Category:National Security
Updated ABA Resolution Imposes Higher Due Diligence Standards for Lawyers
The American Bar Association (“ABA”) recently passed Resolution 100 (“The Resolution”) to strengthen rules regarding due diligence toward clients. This resolution amends ABA Model Rule 1.16 to explicitly recognize an attorney’s duty to “assess the facts and circumstances of their representation”. The updated Rule reflects the goal of preventing attorneys from using their expertise to commit or further a scheme, with money laundering and terrorist financing being of particular concern.
Protecting Classified Information: Scrutiny, Legislation, and Potential Ripple Effects
In recent months, the protection of classified material has been a prominent topic in the media. Following a DOJ probe into the matter, on June 8th, 2023, Trump was indicted by the Florida Grand Jury for the alleged mishandling of classified documents. These serious accusations have prompted questions regarding existing policies and legislation aimed at protecting our country against security threats, as well as questions regarding how well the existing policies and laws are protecting our nation’s most sensitive secrets. This blog examines the current legislation that governs the classification, handling, storage, and protection of classified information, and how the current system lacks sufficient rigor to prevent persons with ill intent from exploiting the weaknesses in the system. Finally, there will be a review of the current, proposed legislation that is intended to tighten up the classification system and prevent a repeat of serious security threats that have recently come to light.
The Committee on Foreign Investment of the U.S. Cracks Down on Tiktok: Is a Potential Ban on the Horizon?
Since 2019, TikTok and ByteDance, its parent company, officials have been negotiating with the Committee on Foreign Investment of the United States (CFIUS) regarding required technical safeguards they will need to adopt to be in compliance with US national security concerns. The popular social media app, which gained traction during the beginning of 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, has been scrutinized by many officials regarding concerns for user privacy. Currently, the Biden administration has been working to encourage TikTok’s Chinese owners to sell their investment in the app or face a potential national ban in the U.S.. However, Tiktok representatives argue this will not alleviate concerns about user data privacy.
Safeguarding Technologies through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force
On February 16, 2023, the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Department of Commerce (DoC) announced the launch of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Matthew Axelrod, the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement in the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the strike force will bring together various agencies throughout the government, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and 14 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, to “target illicit actors, strengthen supply chains and protect critical technological assets from being acquired or used by nation-state adversaries”.
One Year into Russian Invasion of Ukraine: New Russia-Related Sanctions
Exactly one year since the invasion of Ukraine, on February 24th 2023, the White House, in coordination with other G7 leaders (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom), announced the newest round of sanctionsagainst key revenue generating sectors for Russia. In efforts to further degrade Russia’s economy and diminish its ability to wage war against Ukraine, the action newly targets over 200 individuals and entities including Russian firms, banks, manufacturers, and officials that helped Russia evade earlier sanctions throughout the war. Including members of the European Union, more than 30 countries representing more than half the world’s economy have already imposed unprecedented sanctions on the Russian economy, making it the most sanctioned nation in the world.