Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Tech, Internet and Cybersecurity
Wyden, Booker, Clarke Introduce Bill Requiring Companies To Target Bias In Corporate Algorithms
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, D-N.Y., today introduced the Algorithmic Accountability Act, which requires companies to study and fix flawed computer algorithms that result in inaccurate, unfair, biased or discriminatory decisions impacting Americans. "Computers are increasingly involved in the most important decisions affecting Americans' lives -whether or not someone can buy a home, get a job or even go to jail. But instead of … Continue Reading
April 10, 2019
Wyden Statement on Net Neutrality
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden issued the following statement after today's House vote on net neutrality: "Change doesn't start in Washington, D.C., and trickle down. It starts from the grassroots. Today the House of Representatives listened to people in Oregon and across the country, and voted to make an open internet the law of the land once again. "This bill would enshrine in law the principle that small businesses and libraries and rural hospitals are on equal footing with the … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Wyden, Cotton Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Personal Devices and Accounts of Senators and Staff from Cyber Threats
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. and members of the Senate Intelligence Committee Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., today introduced a bipartisan bill to protect the personal electronic devices and accounts of senators and their staff from cyber threats. The Senate Cybersecurity Protection Act, S. 890, would permit the Senate Sergeant at Arms (SAA) to provide voluntary cybersecurity assistance to senators and certain Senate staff to secure their personal devices and accounts. Russia's … Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
Wyden, Cotton Urge Senate: Take Cyber Threats Seriously
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., today urged the Senate to take the cyber threats to congressional computers and cell phones seriously by providing an annual report on the number of successful hacks of Senate devices. In a letter addressed to the Senate Sargent of Arms (SAA), Michael Stenger, the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee members wrote: "During the last decade, hackers have successfully infiltrated U.S. government agencies including the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Wyden Introduces Rural Broadband Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden this week introduced bipartisan legislation that aims to ensure the success of current rural broadband initiatives and to remove barriers to future rural broadband growth in Oregon and nationwide. "All across Oregon, one of the top issues I hear about is the need to bring fast, reliable internet to our rural areas," Wyden said. "For education, for jobs, for medicine, broadband is really essential to helping rural communities thrive today. Creating a new … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Wyden, Rubio ask Homeland Security to Investigate National Security Risks of Foreign VPN Apps
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., today requested the Department of Homeland Security conduct a threat assessment of the national security risks stemming from foreign virtual private network (VPN) apps. VPN providers route web traffic through their own servers, usually to provide extra privacy or security for users, or to save on data use. In a letter to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Christopher Krebs, Wyden and Rubio … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Senators Call on FCC and FTC to Investigate How Wireless Carriers Sold American’s Mobile Phone Locations To Data Brokers, Bounty Hunters and Shady Middlemen
Washington, D.C. -A group of 15 senators today called on the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission to investigate how wireless carriers allowed third parties - including data brokers and bounty hunters - to track Americans' cell phones without consent. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Ben Cardin, D-Md., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Amy … Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
Wyden Refutes Pai’s Mischaracterization on Net Neutrality in Comment to FCC
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., refuted the intentional mischaracterization of his net neutrality position by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, in a comment filed today. Pai has repeatedly cited a letter Wyden signed nearly 20 years ago as justification for rolling back strong net neutrality protections that ensure an open internet. Today Wyden reiterated his strong support for the 2015 Open Internet Order, and called on Pai to abandon both his mischaracterization … Continue Reading
July 10, 2017
Wyden, Schatz Urge FCC to Prepare for Deluge of Comments On Net Neutrality Day of Action, July 12
Washington, D.C.-Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, asked the Federal Communications Commission to ensure its commenting system is prepared to withstand a cyberattack as well as a surge of comments expected on July 12, a day of action for supporters of net neutrality. "The FCC must be able to accept all comments filed to ensure that all voices are heard," the senators wrote in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The senators emphasized the FCC must prepare for the type … Continue Reading
February 15, 2017
Wyden, Chaffetz, Conyers Bill To Crack Down on Warrantless Tracking by the Government, Use of Cell-Site Technology
Washington, D.C. - As government agencies expand their use of cell-site simulators or "stingrays" and other digital tracking technology, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Rep. John Conyers, Jr., D-Mich., today introduced the Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act, to create clear rules for when agencies can access and track an individual's geolocation information. "Outdated laws shouldn't be an excuse for open season on tracking Americans, and owning a smartphone or … Continue Reading
