HACKERS
Facebook: A software bug may have inadvertently shared pictures of nearly seven million Facebook users with app developers, the company said. The glitch which was discovered and fixed on September 25th, gave up to 1,500 apps improper access to photos that weren’t yet shared by Facebook users, including draft posts. Facebook stated it notified regulators in Europe of the software glitch in late November. (WSJ)
Ukraine: Government security officials say that Russia hackers have breached the networks of more than 100 military and state institutions in western Ukraine. (Reuters)
COURTS
Huawei: The Chinese telecom giant is reportedly taking a new tack in its efforts to defend itself against a rising tide of accusations and restrictions from Washington. Huawei has hired two law firms, Jones Day and Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP, to focus on potential legal challenges to U.S. courts. (WSJ)
ON THE HILL
Russia Probe: A new report prepared for the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee by outside researchers is expected to provide the most wide-ranging analysis yet of how Russian agents conducted a misinformation campaign around the 2016 presidential election. It’s unclear whether the bipartisan panel will accept the findings, which are set to be published later this week. (WaPo)
Digital Privacy: The Center for Democracy and Technology, a consumer advocacy group supported by large U.S. tech companies, put out a draft privacy bill that, among other things, would tightly limit the collection of user biometric and location data. Many U.S. businesses are pushing Congress to create a new national privacy law before a California bill comes into effect in early 2020. (Reuters)
China Travel: The State Department is reportedly weighing a new warning to U.S. citizens traveling to China that authorities there could retaliate against them following the recent detention of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Canada on a U.S. extradition request. (Reuters)
DOD
Security Clearances: The Pentagon is set to take over the processing of U.S. security clearances by next October, according to officials. A newly created Defense Security Service will absorb the National Background Investigations Bureau, which was established in the wake of the 2015 network breach at the Office of Personnel Management. (NextGov)
PRIVATE SECTOR
Apple: The iPhone maker is planning a new $1 billion campus in Austin, Texas, where it says it may eventually employ 15,000 workers, making it the largest private employer in the area. Apple already has 6,000 workers in the area. The announcement coincides with moves by other U.S. tech companies like Amazon to expand beyond their West Coast hubs. (NYT)
THE WORLD
Germany: In a move that analysts say is a response to Chinese acquisitions, Berlin is making it harder for non-European companies to buy stakes in German firms without its approval. In new rules set to be approved this week, German authorities will scrutinize any non-European foreign company planning to buy more than 10 percent of a domestic company involved in defense, technology, or media. (WSJ)
France: The French government is coordinating with journalists and teachers to conduct one of the world’s largest media and internet literacy programs. The effort is teaching children as early as middle school to spot online misinformation. (NYT)
