The Hogan Lovells National Security Podcast
In this age of rapid technological advances, having a dedicated team of lawyers to help navigate the challenges and threats of national security is crucial. At Hogan Lovells, national security is baked into virtually all practice areas and industries, from clothing affected by the Uyghur forced labor bill, or the myriad impacts of the Ukraine war, or political conditions in a country of importance to a client. The Hogan Lovells National Security Podcast, hosted by Mike Scheimer and Tim Bergreen, will provide an overview of key developments as well as informative segments on issues that are affecting the day-to-day goals of businesses and organizations.
Episodes
Episodes
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Episode 13: Quantum Computing
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
In this episode, like Ant-Man and the Wasp we dive into the quantum realm - specifically, quantum computing. We explain what a “qubit” is (a quantum bit) and how quantum mechanics could deliver exponential leaps forward in computer processing power and surpass conventional supercomputers. We discuss the Biden administration’s March release of National Security Memorandum 10 - which seeks to drive U.S. leadership in quantum information science while also acknowledging the threat large scale quantum computers will pose to today’s encryption standards – while also touching on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) efforts to develop a post-quantum cryptographic standard. Finally, we touch on other emerging quantum technologies, such as quantum sensing (which could improve improvements in submarine detection capabilities), and quantum communications (including China’s reported construction of a quantum communications network).
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: Contact
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
Episode 12: Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
In this episode, we explore the potential of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), which is publicly available information including (as discussed in our prior episodes) the social-media posts, smartphone photos, commercial drone videos, and commercial satellite imagery used by Ukraine to locate and target Russian forces. We discuss the challenges of integrating unclassified OSINT with more traditional forms of classified intelligence information. We address the fast-growing number of companies that are transforming publicly available data into OSINT, challenges faced by intelligence services with processing and analyzing the sheer volume of OSINT data available, and the fact that OSINT means keeping government clandestine operations secret is more difficult today (noting, for example, the social media furor over the Chinese spy balloons in US airspace a few months ago).
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: Contact
Friday May 12, 2023
Episode 11: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
In this episode, we are joined by our colleague Scott Loughlin, co-lead of our global Privacy and Cybersecurity (PaC) practice to discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI). We compare the emerging AI regulatory frameworks in the EU, UK, and the U.S. Our discussion ranges from the more traditional national security use cases for AI, such as autonomous / semi-autonomous weapon systems and drones, to more recent examples including ChatGPT, deepfakes, surveillance, and the potential for waging disinformation campaigns. We discuss the responsible use of AI, potential privacy concerns, and mitigating human bias when training AI models. Finally, we talk about how AI tools can be used in company insider threat programs (a topic we will pick up in later episodes) to detect workforce activity that may indicative of an insider threat.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: ContactScott Loughlin: Contact
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Episode 10: Classified Information and Leaks
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Given the developing news story around the classified information leaks by a U.S. Air National Guardsmen, we decided to publish this episode before our regularly-scheduled release date of Thursday.
We discuss what is (and is not) classified information, how the personnel security clearance (PCL) process works, and dispel some myths about the classified world. We walk through classification levels, and touch on controlled access programs, such as Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and Special Access Programs (SAP). We then dive into the story of the current classified information leaks, comparing this to the leaks by Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning. We talk about how this story raises insider threat concerns and the consequences of the current leaks, including the possibility of a chilling effect on recent security clearance reform efforts.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: Contact
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Episode 9: AUKUS and Submarine Technology
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
We discuss the March announcement that the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) security partnership will help Australia develop conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). We go over the recent history of Australia’s position in the Indo Pacific and strategic thinking in recent years about AUS pursuing conventional submarines or nuclear powered submarines. We also address other potential areas of technological cooperation between the AUKUS parties, before diving into some specifics about the current Collins-class SSNS and the plans for these new AUKUS-SSNs.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: Contact
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Episode 8: Outbound Investment Screening
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
In this episode, we are joined by our colleagues Brian Curran and Anne Salladin, to discuss the anticipated “reverse CFIUS” regime from the Biden administration. We unpack the strategic rationale for creating an outbound investment screening regime that we expect will focus on key sensitive industries (e.g., semiconductors, AI, quantum-computing), and make some predictions on what the anticipated Executive Order will cover. Finally, we discuss the potential drawbacks of establishing such a “reverse CFIUS” process, including the challenges for U.S. industry as well as the U.S. government.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: ContactBrian Curran: ContactAnne Salladin: Contact
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Episode 7: Chinese Balloons
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Given the rapidly-changing nature of this topic, we decided to publish this episode before our regularly-scheduled release date of Thursday.
In this episode, we discuss the outcry in Washington about the Chinese surveillance balloon discovered floating over Montana and the cancellation of US Secretary of State Blinken’s trip to Bejing. We touch on the technical capabilities (and limitations) of balloons as surveillance platforms. We explore what these developments mean for increasingly strained US-China relations, particularly in the wake of the announcement of expanding US military access to bases in the Philippines and the AUKUS submarine deal with Australia.
As we recorded this episode, the US announced American military pilots shot down an object off the Alaskan coast. Since recording this episode, the US has now shot down two additional craft, one over Canada and the other over Lake Huron.
Mike Scheimer: ContactTim Bergreen: Contact