November 06, 2017

    Top intelligence officials gather in Washington to discuss national security issues

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2017 — Legal experts and intelligence officials from the FBI, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of State and Department of Homeland Security will explore such topics as artificial intelligence, private practice of national security law, classified and unclassified leaks, the law of armed conflict, national security challenges on the world’s oceans, future issues in national security law, cybersecurity, FISA and more at the 27th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law Conference, Nov. 16-17 in Washington, D.C. 

    What:     
    27th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law Conference
    Sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security

    When:    
    Thursday-Friday, Nov. 16-17

    Where:   
    The Capital Hilton
    Presidential Ballroom
    1001 16th St. NW
    Washington, D.C. 20036

    Featured speakers and panelists include:

    • Hilarie Bass, president, American Bar Association
    • Monika Bickert, head of Product Policy and Counterterrorism, Facebook
    • Evan Bloom, director of the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, U.S. State Department
    • Rachel Brand, associate attorney general, U.S. Dept. of Justice
    • Raj De, former general counsel, National Security Agency
    • Laura Donohue, law professor and director, Center on National Security and the Law, Georgetown Law
    • Susan Hennessy, managing editor, Lawfare
    • Alexander Joel, chief of Office of Civil Liberties, Privacy and Transparency in Office of the Director of National Intelligence
    • Robert Litt, former general counsel for the Director of National Intelligence
    • Rear Admiral Kevin Lunday, U.S. Coast Guard and director of training and exercises, U.S. Cyber Command
    • Caroline Krass, former general counsel, Central Intelligence Agency
    • Hon. David Skaggs, former Member of Congress, 2nd District, Colorado
    • Hon. Zach Wamp, former Member of Congress, 3rd District, Tennessee

    Program highlights include:

    Panel II: “Artificial Intelligence: Issues of Technology, Ethics and Law” — Panelists will review the legal issues posed by AI, latest technological developments, including autonomous weapons and driverless cars, and the applicable laws or the need for new laws; ask questions about the ethical use of AI; explore the relationship of AI to the laws of armed conflict; and examine the commercial use and legal liability issues that may occur. Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-noon.

    Panel VI – “The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)” – The session will focus on the legal issues raised by FISA and in particular, Section 702, which is up for renewal. The panelists will discuss the definition of foreign intelligence in a legal context, unmasking, transparency and FISA court reform. The panel will specifically discuss the legal issues raised by FISA as it affects privacy, citizenship and legal standards. Friday, 8:45-10:15 a.m.

    Panel VII – “The Arctic: National Security and Oceans Law for the New Maritime Frontier” – This panel will focus on the application of oceans law and national security law and policy in the emerging maritime frontier of the Arctic.  As we observe dramatic changes in the Arctic environment as sea ice continues to recede, it opens vast new areas of navigable waters. These changes bring new legal challenges as states seek opportunities and advantage. Panelists will debate legal and policy issues and applications of legal regimes in an operational context. Friday, 10:30-Noon

    A complete agenda can be found online.

    This event is open and free to members of the press. For media credentialing, please contact Jennifer Kildee at 202-662-1732 or Jennifer.Kildee@americanbar.org

    Go to www.abalegalfactcheck.com for the ABA’s new feature that cites case and statutory law and other legal precedents to distinguish legal fact from fiction.

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