Caveat

Latest Episodes:

Take it down or shut it down? May 22, 2025

Show notes

This week on Caveat, Ben covers growing backlash to a federal proposal that would block states from enforcing their own AI laws for the next decade—a move critics call unconstitutional and a gift to Big Tech. Meanwhile, Dave unpacks the newly signed Take It Down Act, which criminalizes the distribution of nonconsensual intimate images, including AI deepfakes, and requires platforms to remove them within 48 hours. While the law has broad support, civil liberties groups warn it could lead to censorship, selective enforcement, and false hope for victims.

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Links to stories:

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Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our ⁠⁠Caveat Briefing⁠⁠, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to ⁠⁠N2K Pro⁠⁠ members on ⁠⁠N2K CyberWire's⁠⁠ website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.

This week’s ⁠⁠Caveat Briefing⁠⁠ is on how the U.S. and UAE have signed a landmark agreement allowing the UAE to build the largest AI campus outside the U.S., easing previous export restrictions and marking a strategic shift to deepen U.S.-UAE tech ties while managing national security concerns and maintaining trade relations with China. Curious about the details? Head over to the ⁠⁠Caveat Briefing⁠⁠ for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to ⁠⁠caveat@thecyberwire.com⁠⁠. Hope to hear from you.

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Diving deep into critical infrastructure. May 15, 2025

Show notes

This week on Caveat, Dave and Ben welcome back N2K’s own ⁠⁠⁠Ethan Cook⁠⁠⁠ for our latest policy deep dive segment. As our lead analyst, Ethan shares his knowledge of law, privacy, and surveillance on the latest policy developments shaping the cybersecurity and legal landscape.

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing!

Policy Deep Dive

In this Caveat Policy Deep Dive, our conversation and analysis revolve around critical infrastructure policy. Throughout this conversation, we break down how critical infrastructure policy has evolved over the past fifteen years and what policies have been behind some of these advancements. Some key topics focused on during this conversation center on some of the centralization of infrastructure management policies, the creation of CISA, and how the second Trump administration is changing the federal government's approach when managing critical infrastructure.

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Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our ⁠Caveat Briefing⁠, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to ⁠N2K Pro⁠ members on ⁠N2K CyberWire's⁠ website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.

This week’s ⁠Caveat Briefing⁠ a new bill that is gaining traction in Congress where Senators Merkley and Kennedy are looking to limit the TSA's facial scanning program. This law comes after the DHS announced an audit regarding how the TSA has used this technology. Curious about the details? Head over to the ⁠Caveat Briefing⁠ for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to ⁠caveat@thecyberwire.com⁠. Hope to hear from you.

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iSpy and iDefy. May 08, 2025

Show notes

This week, Ben and Dave tackle two major policy stories making headlines. Ben unpacks the Fourth Circuit’s long-awaited ruling in United States v. Chatrie, where the court failed to reach a majority decision on whether geofence warrants violate the Fourth Amendment. Instead, the panel affirmed the lower court’s decision based solely on the good-faith exception, leaving key constitutional questions unanswered. Then, Dave covers the latest twist in the Epic Games v. Apple saga: a federal judge ruled that Apple willfully defied a court order to open up iOS app payment options—referring the company and a senior executive for potential criminal investigation.

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Please take a moment to fill out an ⁠audience survey⁠! Let us know how we are doing!

Links related to our show this week:

⁠The Fourth Circuit's Geofencing Case Ends Not With a Bang But A Whimper

Apple violated court’s order to loosen app store rules, judge says

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This week’s ⁠Caveat Briefing⁠ covers the story of how a proposed bipartisan U.S. law aims to crack down on semiconductor chip smuggling by mandating location-tracking technology, while President Trump’s 2026 budget proposes major cuts to CISA’s cybersecurity efforts, signaling shifting federal priorities amid growing concerns over national security and tech competition with China. Curious about the details? Head over to the ⁠Caveat Briefing⁠ for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to ⁠caveat@thecyberwire.com⁠. Hope to hear from you.

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The AI policy divide. May 01, 2025

Show notes

Please enjoy this encore episode of Caveat.

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Please take a moment to fill out an ⁠audience survey⁠! Let us know how we are doing!

Policy Deep Dive

In this Caveat Policy ⁠Deep Dive⁠, we turn our focus to the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) policy. This month, the Caveat team delves into the key issues shaping political discourse around AI, exploring state-led initiatives, the lack of significant federal action, and the critical areas that still require stronger oversight, offering an in-depth analysis of AI legislation, the varied approaches across states, and the pressing challenges that demand federal attention.

