The German Federal Ministry of the Interior recently published its revamped proposal for an “IT Security” Law. A similar proposal had already been adopted by the previous German Government in March last year (see InsidePrivacy, German Government Proposes Cybersecurity Law, March 22, 2014). However, that proposal ultimately failed to clear the legislative process in
August 2014
U.S. Navy Affirms Commitment to Use Alternative Fuels
On August 25, 2014, the U.S. Navy announced that it would continue its four-year collaboration with the Chilean Navy to research, develop, and use “drop-in” alternative fuels to power surface ships and aircraft. Both navies have established goals of significantly increasing their use of alternative fuels. The Chilean Navy intends to use renewable energy sources…
NLRB Continues to Limit Employers’ Actions Governing Employees’ Use of Social Media
We previously noted that the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) takes the position that the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) protects employees’ use of social media for certain purposes, and these protections apply regardless of whether the employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Our colleagues at InsidePrivacy recently posted a blog post discussing…
NLRB Finds Employee’s Facebook “Like” and Comment Protected By Labor Law
Last Friday, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) ruled that two employees of a sports bar and restaurant were unlawfully discharged for their participation in a Facebook discussion criticizing their employer. In the Facebook discussion that prompted the firings, a former employee complained in a status update that she owed more taxes than expected because…
What to Do with Missing Participants: Department of Labor Provides Guidance
When a defined contribution plan terminates, the plan administrator must distribute participants’ accounts as soon as administratively feasible. However, participants do not always update the plan administrator when their contact information changes, and some participants may not be responsive when the plan administrator requests directions on how to distribute their accounts.
On August 14, 2014,…
Drones Over Kenya and South Africa
Similar to the growing U.S. interest in exploring civilian uses of unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), efforts are underway across the African continent to deploy UAS in innovative ways such as protecting wildlife, expanding internet connectivity to isolated communities, and delivering humanitarian aid. In Kenya, Dickens Olewe and his African SkyCAM project is…
Drones Over Kenya and South Africa?
Similar to the growing U.S. interest in exploring civilian uses of unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”), efforts are underway across the African continent to deploy UAS in innovative ways such as protecting wildlife, expanding internet connectivity to isolated communities, and delivering humanitarian aid. In Kenya, Dickens Olewe and his African SkyCAM project is…
Reducing Pension Costs By Increasing Defined Benefit Pensions: Kodak’s Innovative Approach
Kodak recently announced that it is increasing the benefits provided under its defined benefit plan. Kodak will credit an additional 3% of pay each year under its cash balance pension plan instead of making a matching contribution of up to 3% of pay under its 401(k) plan. In connection with this change, Kodak announced that…
Compliance Warning States OBA Principles Apply to Cross-Device and Cross-Platform Tracking
Last week, the Online Interest-Based Advertising Accountability Program released a compliance warning to clarify that its Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising (OBA Principles) apply―not just to traditional HTTP cookies―but to other types of tracking technologies that enable the tracking of consumers across different platforms and devices.
The compliance warning admonished companies developing and implementing…
Uganda Nullifies the Anti-Homosexuality Act and Backs Away from the Pursuit of Similar Legislation
On August 1, 2014, Uganda’s Constitutional Court overturned the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) on procedural grounds, holding that the Act’s passing was unconstitutional because the necessary quorum of lawmakers was not present in parliament to vote on the bill. This controversial legislation, which was passed on February 24, 2014, imposed a life sentence for certain…