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Warrants Across the Pond Panel

USDOJ And UK Propose Protective Exchange of Electronic Data

Today during our debate on “Data Warrants Across the Pond: Envisioning A More Sustainable Process” representatives from the USDOJ and UK released a white paper titled “Proposed United States – United Kingdom Agreement on Secure and Privacy – Protective Exchange of Electronic Data for the Purposes of Countering Serious Crime, Including Terrorism.” The proposal comes one day after the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals decided the long awaited Microsoft v. U.S. decision.

The panel debated the issues and discussed the proposal in front of a packed room of Congressional staff.

The video, audio, photos of the debate are available here.

Challenge Logo

Congressional Internet Caucus Co-Chairs Announce 2016 Student Coding Challenge

Challenge Logo

2016 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE CO-CHAIRS ANNOUNCED
Representatives Royce and Moulton will spearhead student coding contest

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Congressional Internet Caucus and the Internet Education Foundation announced the new Congressional Co-Chairs for the 2016 Congressional App Challenge (CAC), U.S. Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and Seth Moulton (D-MA):

“As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a representative from the world’s innovation capital, I know how important a STEM proficient workforce is to the United States remaining an economic powerhouse. I encourage all of my colleagues to participate in the Congressional App Challenge, an excellent opportunity to recognize talented young people learning the skills being used to build the future,” said U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-CA).

“We are currently on track to reach a million unfilled programming jobs by 2020. These jobs and skills are crucial to the innovation economy,” said Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA). “I’m excited to serve as co-chair of the Congressional App Challenge with Rep. Ed Royce to encourage students across the country to learn how to code. This challenge is a nationwide effort to open up those opportunities to students in every community, and I look forward to seeing what they create.”

The 2016 CAC will take place from July 18 – November 2, 2016. Officially in its second year, the Congressional App Challenge is a bipartisan congressional initiative to improve student engagement in coding and computer science. Particular efforts are made to engage those students from groups and regions that are underrepresented in the tech community. Students can create their apps on any platform, working alone or in teams of up to four. Winning apps are selected by local judges, and the student winners will be honored by their Congressional representatives and have their apps put on display in the Capitol Building.

In 2015, over 1700 high school students from 32 states signed up to compete. The students submitted nearly 500 original apps, with 116 Congressional districts hosting successful local challenges. The House of Representatives displays the winning apps online at:http://www.house.gov/content/educate/app_challenge/.

The Congressional App Challenge is coordinated by the Internet Education Foundation and sponsored by Capital One, Intel, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services. Challenge efforts are guided by our esteemed Advisory Board, which includes Kimberly Snipes, Vice President of Consumer Products and Operations, Capital One; Monique Morrow, Chief Technology Officer, Cisco Systems; Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation; Kathy DeerInWater, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Research, American Indian Science and Engineering Society; Emmeline Cardozo, Associate Director of Partner Engagement, Girls Who Code; and Mark Nelson, Executive Director, Computer Science Teachers Association.

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Representative Royce serves California’s 39th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. He is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee.

Representative Moulton serves Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District. He served four tours in Iraq as a Marine Corps infantry officer and was elected to Congress in 2014. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Budget Committee and the House Small Business Committee.

If you are interested in supporting the 2016 Congressional App Challenge, please contact CAC Executive Director Rhianon Anderson at [email protected].

MEDIA RELEASE

Contact: Rhianon Anderson, (650) 302-1799
[email protected]
Executive Director, Congressional App Challenge
www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us

June 6, 2016

Safer Internet Day!

Today is Safer Internet Day, a day hosted by Connect Safely and celebrated around the world to advocate for building a safer internet for users of all ages. Awareness of internet activity, privacy, and use is important year round, but for one day we ask you to get involved, focus on good-deeds, and lead young people in our theme of “playing your part for a better Internet”.  Connecting people and practicing safer and responsible online action can help grow a better community. By expressing kindness and positivity, together we can increase our visibility and impact people around the world.

Our challenge for you is to do at least one Good Thing on the internet today.

  • Think of a Good Thing (big or small) that makes the Internet a better place or the world a better place using the Internet.
  • Share your one Good Thing online with the hashtag #SIDUS16 to increase good things around the world.

Join all of us in celebrating Safer Internet Day to create efforts, big and small, and make the Internet a better place and the world a better place using the Internet and connected media!

capitol cosmic_smudge

Internet Caucus Members Lead Congressional App Challenge

2015 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE LAUNCHES TODAY

Congress Moves To Foster Youth Computer Science Skills, District by District

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC – The Congressional App Challenge, a congressional initiative to improve student engagement in coding and computer science, is launching today and will run through January 15, 2016.