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This week’s ⁠Caveat Briefing⁠ covers the story of the ⁠Paris AI summit⁠, where French President Emmanuel Macron and EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen announced plans to reduce regulatory barriers to support AI innovation. The summit highlighted the growing pressure on Europe to adopt a lighter regulatory touch in order to remain competitive with the U.S. and China, while also addressing concerns about potential risks and the impact on workers as AI continues to evolve. Curious about the details? Head over to the ⁠Caveat Briefing⁠ for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to ⁠caveat@thecyberwire.com⁠. Hope to hear from you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big tech, big trouble, and a dash of DORA. Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

This week we are joined by Avani Desai, CEO of Schellman, who is talking about what we can expect now that Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is in effect. Ben’s got the story of how a federal judge ruled that Google broke antitrust laws to maintain its dominance in online advertising, marking the second major legal blow in a year that could lead to a dramatic restructuring of the tech giant. Dave’s got the story of a Nevada judge who ruled that "tower dumps"—grabbing cell tower data on thousands of people at once—are unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment… but still let the cops use the data this time because they acted in good faith.

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing!

Links related to our show this week:

Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox.

Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our Caveat Briefing, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to N2K Pro members on N2K CyberWire's website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more.

This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of Google losing its second major antitrust case, escalating U.S.-China trade tensions impacting chipmakers, a new probe into 23andMe’s data handling, and a lawsuit against Discord for child safety concerns—highlighting growing scrutiny of tech giants across legal, regulatory, and geopolitical fronts. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration’s policy shift. Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing!

Policy Deep Dive

In this Caveat Policy Deep Dive, our conversation and analysis revolves around US cybersecurity policy. Throughout this conversation, we break down the Trump administration's efforts to reassess the US's cybersecurity policies. Some key talking points revolve around pivoting the nation's international focus to prioritize the Pacific region as well as domestic efforts to place cybersecurity responsibilities in the hands of state governments rather than federal agencies.

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This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of the FTC officially kicking off its antitrust lawsuit against Meta, and how it accusing the tech giant of monopolizing the social media market through a “buy-or-bury” strategy, with high-profile witnesses like Mark Zuckerberg set to testify as the agency attempts to unwind years-old acquisitions. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caveat Live: FBI and KU Cybersecurity Conference. Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

We've got something special for you this week! We are excited to share our very first Caveat Live event. Host Ben Yelin recently headed to the FBI and KU Cybersecurity Conference at the University of Kansas for a live session of Caveat. During the episode, Ben covered the importance of public/private partnerships with Dr. Perry Alexander. Ben and Professor John Symons spoke about the philosophical issues in AI and how those should impact policy decisions. Be sure to tune in for some great conversations.

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing!

Links related to our show this week:

FBI and KU Cybersecurity Conference
Guest Dr. Perry Alexander, University of Kansas
Guest John Symons, University of Kansas
Review Essay: Social and Political Aspects of the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. Journal of Moral Philosophy

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This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of the firing of the NSA Director. Read about the firing as well as the other moves the administration has made to reduce the federal governments cyber defense programs and capabilities. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A make-or-break moment for businesses. Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

This week, we are joined by Daniel Barber, CEO and Co-Founder of DataGrail, to discuss why data privacy should matter to companies in 2025. Ben has the story of a California lawmaker’s proposal to regulate kids’ use of AI companions. Dave's got the story of a reporter's 300 mile trek through rural Virginia in search of license plate readers.

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing!

Links to the stories:

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This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of why election officials and lawmakers are fearful that U.S. elections will be less secure after the Trump administration cut funding for federal election security programs, halting CISA’s support and forcing states to find alternative resources amid growing concerns about cyber and physical threats. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When secret plans hit the wrong inbox. Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

This week, we are joined by Tara Wisniewski, EVP for Advocacy, Global Markets and Member Engagement at ISC2 discussing their work on "Navigating Global Transitions: Cybersecurity's Role Amid Political Change?" Ben and Dave both tackle the questionable and potentially illegal use of Signal by high level Trump officials after a text message got sent to the wrong person.

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing!

Links to the stories:

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

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This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of European lawmakers urging the Commission to accelerate efforts on a "Chips Act 2.0" to boost AI chip investments and address technological gaps. In a letter signed by 54 lawmakers, they criticized the slow progress of the original 2023 Chips Act and warned that Europe must strengthen its semiconductor industry to remain competitive amid growing geopolitical tensions. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turning CISA’s recommendations into action. Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

This week, we are joined by David Wiseman, Vice President of Secure Communications at BlackBerry, discussing making CISA's encrypted communications guidelines actionable. Ben's got the story of the UK’s Online Safety Act kicking in, with Big Tech companies like Musk’s X facing massive fines and potential shutdowns for failing to remove harmful content, despite Musk’s hopes that Trump will intervene to water it down. Dave's got the story of a surveillance success for law enforcement in Baltimore and a new-to-me forensics tool.

While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.

Please take a moment to fill out an audience survey! Let us know how we are doing!

Links to the stories:

Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox.

This week’s Caveat Briefing covers the story of the White House’s unprecedented involvement in the sale of TikTok’s U.S. assets, with Vice President JD Vance overseeing the auction. As multiple bidders, including high-profile investors, navigate a complex and fluid process, the deal faces significant hurdles, including Beijing's influence and the looming threat of TikTok’s U.S. shutdown if a deal isn't finalized by April 5. Curious about the details? Head over to the Caveat Briefing for the full scoop and additional compelling stories.

Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to caveat@thecyberwire.com. Hope to hear from you.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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