Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Insider
CYBERSECURITY
Criminal Charges Lodged Against Alleged Phobos Ransomware Affiliates
Unfortunately, I’ve had unpleasant dealings with the Phobos ransomware group. My interactions with Phobos have been fodder for a good story when I educate client employees on recent cyber-attacks to prevent them from becoming victimized. The story highlights how these ransomware groups, including Phobos, are sophisticated criminal organizations with managerial hierarchy. They use the same slang that we use in their communications and have to get “authority” to negotiate a ransom. It’s a strange world. Read More
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Three States Ban DeepSeek Use on State Devices and Networks
New York, Texas, and Virginia are the first states to ban DeepSeek, the Chinese-owned generative artificial intelligence (AI) application, on state-owned devices and networks.
Texas was first to tackle the problem when it banned state employees from using both DeepSeek and RedNote on January 31, 2025. The Texas ban includes other apps affiliated with the People’s Republic of China, including “Webull, Tiger Brokers, Moomoo[,] and Lemon8.” Read More
Thomson Reuters Wins Copyright Case Against Former AI Competitor
Thomson Reuters scored a major victory in one of the first cases dealing with the legality of using copyrighted data to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. In 2020, Thomson Reuters sued the now-defunct AI start-up Ross Intelligence for alleged improper use of Thomson Reuters materials, including case headnotes in its Westlaw search engine, to train its new AI model. Read More
PRIVACY TIP #431
DOGE Has Access to Our Personal Information: What You Need to Know
According to a highly critical article recently published by TechCrunch, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), President Trump’s advisory board headed by Elon Musk, has “taken control of top federal departments and datasets” and has access to “sensitive data of millions of Americans and the nation’s closest allies.” The author calls this “the biggest breach of US government data.” Find out more in this week's Privacy Tip. Read More
RECENT EVENTS AND NEWS
Jim Merrifield Authors Article on Importance of CIO-CMO Relationship to Implement Ethical AI
Director of Information Governance + Business Intake Jim Merrifield authored the article, “Chief information, marketing officers are crucial to powering ethical artificial intelligence, customer engagement,” published in the Hartford Business Journal on February 10, 2025. In the article, Jim identifies the chief information officer and chief marketing officer as the “dynamic duo” at “the intersection of digital transformation” who “can drive ethical AI adoption, ensure compliance and foster personalized customer engagement powered by innovation and responsibility.”
As Jim explains it, “[E]thical AI isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a guiding principle that ensures AI solutions respect user privacy, avoid bias and operate transparently.” CMOs focus on delivering dynamic, real-time and personalized interactions while CIOs ensure the technical infrastructure adheres to the law, while safeguarding the organization’s reputation. Looking to the future, Jim suggests that AI transparency, hyper-personalization, and AI content labeling are among the trends that will reshape the roles of CIOs and CMOs in the years ahead.
