’t collect information on US citizens, right?
“NSA Reports 75% Increase in Unmasking U.S. Identities Under Foreign Surveillance Law in 2018,” The Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2019. Nearly 17,000 US persons (citizens and companies) had their data intercepted AND their identities disclosed last year.
How secure are your communications? Are you communicating with someone who’s communications are being monitored? How do you know?
How do you protect your information? Is there privacy in the US?
Governance (the warrant requirement in the Constitution). Information. Security. Privacy. I guess it’s about time to add Privacy to the list.
Who do you share information with? Do they protect it as well as you would?
“U.S. Would Rethink Intelligence Ties if Allies Use Huawei Technology,” The Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2019. US says it may not share intelligence data with countries who use equipment that the US deems insecure.
How do you deal with your business partners?
Governance. Security. Information. I figure so much of Information Governance relates to Security, it needed its own theme.
“Parents Can’t Monitor Autistic Son with GPS Tracker at School, Nevada Ruling Says,” The Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2019. School rules that autistic student can’t wear a tracking device capable of recording conversations. This was after a teacher was arrested for beating him.
One can understand why the school doesn’t want parents to be able to listen in to what goes on at school. One can understand why a child’s parents might want to. But do other students have a right, enforceable by the school, not to be recorded? Couldn’t the school video-record the activity in a classroom, for educational or security reasons?
Governance. Information.
Filed under Theme One: Information, Theme Two: Governance
If you have information, do you need to share it?
“Boeing Didn’t Advise Airlines, FAA That It Shut Off Warning System,” The Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2019. Boeing failed to advise that it had disconnected a safety warning in its 737 MAX jets.
When do you have a duty to tell your customers something?
Governance and Information. And certainly non-Use.
infogovnuggets 