Border Agents Can Now Get Classified Intelligence Information
Sources Say US Investigating TikTok on NatSec Grounds ; PA to Pass Significant Election Legislation ; and More Picks
Government Officials Around the Globe Targeted for Hacking Through WhatsApp (DonkeyHotey)
From Reuters: “Senior government officials in multiple U.S.-allied countries were targeted earlier this year with hacking software that used Facebook Inc’s (FB.O) WhatsApp to take over users’ phones, according to people familiar with the messaging company’s investigation. Sources familiar with WhatsApp’s internal investigation into the breach said a ‘significant’ portion of the known victims are high-profile government and military officials spread across at least 20 countries on five continents. Many of the nations are U.S. allies, they said.”
Sources Say the US Is Formally Investigating TikTok on National Security Grounds (Chris)
The authors write, “The U.S. government has launched a national security review of TikTok owner Beijing ByteDance Technology Co’s $1 billion acquisition of U.S. social media app Musical.ly, according to two people familiar with the matter. While the $1 billion acquisition was completed two years ago, U.S. lawmakers have been calling in recent weeks for a national security probe into TikTok, concerned the Chinese company may be censoring politically sensitive content, and raising questions about how it stores personal data.”
Grenfell Tower: After Decades of Inaction, Politicians Still Haven’t Been Held to Account (Chris)
The author writes, “For the media to now condemn the London Fire Brigade for the problems at Grenfell Tower risks deflecting responsibility from those most culpable: the ministers, government advisers and civil servants who sat on their hands.”
Significant Pennsylvania Election Law Changes Headed to Governor’s Desk (Reader Steve)
From the Morning Call: “Legislation headed toward the governor’s desk in Pennsylvania on Tuesday would deliver the biggest changes to state election laws in decades and provide aid to counties for much of the cost of new voting machines as a bulwark against hacking in next year’s presidential election. In a compromise package negotiated behind closed doors over the last four months, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf secured some of his priorities to increase voting access, including allowing any voter to mail in a ballot and moving voter-registration deadlines closer to the election.”
Michael Lohan Says Daughter Lindsay’s Relationship With MBS Is ‘Platonic and Respectful’ (Russ)
The author writes, “When asked if he is concerned that Lindsay is spending time with someone accused of imprisoning members of his own family and ordering the murder of prominent Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Michael [replied], ‘None of that has proven to be true. Lindsay says he’s a good person.’”
