Episode description

For this episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo sits down with Eric Geller, a leading cybersecurity journalist who contributes to top outlets like Politico, Wired, and The Record. Together, they unpack Eric's reporting on expectations for changes in AI regulation and cybersecurity under the incoming Trump administration. They also discuss the vulnerabilities within critical infrastructure sectors like agriculture and telecom. Geller offers insights into systemic challenges, the evolving threat environment, and the need for innovation in tackling cybersecurity policy and governance.

Main Topics Covered:

• Changes in cybersecurity priorities under different U.S. administrations
• Insights into major incidents like Salt Typhoon and their implications for telecom security
• The Biden administration's AI executive order vs. potential Trump-era policies
• Cybersecurity vulnerabilities in agriculture and critical infrastructure
• The challenges of implementing software liability and establishing duty-of-care standards

Key Quotes:

"[Salt Typhoon is] one of the broadest campaigns that the U.S. government has ever seen." - Eric Geller

"Congress would have to step in and say, we are declaring software to be a product, which unlocks some legal avenues for further work [on software liability]." - Eric Geller

"Trump changed the rules a little bit to make it easier for the military to launch some of these [cyber] attacks. And Biden did not reverse that." - Eric Geller

"The tech industry really needs to figure out where it stands on how much regulation it wants." - Eric Geller

"All these things could be hacked. And right now, it's almost just a matter of luck that some of them haven't been." - Eric Geller

Relevant Links:

https://www.wired.com/story/trump-administration-cybersecurity-policy-reversals/

https://www.wired.com/story/donald-trump-ai-safety-regulation/

https://therecord.media/government-is-not-ready-for-food-agriculture-cybersecurity-usda

https://therecord.media/cybersecurity-software-liability-standards-white-house-struggle

Guest Bio: Eric Geller is a seasoned cybersecurity journalist, recognized for his in-depth analysis of pressing cyber issues. He has written for Politico, Wired, The Record, and Cipher Brief, focusing on policy, governance, and the intersection of technology and national security.