Targeting Broken Cameras; Closing Terrorism Loopholes; and More
Here’s a quick look at some of the security-related news since yesterday (and remember to check out the biggest news in security in Security Management's GSX Daily coverage).
Senators Zoom in on Broken Prison Cameras
“Blind spots, lost footage, and technical failures are unacceptable in federal prisons, which must be cleaned up and held to the highest standards,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga). Ossoff introduced bipartisan legislation yesterday to require the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and the Justice Department to ensure there is adequate security camera coverage across 122 federal prisons, according to the Associated Press.
Issues with surveillance cameras—which sometimes are malfunctioning or broken, or footage is not retained long enough—makes it difficult to properly investigate misconduct allegations.
The legislation—the Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021—would require the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate its security camera, radio, and public address systems and submit a report to Congress within 90 days detailing any deficiencies and a plan to implement any necessary upgrades. Those updates would be required within a three-year period, the AP reported.
Plot Not: New Zealand Bans Terror Attack Planning
In the wake of a terrorist attack that left seven people stabbed and wounded in a supermarket earlier this month in Auckland, New Zealand has passed a new security law outlawing preparations for terror attacks. The measure puts New Zealand’s security laws in line with most other countries, according to Reuters.
The law gives law enforcement authorities the power of entry, search, and surveillance without warrants as part of their efforts to prevent planning and preparation of terrorist attacks. It also criminalizes training in weapons or combat for terrorist purposes.
Boom! Organized Crime Team Taken into Custody Over ATM Explosions
Nine suspects were taken into custody as a result of an 18-month investigation by Dutch and German authorities, coordinated by Europol and Eurojust.
According to Europol: “The criminals were producing step-by-step tutorials on how to blow up cash machines, and have been linked to at least 15 ATM attacks in Germany. The cash machines were blown open using homemade explosive devices, posing a serious risk for residents and bystanders. During one of the test runs of an explosion, one of the suspects died, with the other suspect getting seriously injured.”
ATM attacks are a growing concern, and in response Europol and the European Crime Prevention Network developed a report with recommendations to prevent physical attacks against ATMs.
While most nation-state actors are focused on leveraging cyber vulnerabilities for espionage, more are beginning to test out more aggressive techniques, said Rob Joyce, director of security at the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), when speaking at the Aspen Cyber Summit.
While many organizations and news teams focus on the “big four” of China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, Joyce said, they aren’t the only ones worth watching. Smaller nations are becoming more advanced, and they are primarily constrained by budget, staff, and how far they can reach, according to CyberScoop.
