A prominent senator has asked networking device manufacturers to make sure their devices are secure as broadband becomes the even-more-crucial connective tissue for a sheltering-in-place populace. 

In letters dated Wednesday, March 25, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), ranking member of the Intelligence Committee and a former telecom exec, is urging Google, Netgear, Belkin, Eero, Asus, and Commscope to make sure their wireless access points, modems, routers, network systems and other products "cannot be easily exploited to attack consumer systems and workplace networks." 

He said that as the pandemic spreads, there will be greater reliance on home networking and personal devices for broadband access and connectivity. 

“As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, Americans will depend on connectivity products to receive telehealth; remain connected with family, colleagues, employers, and friends; and to receive news reports, and guidance from government and public health officials,” wrote Warner. “During this time, the security of consumer devices and networks will be of heightened importance.” 

He called for timely security updates to mitigate known vulnerabilities and to let consumers know if their devices can no longer receive such updates and thus are not protected.  

Warner also pointed to his Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act, introduced last year which would insure that device vendors have coordinated vulnerability mitigation programs.

Commscope signaled such security is already a part of its tech DNA.

"In these unprecedented times, the strength and reliability of networks are paramount, keeping people connected while they are physically apart," the company said in a statement. "CommScope has a 40-plus-year history in the telecommunications industry, and we take security threats seriously. We have a security team that reviews threats and we move rapidly to close vulnerabilities as threats are identified. We also work with our partners and service providers to update devices with the most up-to-date security measures including code updates to devices purchased by end consumers through retail channels."

Tech companies were celebrating the Senate's passage Thursday (Jan. 16) of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which includes key digital trade provisions. 

Tech trade group ITI had sent a letter Wednesday (Jan. 15) to all the members of the Senate urging that passage. 

The bill, which passed the House last month, includes digital trade provisions that those companies say appropriately promote cross-border data flows and storage.  It now goes to the President's desk for his signature.

Related: Sec. 230 Language Remains in USMCA 

Social media platforms will continue to be held harmless for third-party content on their web sites under the agreement, though according to the compromise, though House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and other Dems, had wanted it scrubbed.  Sen. John Warner (D-Va.) was one of those.  He said the section "has allowed internet intermediaries to ignore misuse of their platforms by bad actors." 

Increasingly legislators are challenging the provision, which gives online platforms like Google and Facebook copyright liability protection from third-party content. 

Language in the compromise USMCA maintains that the civil liability carve-out "enhances the economic viability of these engines of growth that depend on user interaction and user content."  

“The Motion Picture Association applauds the Senate for passing the USMCA today," said MPA Chairman Charles Rivkin. "Currently, the U.S. film, television, and streaming content industry accounts for $17.2 billion annually in exports and registers a positive trade balance with nearly every country in the world. The USMCA will help the future of our industry look brighter, particularly in Mexico. This deal includes provisions that facilitate the growth of the legal, digital market for creative content while improving tools to address the threat of online piracy, which costs the industry up to $71 billion of revenue lost annually." 

He said he hoped future trade deals would similarly account for a "constantly changing digital landscape." 

“The North American Free Trade Agreement will receive a welcomed update in the form of USMCA," said Computer & Communications Industry Association President Matt Schruers. "The parties are bringing North American commerce into the digital age with robust rules that will prove critical to the continued growth of the Internet economy.” 

"“Ratification of the USMCA offers first-of-its-kind, cutting-edge digital trade provisions that recognize the reality of the 21st century economy and represents a key step forward for U.S. leadership in innovation and digital trade,” said ITI President Jason Oxman. "Half of all value created in the global economy over the next decade will be created digitally, yet North America’s current trade pact mentions the telegraph – but not the internet. We applaud the U.S. Senate for ratifying the USMCA and setting a new standard that will assure a thriving, innovative North American economy.”  

"This agreement includes important digital trade updates — a ban on data localization requirements, prohibition on duties on electronic commerce and intermediary liability protections— that are important for American small businesses," said Consumer Technology Association President Gary Shapiro.  

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has called for a "full investigation" of a just-discovered Facebook "security issue" that affected some 50 million accounts.

Warner is co-chair of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus.

The senator also took the opportunity to remind Silicon Valley that Congress is ready to step in.

“The news that at least 50 million Facebook users had their accounts compromised is deeply concerning," he said. "A full investigation should be swiftly conducted and made public so that we can understand more about what happened."

He said the latest "security issue" is just the latest reminder of what he called "the dangers" of a small number of companies accumulating "so much personal data without adequate security," and a "sobering" reminder that Congress needs to take actoin to protect consumer privacy.

"The era of the Wild West in social media is over, " he said, echoing a point he made following hearings earlier this year on various social media-related issues including Russian election meddling--Warner is also co-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

"On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 25, our engineering team discovered a security issue affecting almost 50 million accounts," Facebook said. "We’re taking this incredibly seriously and wanted to let everyone know what’s happened and the immediate action we’ve taken to protect people’s security."

"Our investigation is still in its early stages. But it’s clear that attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook’s code that impacted 'View As,' a feature that lets people see what their own profile looks like to someone else. This allowed them to steal Facebook access tokens which they could then use to take over people’s accounts. Access tokens are the equivalent of digital keys that keep people logged in to Facebook so they don’t need to re-enter their password every time they use the app."

Facebook said it had fixed the vulnerability and told law enforcement. It has also temporarily turned off the "View As" feature.

Related: Zuckerberg Says Facebook Fixes Will Take Years

Facebook said it had fixed the vulnerability and told law enforcement. It has also temporarily turned off the "View As" feature.

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“Today’s disclosure is a reminder about the dangers posed when a small number of companies like Facebook or the credit bureau Equifax are able to accumulate so much personal data about individual Americans without adequate security measures.Fight for the Future was fighting mad over the breach and agree it was time for legislation.“Let’s make this perfectly clear: Facebook’s data harvesting business model just put fifty million people in danger," said Evan Greer, executive director of Fight for the Future. "Rather than shoring up their security, companies like Facebook have been spending millions lobbying against real privacy and data security protections for Internet users. We need real laws that protect people, not ones that the companies write themselves behindclosed doors.”

“Once an innocent place to safely share our lives with friends, Facebook has become a honeypot for malevolent lawbreakers who seek to undermine our society and democracy," said Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). "Congress should need no further notice to act.  My colleagues must join me as I craft data privacy legislation that protects consumers and protects our national security.”

“It’s not enough for Facebook to be sorry," said Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.). "Facebook has a responsibility to protect the people who trust its platform. So does Congress. “After it was revealed that 87 million Facebook users’ data was inappropriately shared with Cambridge Analytica, the Energy and Commerce Committee heard testimony from CEO Mark Zuckerberg. That was in April of this year.“It’s now the end of September and Committee Republicans have still failed to take any meaningful action to protect consumers. These breaches will continue. It’s time for Congress to hold companies like Facebook accountable and to pass comprehensive privacy and data protection legislation.”