Representatives Mimi Walters and Hakeem Jeffries co-chair the 2015 Congressional App Challenge (CAC). Over a quarter of the House of Representatives have signed up to host student app contests in their districts. Currently, 116 Representatives from 37 states have signed up, and more are expected to do so in the coming days.

During the next 10 weeks, high school students in participating Congressional districts will create and submit their own original “apps” that will be judged by panels of local judges. The Judging Period will last from January 16 to February 12, 2016 and the Members of Congress will announce the winners on February 22, 2016. Winners will be honored by their Member of Congress and have their apps featured on a display in the Capitol building.

In 2014, students from 84 districts submitted apps in their local contests; this year, we aim to expand upon that success by doubling the number of submissions. Recognizing the racial, gendered, and other disparities in the tech sector, the CAC will also emphasize inclusivity. Deliberate efforts will be made to include students from all backgrounds, including those traditionally underrepresented in the tech community.

The CAC was created by the U.S. House of Representatives to engage U.S. high school student in coding and computer science. The CAC was created because Congress recognizes how essential computer science and STEM skills are for economic growth and innovation, and that the U.S. is currently experiencing a dearth of adequately trained technical talent. According to some estimates, the U.S. may be short as many as 3 million high-skilled workers by 2018. The CAC is a congressional effort to maintain American competitiveness, by proactively inspiring our youth and encouraging them to pursue these crucial STEM-based skills.

The 2015 CAC is only possible thanks to the leadership of the House of Representatives over the last several years. Specifically, Committee on House Administration Chairwoman Candice Miller and Ranking Member Robert Brady worked hard to authorize the CAC and Representatives Bob Goodlatte and Anna G. Eshoo, co-chairs of the Congressional Internet Caucus, requested the creation of the CAC (the also served as its inaugural co-chairs in 2014). Of course, this year Representatives Mimi Walters and Hakeem Jeffries are serving as the CAC co-chairs.

For further information about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit CongressionalAppChallenge.us. If you are interested getting more involved or in supporting the Congressional App Challenge, please contact Rhianon Anderson at [email protected].

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MEDIA RELEASE

Contact: Rhianon Anderson, (202) 638-4370
[email protected]
Internet Education Foundation
www.congressionalappchallenge.org

 

ICAC Encryption Panel

#CryptoConvo Audio Podcast and Video Now Available

Video and audio podcast from our March 12 #CryptoConvo panel discussion are now available. Watch the video on our YouTube Channel and stream audio on our website or your favorite podcast service. You can also subscribe to the ICAC iTunes podcast channel for all of our policy panel discussions.

Thank you to the Internet Society for providing the video recording and to our panelists and all in attendance for the event!

Meerkat Video

First Ever Meerkat Video Stream of Congressional Briefing

Update: (April 10, 2015 6:08 p.m. EST)
Thank you to everyone who tuned into the event through Meerkat making it a great (historic even) success!

 
 

Video of our event on cyber security information sharing will be live streamed via Meerkat. As far as we know, this will be the first Congressional briefing ever streamed from a mobile app such as Meerkat or Periscope (Our 2013 Google Glass streamed event doesn’t count!).

So how exactly does Meerkat work?

Meerkat is a free application that live-streams directly from mobile devices through Twitter. By simply following the link to the broadcast on our Twitter account @NetCaucusAC with your mobile device, you will be able to watch the briefing in real time (barring any technical difficulties). Watch from your Apple or Android device — just download the app and find the link on @NetCaucusAC!

Cyber Security: Will The Sharing of Threat Information Secure The Homeland or Erode Privacy?

Cyber Security: Will The Sharing of Threat Information Secure The Homeland or Erode Privacy?

We’ve just announced our speakers for the Friday luncheon (see below). The cyber security panel will discuss legislation that will allow the sharing of threat information and attacks. Bills on this issue will be first out of the gate this session of Congress. Get up to speed on how effectively the legislation helps secure the Internet and whether it infringes on the privacy of your constituents.

Speakers:

  • Cory Bennett, Cyber Security Reporter, The Hill (Moderator) (Bio)
  • Robyn Greene, Policy Counsel, Open Technology Institute at New America (Bio)
  • Cheri McGuire, Vice President, Global Government Affairs & Cybersecurity Policy, Symantec (Bio)
  • Heather Molino, Cornerstone Government Affairs (Bio)


Attend: RSVP via Eventbrite here
Note: This is a fast-paced, recess 60-minute flash-luncheon briefing format
Date: Friday, April 10, 2015
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Program starts at 12:00 pm, check-in starts at 11:40 am
Location Rayburn House Office Building Room 2226
Lunch: A boxed lunch will be served.
Follow: @NetCaucusAC | #CISA

 

Background

President Obama has made the public-private sharing of threat information one of the most pressing priorities in his massive push to protect the nation’s cyber infrastructure. Last month at the Cyber Security Summit the President signed an executive order to promote better sharing of threat information, “both within the private sector and between government and the private sector.” As part of that strategy he has called upon Congress to pass legislation to increase the flow of threat information.

