House Committee Explores IoT and Wireless Security Challenges
Key Takeaway: Last week the Communications and Technology and the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittees of the House Energy and Commerce Committee hosted leaders from private industry and academia to discuss cybersecurity risks to wireless technologies and the promise of the internet of things (IoT).
Why it Matters: Congress continues to grapple with ensuring that the regulatory environment is able to protect consumer safety but also enable innovation.
In the hearing entitled, "
Privacy in Wireless Technology," witnesses presented subcommittee members with the opportunity to discuss and examine cybersecurity risks to wireless technologies, specifically wireless networks and mobile devices. According to the witnesses, many of these risks are associated with the use of old and inexpensive wireless technologies and wireless networks such as 2G and 3G. The witnesses also acknowledged that many of those who are developing and producing wireless technologies are operating on a "first to market" rather than a "secure to market" ideology.
One solution outside of legislation was developing awareness through education. Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) expressed concern about the recent WannaCry ransomware attacks and cited the need to ensure the healthcare industry has the technical infrastructure and resources to keep patient information secure. The witnesses highlighted that cybersecurity awareness and education across organizations is imperative, regardless of who is responsible for cybersecurity. End-user awareness will be key to improve overall cybersecurity.
In the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection subcommittee hearing entitled, "
Disrupter Series: Update on IOT Opportunities and Challenges," lawmakers heard witnesses from industries ranging from healthcare to automotive to environmental. Among the issues discussed by William S. Marras, executive director and scientific director of the Spine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, were the existing patient identity and privacy law roadblocks that make it difficult to measure outcomes and assemble big data sets.
Congressman Michael Burgess (R-TX), a physician and the Health Subcommittee chairman, expressed his ongoing interest in ensuring privacy laws are not impediments to research, citing the 21st Century Cures Act passed into law in late 2016. Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) also expressed concerns about the privacy protections and need to address privacy concerns relative to the IoT.
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