Create a Federal Tech Czar to Protect Americans' Data: Rep. Hurd
*By Carlo Versano*
Most large corporations now employ a CIO, or chief information officer, who is charged with protecting and running the company's digital infrastructure.
Is it time for the federal government to hire its own CIO?
Rep. Will Hurd (R-Tex.) thinks so. He told Cheddar Friday that the spate of major data breaches ー even though they happen primarily at private companies ー warrants a federal czar to help protect consumers and potentially even levy penalties on companies that don't do enough to safeguard users' information.
Hurd noted that the vast majority of data breaches are made possible because some piece of software hasn't been patched, or permissions weren't properly secured. Typically, they're not sophisticated hacks. He thinks a "national breach standard" would help codify the processes for preventing these types of vulnerabilities.
"We're not following good, basic hygiene" with our data, Hurd said.
In addition, a tech czar would oversee the protection of the federal government's data, as well as cross-agency IT issues and would have the ability to audit agencies on their technology spending and help cut waste, Hurd said.
Hurd is one of just three members of Congress with a degree in computer science. But he said the importance of cybersecurity is at the forefront of many members' minds, even if they don't have the technical expertise to draft a bill. That's why he's doing it himself. "Recognizing there's a problem is important," he said.
Cybersecurity and data protection is one of the few truly "non-partisan" issues on the Hill, according to Hurd.
Hurd represents Texas' 23rd district, an 800-mile stretch from San Antonio to El Paso that includes more border-adjacent land than any other district in the country. He said technology could also help provide a solution to the border wall fight that has crippled the government. Specifically, he proposes a "smart wall" ー a combination of manpower and technology ー rather than a physical barrier.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rep-will-hurd-r-tx-wants-to-protect-americans-from-the-next-breach).
Experts warn that social media is a root cause of mental health issues among many young adults. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who co-wrote a letter to TikTok demanding why its algorithms promote toxic content, joined Cheddar to discuss.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that an estimated one million people have fled from Ukraine since Russia invaded. Christopher Boian, senior communications officer at UNHCR, joined Cheddar News to report on the current refugee crisis and what the world might expect if conditions continue to worsen. "We have planning figures that forecast as many as four million people could be forced to flee Ukraine," he said. "But that very much depends on how the conflict underway in that country at the moment unfolds in the days and possibly weeks ahead."
Under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), corn-based ethanol has been mixed into gasoline sold at pumps in the U.S. since 2005, when a policy was enacted aimed at reducing emissions. Corn-based ethanol had been thought to be a relatively greener energy source compared to other biofuels, but now, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports it may be actually worse for the climate than straight gasoline. Tyler Lark, an assistant scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Sustainability, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell and discussed the pushback against the study. "Essentially when you need to produce more corn to meet the demand for use as ethanol as fuel, farmers respond and they switch more crops like soybeans and wheat into corn," Lark said. "They also bring more land into production, so things that used to be pasture grassland, and both those activities are associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions."
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday announced new sanctions against Russian oligarchs and others in President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.
Christian Blauvelt, executive managing editor at IndieWire, joins Cheddar News to discuss the growing number of studios pulling content from Russia over Ukraine invasion.
Russian forces are battling for control of a crucial energy-producing city in Ukraine’s south and gaining ground in their bid to cut off the country from the sea.
In the past few years, Betthany Frankel has made a major name for herself as a philanthropist after founding the
BStrong initiative, which has provided relief to people impacted by natural disasters as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, BStrong is shifting its focus to Ukraine, raising millions of dollars in donations for those impacted by Russia's invasion. Bethenny Frankel, the founder of BStrong, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Bryan Lee, Chief Investment Officer at Blue Zone Wealth Advisors, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he elaborates on the volatility we've seen in the markets this week fueled by rising oil prices and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