Yet, Congress has attempted to pass such legislation before and was met with vigorous opposition. Almost two years ago the “Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)” met an abrupt end amid civil liberties, privacy, and surveillance concerns- and that was before the NSA revelations by leaker Edward Snowden.

Now the President and Congress are back with new legislation to protect cyber systems via information sharing. Bills are being prepared and you are likely to see Congress vote on it shortly. Our panel of experts will explore the issues related to information sharing, whether the approach will secure the homeland and whether the legislation puts civil liberties and privacy at risk.

This widely attended educational briefing is hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC), part of a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Congressional staff and members of the press welcome. The ICAC is a private sector organization comprised of public interest groups, trade associations, non-profits, and corporations. The ICAC takes no positions on legislation or regulation. Rather, it’s a neutral platform where thought leaders debate important technology issues that shape legislative and administration policy in an open forum. We vigilantly adhere to our mission to curate balanced and dynamic debates among Internet stakeholders. Our volunteer board members ensure that we dutifully execute that mission. More information on the ICAC is available at www.netcaucus.org.

Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee Sign

2014 In Review: Our Most Successful Year Ever / Summary

Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 1.15.13 PM
Screen capture courtesy C-SPAN

Last Monday’s Congressional briefing on the sharing economy capped off our most productive and influential year in the 18 years since the inception of the Congressional Internet Caucus (and we said that in 2013)! We have detailed below the remarkable breadth, timeliness, and impact of Internet policy briefings and events hosted by the NetCaucus AC in 2014. Here is a summary of this remarkable accomplishment.

2014 Highlights

At the end of 2014 we have hosted 60% more programs than 2013 for a total of 16 events. This rivals the number of hearings that some committees hold. All of our events have been listed below and can be viewed on our events page here.

Video and C-SPAN Coverage:
Remarkably nearly 50% of our 2014 Congressional briefings have yielded C-SPAN coverage. That coverage exponentially increases our viewing audience not only within the Capitol Complex but also across America. The amount of C-SPAN coverage is a testament to the credibility and the content of our program (here is an example). Also, together with C-SPAN coverage we have been able to webcast over 50% of our events this year.

24 Hours / 48 Hours / 75 Hours – Breaking News Briefings
In 2014, we achieved an unprecedented level of timeliness in our Congressional briefings. For instance, we hosted a briefing within 75 hours of the DC Circuit Court’s decision to strike down much of the FCC’s Open Internet Rules. Within 48 hours, we hosted a briefing on the Supreme Court’s Aereo decision. We also hosted a briefing within 24 hours of the FCC releasing its proposed Net Neutrality rules and its Spectrum order.

Packed Attendance
Our events are extremely well attended by our target audience – Congressional and government policy staff. On Twitter, you can find photos of our event audiences and lively event hashtag conversations.

Revived Speakers Series
This year we revived the historically successful Internet Caucus Speakers Series. That program, which provided an open forum within the Capitol Complex for executives and luminaries, was halted in 2007. In 2014 we hosted two terrific speakers — famous Internet researcher danah boyd and Zillow.com CEO Spencer Rascoff. Both presentations were extremely successful and we would like to further revive this program in 2015.

2014 Events

Should Congress be Caring About Sharing? Regulation and the Future of Uber, Airbnb and the Sharing Economy
December 8, 2014 – Rayburn HOB
Watch C-SPAN video here

Jennifer Lawrence’s Hacked Photos: A “Sex Crime?” The Legal Underpinnings of Digitally Exposed Private Images and What Congress Needs to Know
November 6, 2014 – Rayburn HOB

Does the Internet Need a Revised Communications Act?
October 16, 2014 – Rayburn HOB

The Expiration of the Internet Tax Moratorium: What New Internet & Mobile Phone Taxes Will Mean For Constituents & For The Economy
September 29, 2014 – Dirksen Senate Office Building

Can Europe Force Search Engines to Censor Information You’re Looking for on the Internet? Assessing the Right to be Forgotten
August 8, 2014 – Rayburn HOB
Watch C-SPAN video here

The NSA Surveillance Programs: Assessing The Damage to U.S. Commerce, Confidence & Credibility
July 18, 2014 – Rayburn HOB
Watch C-SPAN video here

