Do We Need a National I-Media Commission?

January 25, 2019

In an era of accelerating technological and business change, the question is whether the existing regulatory institutions fit the changing environment.  The pressure points include:

1. New types of media and applications, in particular the Internet, online video, apps, and the Internet of Things
2. The global reach of providers
3. Emerging issues such as:

• Data privacy and security
• Social media control of usage
• Algorithms in the individualization of content, pricing, and advertising
• Anonymity and cryptography
• Non-discrimination by networks and platforms
• Big data and marketing practices
• Media trade barriers

Dealing with such issues can be done in several ways:

1. A libertarian regime with vanishing regulation.
2. Status quo regulation, with issues dealt with by existing government agencies
3. Creation of new single-issue agencies for new issues, such as a Federal Privacy Commission along the European model.
4. A converged agency to cover the emerging issues of the wider electronic information sector.

Each of these approaches has shortcomings such as overlaps, gaps, single-issue perspectives, lack of expertise, and lack of coordination. Others may run counter to basic policy principles of Western democracies.

The purpose of the conference was to:

1. Identify new types of issues,
2. What regulatory structure—if any—to deal with them?

Speakers included:

• Eli Noam, Columbia University
• Thomas Hazlett, Clemson University
• Matthias Kurth, Cable Europe
• Stephen Messer and Jan Foo, Collective[i]
• Megan Stiffel, Public Knowledge
• Amie Stepanovich, AccessNow
• Eric Null, Open Technology Institute
• Henning Schulzrinne, Columbia University
• Jason Healey, SIPA, Columbia University
• Bernard Benhamou, Institute for Digital Sovereignty o Robert Cohen, Economic Strategy Institute
• Andrew Tutt, Arnold & Porter
• Andrew Reinsdorf, AT&T
• Howard Homonoff, Homonoff Media
• Michael Nelson, Cloudflare
• Harold Furchtgott-Roth, Hudson Institute
• Reed Hundt, Former FCC Chairman
• Robert Pepper, Facebook

CITI Fellows Seminar: Harold Feld

February 4, 2019

Harold Feld, Senior Vice President, Public Knowledge, “Fixing the Media and Social Media to Save the Marketplace of Ideas: The Ghost of Red Lion and the Future of Digital News.”

CITI Fellows Seminar: Group Discussion

March 4, 2019

CITI Fellows Group Discussion. “What are the policy issues that will or should be on the telecoms/internet/media agenda in the next two years?”

CITI Fellows Seminar: David Redl

April 1, 2019

David Redl, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, U.S. Department of Commerce.  “The Trump Administrations Approach to Protecting Consumer Data Privacy and 5G Strategy in the U.S.”

De-Risking and Financial Inclusion: Challenges and Solutions

April 15, 2019

Topics covered:

• Overview of de-risking
• The regulator's perspective
• Who is driving de-risking
• What is driving de-risking
• Who is impacted Solutions in the market

Speakers: 

• Tracey Durner Senior Analyst, Global Center on Cooperative Security
• Andrew Lucas Director, Office of Financial Innovation, New York State Department of Financial Services

CITI Fellows Seminar: Charlie Firestone

May 6, 2019

Charlie Firestone, Executive Director, Aspin Institute – Communications and Society Program. “The future agenda of public interest priorities”

Introduction to Payment Systems & Faster payments

May 9, 2019

About This Webinar: Beginning with the introduction of UK Faster Payments in 2008, there are now dozens of faster payment systems in operation or being developed.  This webinar traced the emergence of these systems, exploring how faster payment systems are both different from and similar to traditional bank-based payment systems.  Importantly, the webinar explored the implications of faster payment systems for emerging economies, issues for industry participants and policymakers and where these systems sit alongside other innovations.

Presenter: Dr Brad Pragnell

CITI Fellows Seminar: Andrea Renda

June 3, 2019

Andrea Renda, Senior Research Fellow and Head of Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation and the Digital Economy, Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS).  “The EU’s Trustworthy AI strategy”

AML Trends in the Developing World, and the Impact of 30 years of FATF Integrity Standards

June 21, 2019

This week the Financial Action Task Force celebrated its thirtieth birthday at its plenary meeting in Orlando, Fl. This webinar provided a brief review of 30 years of integrity standards with a focus on AML/CFT in relation to DFS and especially on collaborative CDD and related KYC innovation.

Presenter: Prof. Louis de Koker, La Trobe Law School, Australia

Cyber-Risk in Financial Services Conference

June 28, 2019

Cyber risks are persistent and manifest, ranging from vulnerabilities in mobile network infrastructure; customer and merchant devices; business processes; and payment provider and national payment infrastructure.

This conference hosted some of the world's top cyber-security experts who will provide their expertise on cyber-threats to the private sector, public sector, payments, blockchain and telecommunications networks.

