On December 19, 2023, the Justice Department (“DOJ”) announced a disruption campaign against the Blackcat ransomware group. In the same press release, they also stated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) had developed a decryption tool to combat ALPHV/Blackcat’s ransomware variant. Over the last couple of years, Blackcat’s ransomware has risen in popularity and […]
FCC Plans to Update Data Breach Notification Rules
After a decade and a half under the current data breach notification rules for telecommunications carriers and telecommunications relay services (TRS) providers, the FCC recently unveiled plans to update and expand them. On November 22, 2023, the FCC issued a Report and Order that it intends to consider at its December 13th meeting that would […]
Ransomware Group, in Midst of Extortion Attempt, Files Regulatory Notice with SEC
Just a month before the Security and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC’s”) Material Cybersecurity Incidents Rule is set to take effect, a ransomware group has apparently taken compliance with reporting requirements into its own hands. On November 15, 2023, the ransomware group known as BlackCat (also known as “AlphV”) posted a notice on its leak site alleging […]
FTC Approves New Data Breach Notification Requirement for Non-Banking Financial Institutions
On October 27, 2023, the FTC approved an amendment to the Safeguards Rule (the “Amendment”) requiring that non-banking financial institutions notify the FTC in the event of a defined “Notification Event” where customer information of 500 or more individuals was subject to unauthorized acquisition. The Amendment becomes effective 180 days after publication in the […]
China Releases Major Changes in its Draft Regulations on Cross-border Data Flows
At the end of September 2023, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released draft regulations (see the unofficial English translation) regulating the cross-border flow of personal information and important data out of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). The comment period for these regulations concluded on October 15, 2023, and the regulations may change if […]