Ex-Rep. Hurd Hails CTA for Not Canceling CES 2022

Samsung shares with policymakers “the common goal to enhance cybersecurity” but warns that “a prescriptive, fragmented approach” to legislation on ransomware and other cyberthreats would be “problematic,” Eric Tamarkin, director and senior public policy counsel, told a CES 2022 cybersecurity workshop Friday. “We are taking great strides in industry” on cybersecurity, and “the partnership between government and industry is strong,” said Tamarkin. “We are engaging every day with a number of agencies,” including the FCC and Department of Homeland Security, he said. Through a “whole slew of different public-private partnerships, we are in the trenches every day, working on these challenges together,” he said. The U.S. and its allies need to continue to show “leadership in advanced technology as we have since the end of World War II,” said former Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, now managing director of tech investment bank Allen & Co. “One of the things that gives me hope,” said Hurd, “is that despite the political atmosphere in which we’ve been operating for the last couple of years, when it comes to the threat of China, it’s a bipartisan recognition, it’s a bicameral recognition of that issue.” Hurd endorsed CTA’s decision to move forward with CES 2022 amid the rapid spread of COVID-19's omicron variant. “CES is an example of how we have to continue to figure out how to do things in tough situations,” said Hurd. “This is our new normal. We’re going to have to figure out a way to evolve, get better and grow and work together.” He urged the conference audience in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s North Hall to “give it up for CES for continuing the show and doing this and having us all out.”