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Daily Archives: March 10, 2015

Privacy elements of Apple mobile devices targeted in ongoing surveillance program

The Intercept: “Researchers working with the Central Intelligence Agency have conducted a multi-year, sustained effort to break the security of Apple’s iPhones and iPads, according to top-secret documents obtained by The Intercept. The security researchers presented their latest tactics and achievements at a secret annual gathering, called the “Jamboree,” where attendees discussed strategies for exploiting security flaws in household and commercial electronics. The conferences have spanned nearly a decade, with the first CIA-sponsored meeting taking place a year before the first iPhone was released. By targeting essential security keys used to encrypt data stored on Apple’s devices, the researchers have sought to thwart the company’s attempts to provide mobile security to hundreds of millions of Apple customers across the globe. Studying both “physical” and “non-invasive” techniques, U.S. government-sponsored research has been aimed at discovering ways to decrypt and ultimately penetrate Apple’s encrypted firmware. This could enable spies to plant malicious code on Apple devices and seek out potential vulnerabilities in other parts of the iPhone and iPad currently masked by encryption. The CIA declined to comment for this story. The security researchers also claimed they had created a modified version of Apple’s proprietary software development tool, Xcode, which could sneak surveillance backdoors into any apps or programs created using the tool. Xcode, which is distributed by Apple to hundreds of thousands of developers, is used to create apps that are sold through Apple’s App Store.”

CFPB Arbitration Study: Report to Congress 2015

“The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires that we study arbitration agreements and provide a report to Congress of our findings. Companies provide almost all consumer financial products and services under written contracts. Arbitration agreements, in those contracts, can require that parties resolve any subsequent disputes through privately-appointed individuals (arbitrators), rather than… Continue Reading

Market Liquidity and Heterogeneity in the Investor Decision Cycle

Market Liquidity and Heterogeneity in the Investor Decision Cycle. Richard Bookstaber, Michael D. Foley, Brian F. Tivnan. March 10, 2015. Office of Financial Research Working Paper 15-03. “During liquidity shocks such as occur when margin calls force the liquidation of leveraged positions, there is a widening disparity between the reaction speed of the liquidity demanders… Continue Reading

Securitization and Banks’ Capital Structure

Almazan, Andres and Martín‐Oliver, Alfredo and Saurina Salas, Jesus, Securitization and Banks’ Capital Structure (March 9, 2015). Review of Corporate Finance Studies, Forthcoming. Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2575508 “Asset securitization offers banks the possibility of altering their capital structures and the financial intermediation process. This study shows that the introduction of securitization is associated… Continue Reading

Making Value for America: Embracing the Future of Manufacturing, Technology, and Work

“Globalization, developments in technology, and new business models are transforming the way products and services are conceived, designed, made, and distributed in the U.S. and around the world. These forces present challenges – lower wages and fewer jobs for a growing fraction of middle-class workers – as well as opportunities for “makers” and aspiring entrepreneurs… Continue Reading

Report – Federal Agencies Still Struggle to Process Public Information Requests in a Timely, Consistent Way

“The Center for Effective Government released its second annual access to information scorecard today, grading the 15 key agencies that receive the most public information requests. The findings: eight out of the 15 agencies improved their overall grades from last year, but none earned an overall A grade. While the number of agencies with overall… Continue Reading

The Data Disclosure Decision – Department of Education

CIO.gov: ‘The CIO Council Innovation Committee has released its first Open Data case study, The Data Disclosure Decision, showcasing the Department of Education (Education) Disclosure Review Board. The Department of Education is a national warehouse for open data across a decentralized educational system, managing and exchanging education related data from across the country. Education collects… Continue Reading

Wikimeida Foundation joined by civil rights groups in lawsuit against NSA surveillance

The Guardian – “The Wikimedia Foundation, Amnesty International and a host of civil rights groups sued the National Security Agency and the US Department of Justice on Tuesday challenging the mass surveillance programme uncovered by whistleblower Edward Snowden. “We’re filing suit today on behalf of our readers and editors everywhere,” said Jimmy Wales, founder of… Continue Reading

CRS – Genetic Testing: Background and Policy Issues

Genetic Testing: Background and Policy Issues. Amanda K. Sarata, Specialist in Health Policy. March 2, 2015. “Congress has considered, at various points in time, numerous pieces of legislation that relate to genetic and genomic technology and testing. These include bills addressing genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment; precision medicine; the patenting of genetic material;… Continue Reading