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July 2017

On July 11, 2017, the US Coast Guard (USCG) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed new cybersecurity draft guidelines for Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) regulated facilities. The guidelines follow the White House’s May 2017 Executive Order to strengthen the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure. The draft guidelines are open for public comment until September 11, 2017.  The guidelines outline a position on addressing cybersecurity that is consistent with the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework and other cybersecurity guidance. Similar to the Executive Order, the draft reflects a growing emphasis on mitigating cyber threats to critical infrastructure.

The guidelines are divided into two sections. One provides draft guidance on existing regulatory requirements and how they relate to cybersecurity. The second advises regulated facilities on how to implement a cyber risk management governance program.

On 10 July 2017 the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued a draft Regulation on the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII Regulation) for public comment. The comment period ends on 10 August 2017. This long-anticipated regulation, formulated pursuant to Article 31 of the Cyber Security Law of China (Cyber Security Law), is a key implementing measure for the Cyber Security Law. In this client update we outline the key features of the draft CII Regulation and highlight its implications for businesses.

This is the first of a two-part series discussing the privacy and security issues associated with the widespread use of automated vehicle technology.  This first post focuses on potential privacy issues, while the second post – coming soon – will address security issues.

Background

As the development and testing of self-driving car technology has progressed, the prospect of privately-owned autonomous vehicles operating on public roads is nearing. Several states have passed laws related to autonomous vehicles, including Nevada, California, Florida, Michigan, and Tennessee. Other states have ordered that government agencies support testing and operations of these vehicles. Industry experts predict that autonomous vehicles will be commercially available within the next five to ten years. A 2016 federal budget proposal, slated to provide nearly $4 billion in funding for testing connected vehicle systems, could accelerate this time frame. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) set a goal to work with stakeholders to “accelerate the deployment” of autonomous technologies.

This post will explore some of the  privacy issues that should be addressed before these vehicles are fully commercialized.