Shouldn’t Teams, Zoom, Slack all interoperate securely for the Feds? Wyden is asking

Shouldn't Teams, Zoom, Slack all interoperate securely for the Feds? Wyden is asking

April 24, 2024 at 03:51PM

Senator Ron Wyden proposed the Secure and Interoperable Government Collaboration Technology Act, aiming to ensure collaboration software used by federal agencies work together with end-to-end encryption. The legislation involves defining technology standards, mandating interoperability, and emphasizing cybersecurity. Despite potential opposition, the bill has received support from digital rights and privacy organizations.

Based on the meeting notes, here are the key takeaways:

– US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has proposed legislation, the Secure and Interoperable Government Collaboration Technology Act, which aims to require collaboration software used by federal government agencies to work together and be securely end-to-end encrypted.
– The Act would necessitate collaboration technology to comply with interoperable standards and requirements set by the General Services Administration (GSA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), ensuring secure communication and compliance with federal record-keeping requirements.
– The legislation also aims to prevent vendor lock-in and promote a competitive market by enabling anyone to fix, extend, or improve technology. It has received endorsements from some digital rights and privacy organizations, as well as author and activist Cory Doctorow.

This legislation, if passed, would significantly impact the use and procurement of collaboration technology by the US government, aiming to enhance security, interoperability, and competition in the marketplace.

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