IU meets with NSA about cybersecurity in wake of data leak

While IU worked to recover from a data exposure of thousands of student’s personal information, University representatives were finishing a discussion with the National

Security Agency about how to build a more secure global cyber environment. 

The NSA started consulting several academic groups last year after Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, started to leak classified information about its spying capabilities, according to an IU Newsroom press release.

IU’s Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research asked senior leaders of the intelligence agency to share their knowledge in cybersecurity law and policy, personal privacy and civil liberties.

“We sent representatives to Fort Meade to provide a point of view and expertise other groups haven’t had,” said Fred H. Cate, CACR director and C. Ben Dutton professor of law, in the release.

“One of the things that makes CACR so unique is its work at the intersection of technical cybersecurity, law, privacy and policy, and we were pleased to share our thoughts with the NSA.”

The NSA said it’s engaging in such meetings to demonstrate transparency, encourage open dialogue, increase the understanding of the NSA’s missions and equip visitors with information that will help clarify misinformation and misperceptions about the organization and its work, according to the release.

Five students and faculty from IU attended the discussion, including David G. Delaney, a CACR senior fellow and visiting assistant professor of law.

“This was a tremendous opportunity to identify applications for existing and prospective academic research related to cybersecurity,” Delaney said in the release.

“My hope is that we will find future opportunities to both inform and promote academic and public dialogue on national and global policy issues.”