February 07, 2017
Senate Democrats Join Entrepreneurs, Advocates, Consumers in Defense of Net Neutrality
Washington (February 7, 2017) - Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), joined Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.), and entrepreneurs, advocates and consumers at a press conference where all pledged to oppose legislative and regulatory efforts to weaken net neutrality rules. Two years ago, after hearing from nearly four million individuals and companies, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) … Continue Reading
November 17, 2016
Wyden Denounces Delaying Rural Broadband Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following the announcement by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to remove agenda items from its November 17 Open Meeting, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today raised serious concerns about Republican efforts to delay critical programs that preserve and extend mobile broadband and voice services in rural America. Congressional Republicans recently wrote to the FCC, requesting the Commission halt activity on new rulemakings after November 8, 2016. "I regularly hear … Continue Reading
September 27, 2016
Following Massive Data Breach Affecting Millions Of Customers, Wyden, Leahy, and Leading Democratic Senators Press Yahoo! For Answers
WASHINGTON - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and other sponsors of a comprehensive data security and breach notification bill that requires companies to take reasonable steps to secure their customers' sensitive data and notify customers in the event of a hack, and called on the leader of Yahoo! to disclose how a massive hack at their company went unnoticed for two years. In a letter to Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer, Wyden, Leahy and leading Democratic Senators asked the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2016
Wyden, Paul and Bipartisan Senators Call on Congress to Stop Massive Expansion of Government Surveillance and Hacking Power
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., today introduced the Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act to protect millions of law-abiding Americans from government hacking. The Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act prevents recently approved changes to Rule 41 from going into effect. The changes would allow the government to get a single warrant to hack an unlimited number of Americans' computers if their computers had been affected by criminals, possibly without notifying … Continue Reading
December 16, 2015
Wyden Slams Latest, Worse Version of Cybersecurity Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D - Ore., issued the following statement on the latest version of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, which has been included in the omnibus appropriations bill. "This 'cybersecurity' bill was a bad bill when it passed the Senate and it is an even worse bill today. Americans deserve policies that protect both their security and their liberty. This bill fails on both counts. Cybersecurity experts say CISA will do little to prevent major … Continue Reading
December 09, 2015
Wyden Praises Permanent Ban on Internet Taxes In Customs and Trade Enforcement Bill
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., praised the inclusion of a permanent ban on unfair taxes on Internet goods and services, as well as Internet access taxes, as part of a trade enforcement bill coming before Congress this week. Sen. Wyden co-wrote the original Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) with former California Republican Rep. Chris Cox in 1998. ITFA prohibits state and local governments from taxing Internet access, and bans multiple and discriminatory taxation against digital … Continue Reading
July 22, 2015
Wyden, Senators Call on FCC To Apply Privacy Protections to Broadband
Washington, D.C. - In light of the recent Open Internet order, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced it will initiate a rulemaking to protect the privacy of consumers who use broadband. Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and seven other Senators to applaud the FCC's plan to initiate a rulemaking and urged it to adopt strong consumer privacy protections. The letter was signed by Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal … Continue Reading
June 24, 2015
Wyden, Markey, Franken, Blumenthal, Cantwell, Call on FCC to Boost Mobile Competition in Spectrum Auction
WASHINGTON - Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) today sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to craft spectrum auction rules for the upcoming incentive auction that increase competition, innovation and consumer choice in the mobile phone marketplace by ensuring that companies of all sizes have access to spectrum. With demand for data-driven wireless devices … Continue Reading
June 09, 2015
Senators to PayPal: Change New User Agreement That Forces Consumers to Accept Unwanted Robocalls
Washington (June 16, 2015) - Today, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) sent a letter to PayPal, the global online payments system, calling on the company to change its User Agreement. PayPal recently released a new User Agreement that would require consumers to consent to receive autodialed or prerecorded calls and text messages. Consumers cannot opt out of these new terms, which go into effect on July 1, 2015, without … Continue Reading
April 24, 2015
Wyden Hails News Comcast will Abandon Takeover of Time Warner Cable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after the announcement that Comcast would not proceed with its takeover of Time Warner Cable. "For the second time this year, America's consumers stood up to Big Cable and won, refusing to make their monopoly any bigger," Wyden said. "The decision will lead to more choices, better services and lower prices - a win for consumers and small businesses." Earlier this week, Sen. Wyden along with Sens. Al Franken … Continue Reading