What Does Aereo’s Supreme Court Death Sentence Mean for Internet Startups, Copyright & Communications Act Legislation, and The Viewing Habits of Cord-Cutting Congressional Staff?
June 27, 2014 – Rayburn HOB

New MIT-UCSD Study Measures Internet Congestion; Expert Panel Discusses Implications for Net Neutrality
June 18, 2014 – Rayburn HOB

Can You Sell Your Digital Music/Movie/eBook Collections? Congress Reviews Digital Copyright
June 13, 2014 – Rayburn HOB

The FCC’s Grand Internet Plans: “The Open Internet” and Massive Mobile Spectrum Auctions: What Do You Need to Know?
May 16, 2014 – Rayburn HOB
Watch C-SPAN video here

Realtors Innovate Real Estate Through Technology
May 12, 2014 – Capitol Visitors Center

Revising The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA): Should Congress Require a Warrant?
April 25, 2014 – Rayburn HOBWatch
Watch C-SPAN video here

The U.S. Government Relinquishes Last Vestige of Internet Control: That’s A Good Thing, Right?
April 11, 2014 – Rayburn HOB
Watch C-SPAN video here

Spencer Rascoff, CEO, Zillow, Speakers Series
March 27, 2014 – Rayburn HOB
Watch YouTube video here

danahboyd: It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens
February 27, 2014 – Rayburn HOB

D.C. Circuit Decision on FCC Open Internet Rules: Net Neutrality Win or Loss?
January 17, 2014 – Rayburn HOB
Watch C-SPAN video here

Alex Howard moderating sharing economy Panel

Should Congress be Caring About Sharing Event Audio Now Available

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[thaudio href=”http://netcaucus.org/audio/2014/20141208p2peconomy.mp3″]Listen to Audio[/thaudio]

Audio of today’s panel on regulation and the future of the sharing economy is now available. You can also subscribe to our Podcast for all of our latest panel discussions and find more pictures from the event on our Flickr. Thank you to our panelists and all in attendance for today’s event!

Companies like Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb are high profile examples of the so-called sharing economy, in which ordinary people use online platforms to rent (rather than sell) products and services to each other. Also known as collaborative consumption, or peer to peer commerce, this new way of doing business uses the Internet to connect individual sellers and consumers and is changing the economy in many ways. Despite the successes of sharing economy pioneers, there is a growing backlash about circumvention of regulations and community standards, and displacement of workers – such as taxi drivers – in established industries. These debates are important because we might only be in the early stages of the sharing economy. In the future, a large number of industries could be disrupted by these new business models.

Speakers

  • John Breyault, National Consumers League (Bio)
  • David Hantman, Airbnb
  • Alex Howard, TechRepublic and E Pluribus Unum (Bio) moderator
  • Arun Sundararajan, NYU Stern School of Business (Bio)
  • Adam Thierer, Mercatus Research Center at George Mason University (Bio)

In the press

by Anne Kim, Roll Call

 

by Andrew Ramonas, Legal Times

 

by Rob Lever, AFP (in Business Insider)

 

by Alex Howard, TechRepublic

 

Mary Anne Franks and Emma Llanso on panel

Technology and Sexual Privacy Panel Media

On November 6, 2014 our panel discussed sexual privacy concerns in the digital age after a major celebrity photo hack. Actress Jennifer Lawrence called the act a “sex crime” in Vanity Fair. Was it? Panelists discuss what the current legal protections are for individuals and debate what future action, if any, needs to be taken.

 

Speakers:

  • Mary Anne Franks, Associate Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law (Bio)
  • Emma Llansó, Director, Free Expression Project, Center for Democracy and Technology (Bio)
  • Rob Pegoraro, Columnist, Yahoo Tech (Bio)
  • David G. Post, Contributor, Volokh Conspiracy on WashingtonPost.com
    (Bio)
  • Tal Kopan, Cybersecurity Reporter, POLITICO Pro (Moderator) (Bio)

 

Video

C-SPAN video can be found here

 

Podcast

[thaudio href=”http://netcaucus.org/audio/2014/20141106exposedphotos.mp3″]Listen to Audio[/thaudio]

In the Press

The Volokh Conspiracy Blog – The Washington Post
by panelist David Post
Panel today in DC on “The Legal Underpinnings of Digitally Exposed Private Images and What Congress Needs to Know”

CNET
by Chris Matyszczyk
“Stolen Jennifer Lawrence pics the subject of Capitol Hill debate”

TechnoCRAT Blog – Roll Call
by Anne L. Kim
“Addressing Celebrity Nude Photo Leaks and Revenge Porn: the First Amendment Question”

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