Information Security Newsletter

October 12, 2024

National Town Hall on Scams and Older Adults

Important announcement for seniors:

Older adults, families, and professionals who work with older adults are invited to register for an action-oriented National Town Hall on scams and older adults on Wednesday, October 30, 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET. Presented jointly by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), AARP, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), this online event will feature:
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Real-life examples of elder financial exploitation that illustrate how it can happen to anyone as they grow older
Money Smart for Older Adults, an easy-to-use curriculum from the CFPB and FDIC that helps people avoid, prevent, and respond to scams
Findings from AARP research report on blame and shame in the context of financial fraud
Five things you can do right now to help prevent scams and financial exploitation

The event will feature these national leaders:
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Julie M. Strandlie, Elder Fraud Prevention Advocate
Kathy Stokes, AARP Fraud Watch Network, Director of Fraud Prevention Programs
Ron Jauregui, FDIC, Division of Depositor and Consumer Protection, Community Affairs Specialist
Lisa Schifferle, CFPB, Office for Older Americans, Senior Policy Analyst

Register →

November 15, 2023

Is It Time for a New US Constitutional Convention?

by David Badertscher

Introduction.

This posting provides information to help explore the key arguments surrounding this question from both positive and negative perspectives and to provide a useful framework to inform the debate. Commentary is organized into the following categories: Survey Information, Historical Context, Current Challenges, Arguments for a New Constitutional Convention, Arguments Against Convening a New Constitutional Convention, Alternative Considerations, Some Thoughts About the Future, and a concluding statement. The scope of this posting is limited to U.S constitutional conventions; it does not cover the separate topic of state constitutional conventions which are treated separately. The U.S. Constitution cannot be changed through state-level initiatives; only the federal government, through a process involving Congress and state ratification, can amend the Constitution, meaning state initiatives cannot directly modify it.

The United States Constitution, adopted in 1787, has endured for over two centuries as the foundational document governing the nation. However, in recent years there has been growing debate over whether it is time to convene a new Constitutional Convention to address contemporary challenges and issues.

October 23, 2023

American Bar Association and AI

by David Badertscher

In a previous posting on this blog, Reflections of a Retired Law Librarian: From Mimeograph to Generative AI, I urged professional organizations, including the American Bar Association (ABA) and the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), to appoint committees or commissions at the highest level to facilitate the development and implementation of standards sufficient to address the real ethical and safety concerns related to the increasingly rapid adaption of AI, including Generative AI, as a technology of choice in the workplace.

It is gratifying to learn from recent announcements from the American Bar Association that it has already been taking steps to address the legal challenges of Ai faced by the legal community. As Mary L. Smith, President of the American Bar Association, has said: “As a national voice for the legal profession, the ABA must play a leadership role in helping to identify for the legal community the benefits and risks of continually changing AI and machine learning systems and capabilities.”

Measures already taken by ABA include Resolution 112 adopted in August, 2019, Resolution 604 adopted in February, 2023, various articles and podcasts published by its various Sections, including the ABA Business Law Section and the Sci Tech Lawyer published by the ABA Science and Technology Section.

September 5, 2023

The Potential for Using Generative AI to Help Regulate Criminal Behavior

by David Badertscher

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence technology that can produce various types of content, including text, imagery, audio and information that is artificially manufactured. The recent interest in generative AI has been driven by the simplicity of new user interfaces for creating high-quality content, including text, graphics and videos in a matter of seconds.

Generative AI has the potential to be used in various ways to help regulate criminal behavior, although it’s important to note that these applications can be controversial and raise ethical concerns. Here are some ways in which generative AI could potentially contribute to regulating criminal behavior:

Predictive Policing: Generative AI algorithms could analyze large sets of historical crime data to identify patterns and predict potential criminal hotspots. This could help law enforcement agencies allocate resources more effectively and proactively deter criminal behavior.