Speakers included:

• Dr. Leon Perlman, Head, DFSO, Columbia Business School
• Munish Walther-Puri, Director of Cyber Risk, New York City Cyber Command
• Prof. Jason Healey, Senior Research Scholar, School for International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
• David Balcar, Security Strategist / Cyber Profiler. Carbon Black
• Lesley Ritter, Associate Vice President, Moody's
• Rich Jacobs, Assistant Special Agent, FBI
• Dr. Edward M. Roche, Executive Director, Institute for Cyber Arms Control
• Kelly Isikoff, CISO, Axis Capital
• Danny Brando, Vice President and the Head of the Supervision Group Cybersecurity Policy Department, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
• Alex Porcelain, Associate, Product Security, Goldman Sachs
• Joseph Tso, CISO, Scotia Bank US
• Kenneth Wolf, Senior Manager, Threat Intelligence, Standard Chartered Bank
• Alex Schlager, Executive Director, Business Network and Security Solutions, Verizon
• Simon Hunt, Executive Vice President, Cyber-Security Product Innovation, Mastercard
• Erinmichelle Perri, CISO, Multi Plan 
• Nigel Jenkinson, Division Chief, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, International Monetary Fund
• Dr. Leon Perlman, Head DFSO at CITI, Columbia Business School, Columbia University
• Aquiles A. Almansi, Lead Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank
• Sara Lofgren, Channel Sales Engineering Manager,  Blackberry Cylance
• Elad Yoran, Executive Chairman of KoolSpan, CEO of Security Growth Partners (SGP) and Associate Adjunct Professor, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

State of the Global Blockchain Ecosystem

July 30, 2019

Topics of Coverage:

• Commercial rollouts
• Facebook Libra
• Stablecoins
• Crypto-assets types and use
• Legal and regulatory developments
• Emerging security vulnerabilities
• Implementation in the developing world

Presenter: Dr. Leon Perlman, Head, DFSO, Columbia Business School

Regulating the Libra Crypto-Currency

September 24, 2019

• Libra is the first private crypto-currency with the potential to change the worldwide payment and monetary system landscape.
• Overview of European and US regulators assessment of if and how Libra should be regulated
• Overview of the Libra Association
• Discussion of the impact of Libra on monetary systems

2019 IMMAA Annual Conference, Doha, Qatar

October 4-6, 2019

The 2019 conference of the International Media Management Academic Association (IMMAA) was hosted by Northwestern University in Qatar.

The conference theme is Media Management and Innovation, which continues to be a focal challenge the field needs to better understand both conceptually and for practical application. The conference provides a platform for analysis and discussion of the complexities related to managing media innovation on the basis of empirical and theoretical contributions pertaining to the conference theme.

The IMMAA 2019 conference welcomes contributions from diverse perspectives. Papers are encouraged to examine practical examples in case study approaches and all qualitative and quantitative approaches to research.

CITI Fellows Seminar: Fiona Alexander

October 7, 2019

Fiona Alexander, Associate Administrator for International Affairs, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). “Current Debates in International Telecommunications and Internet policy”

Opportunities for Expanding Financial Inclusion Through Digital Technology

October 30, 2019

The Global Findex database is the world’s most comprehensive data set on how adults save, borrow, make payments, and manage risk. The data are collected in partnership with Gallup, Inc., through nationally representative surveys of more than 150,000 adults in over 140 economies. This webinar discussed global trends in access to and use of formal and informal financial services and on the use of fintech, including the use of mobile phones and the internet to conduct financial transactions. We discussed how digital technology is being leveraged to deliver financial services to the underserved, including women and poor and rural adults. 

Presenter: Dr. Leora Klapper, Lead Economist, Finance and Private Sector Research Team of the Development Research Group, World Bank

CITI Fellows Seminar: Craig Moffett

November 4, 2019

Craig Moffett, Principal, MoffettNathanson LLC, “Fixed Wireless Broadband and Convergence of Networks”

Can and Should We Enhance Human Capabilities to Deal with Artificial Intelligence?

November 7, 2019

Keynote Speaker: Daniela Bartos, Educator, Futurist, Start-up & Innovation Advisor, Mentor

Other Featured Speakers:

• Carine de Meyere, Global Advisor on AI, Investor, TEDx Director
• Lynn Radice, Global HR/Jobs Guru, Entrepreneur, Influencer
• Pieter Nel, Expert in AI and Digital Strategy, McKinsey
• Kristina Libby, EVP, Future Science and Research, Hypergiant
• Oliver Christie, AI Consultant, Futurist

Evolution of The Global Blockchain Crypto-Economy: Goals, Risks, Benefits and Challenges

November 22, 2019

This conference addressed the business, technical, social and legal/regulatory aspects of the emerging 'crypto-economy.'

Featured Speakers & Panelists:

• Valerie Szczepanik, US Securities and Exchange Commission
• Sharmista Appaya, World Bank
• Michael Moro, Genesis
• Vanessa Pestritto, Ripple
• Tony Sio, NASDAQ
• Elizabeth Mathews, Securitize

Fintech Regulation: Data is the New Regulatory Hotspot

December 2, 2019

Dr. Leon Perlman discussed how new forms of regulation for fintech, 'big data' and artificial intelligence are becoming the new focus of regulators.

CITI Fellows Seminar: Scott Wallsten

December 2, 2019

Scott Wallsten, President and Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute, “The DOJ’s Proposed Remedies Reasonably Address Competition Concerns Regarding the T-Mobile/Sprint Merger.”

Combating Cyber Crime Through Regional Resource Centers

December 13, 2019

This webinar discussed the trends, challenges and relevance of cyber security for the development of inclusive financial systems. To address the resource and capacity gap, CGAP is proposing that developing countries consider banding together to form regional cyber security resource centers to help manage  risks and respond to cyber-attacks.

Speakers:

• Silvia Baur-Yazbeck, CGAP
• David Medine, CGAP