City of Philadelphia - File #: 180534

• File #: 180534
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 5/17/2018
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 5/17/2018
• Title: Authorizing City Council's Committee on Technology and Information Services to hold hearings to examine and evaluate the City of Philadelphia's security of information technology as well as to identify additional measures and best practices in order to prevent criminal misuse of information technologies.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Taubenberger, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Gym, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Bass

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
5/17/2018	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
5/17/2018	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Authorizing City Council's Committee on Technology and Information Services to hold hearings to examine and evaluate the City of Philadelphia's security of information technology as well as to identify additional measures and best practices in order to prevent criminal misuse of information technologies.

Body
WHEREAS, We recognize that the free flow of information can promote economic and social development, education and democratic governance; and

WHEREAS, There has been significant advancements in the development and application of information technologies and means of telecommunication; and

WHEREAS, Governments are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze data and make decisions and as cities like Philadelphia automate water supply, electricity, mass transit, and hospital services cyber threats remain a concern; and

WHEREAS, Technological advancements have created new possibilities for criminal activity, particularly the criminal misuse of information technologies; and

WHEREAS, Cyber attacks on cities have been occurring with increased frequency with Atlanta most recently targeted in March of 2018, Charlotte having experienced a ransomware issue in December of 2017, followed by Davidson County, North Carolina in February 2018 as well as Baltimore and Denver, and cities in Alabama, Tennessee and New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, In such ransomware attacks malicious software cripples victims' computers or networks and blocks important data until a ransom is paid to unlock it; and

WHEREAS, According to The New York Times the Atlanta cyber attack caused "Atlanta's municipal government [to be] brought to its knees . . . one of the most sustained and consequential cyberattacks ever mounted against a major American city"; and

WHEREAS, It is crucial to the various city agencies, departments and to all Philadelphians that we eliminate safe havens for those who criminally misuse information technologi...