Fears of Smart Technology & More – Newsletter #1- 10/16

Welcome Back Privacy Law Association!! 

We hope everyone is settled back in and having a productive semester so far! It has been especially chaotic in the privacy law and cybersecurity landscape… but when isn’t it?! 

First off, there are some great events to keep in mind!

  1. AI Discrimination, *This Evening* Wednesday, October 16th – 5 pm  EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kit Walsh will join us this month to discuss the potential risks of AI being used to automate discrimination. AI might seem like a helpful tool for processing applications, or informing people about opportunities, but the black-box nature of these algorithms can result in systems with difficult-to-detect bias among protected classes. Kit will review EFF’s analysis of this problem and discuss our approach to policy remedies, before opening up to a discussion for EFA members.” RSVP: https://eff.org/EFA-AI-Discrimination
  2. CITP ConferenceFriday, October 25th– Tech Policy: The Next Ten Years- Link Here 
  1. Tuesday, November 12th at 12:45 pm– NYLS is hosting an alumni panel with lawyers in the data privacy space. This is going to be an amazing event and provide great learning and networking opportunities. We highly encourage everyone to attend!

Recent Job Postings:

Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Fellow, Innovation Center for Law and Technology (Spring, 2025)

The Innovation Center for Law and Technology focuses on training NYLS students for future success in technology and intellectual property roles and operates as a thought-leadership space for the NYC tech law community. Reporting directly to Professor Michael Pastor, the Center’s Co-Director, the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Fellow will support all of the tech-related work of the Center, including by researching pertinent topics (such as the use of AI by lawyers and privacy implications of AI use), by organizing Center programs, and by assisting in the Director’s scholarly work and events throughout the semester (including the annual Tribeca Cybersecurity Summit).

Submission Requirements: Short statement of interest and Resume

Application Deadline: October 18, 2024

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Newsletter- 1st edition: 

Fun or not-so-fun fact, nearly 4,000 cyberattacks occur every day and this number will only continue to grow. Bad actors are continuing to improve their tactics and innovative technology is constantly entering the scene. Ever since the development of smartphones, we have seen increasing risks to individuals and businesses.

Everybody wants your data, from companies to hackers to governments and more. When bad actors gain access to data, and more specifically your personal information such as driver’s license, contact info., birth date, or other sensitive content, this is where big issues can arise. However, these threats pose significant opportunities for lawyers who are seeking to enter into the cybersecurity and privacy law space. Much of these industries are undefined and lawyers with expertise in these areas can be incredibly valuable for law firms, businesses, and government organizations just to name a few. With AI being such a hot topic we will likely see more of a push to develop federal regulations around privacy, cybersecurity, and AI in the very near future. As it stands, there is not much uniformity in this area of the law which is an important call for any aspiring lawyers hoping to work in these areas whether litigating or creating policy. 

There is one big cybersecurity topic that has been irking me, which is that as technology continues to increase and hackers continue to get more advanced…what will this mean for the ordinary individual who utilizes various forms of technology in their daily life? 

One of the biggest risks technology brings is its potential to be hacked. Many know that bad actors exist and attempt to do their best to protect their information online. However, what is not as apparent are the ramifications that present themself when technology is used in such a mainstream way. For example, imagine you are riding in a self-driving car and a bad actor gains access to it. What you think you have control over, you may not, and at this point, a bad actor could manipulate the car into doing whatever they wish. My imagination does not enjoy where that situation could possibly end… 

A self-driving car in its simplest form is a computer, a computer that has the potential to be compromised. This is a scary thought when put into the perspective of a car and the ramifications it could have on someone’s life. This is also seen in other instances, for example with the increase of smart appliances. If hacked they can have serious privacy and safety concerns just like self-driving cars. If a bad actor gains access to control your oven, a thermostat, a microwave, or any other “smart” device this poses serious consequences. The thought of someone being able to turn my oven on when I am not home is seriously unsettling. 

This list can go on and on, but any device, system, appliance, car, you name it, that’s operated by a computer can be hacked. This may lead to serious issues that aspiring and current lawyers are eager to solve. This landscape of cybersecurity and technology law is continuing to evolve and change which is why this is an amazing time to start learning about potential legal issues in the field. It is no secret that technology will only continue to be widely adopted which is why this area of law has so many opportunities, with even more to come. That’s all for now PLA, stay tuned for more updates soon, and check out the links below to learn more on these topics. 

See here: can self-driving cars be hacked?

See here: Are self-driving cars a national security risk?

See here: the risks of smart home technology 

See here: LG’s oven security flaw

All our best, 

Privacy Law Association 

***The views expressed by the Privacy Law Association (PLA) do not represent those of New York Law School (NYLS) and should not be interpreted as speaking on behalf of NYLS. PLA is an independently run student organization, and the opinions shared by its members reflect our own viewpoints, separate from those of the institution. ***

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