Steve Roatch, CEO of Twentyseven Global, and Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM & VBM, with Congressman Kevin Yoder.
Steve Roatch, CEO of custom software development company Twentyseven Global, was recognized as a special guest at the KCK Chamber of Commerce Congressional Forum with Congressman Kevin Yoder on Feb. 19, 2016.
The Congressional Forum was created 48 years ago as an opportunity for information to be exchanged between the United States 3rd District Congressman and the business community. The Forum meets on the third Friday of every month at the Reardon Convention Center. Congressman Yoder speaks to the group as often as he can and gives attendees the opportunity to get updated on issues in Washington, D.C. and to ask him questions. Other guest speakers are featured at the monthly forums when the Congressman is unable to attend.
At this month’s forum, the Congressman addressed numerous economic budgetary and business initiatives, as well as his stance on the Apple vs. FBI iPhone encryption case. According to Forbes, the FBI is trying to force Apple to write malware that will allow the FBI to pull data from iPhones recovered from the San Bernardino terrorist shootings. Apple, however, is refusing to comply, as the company believes this malware would weaken privacy for all of its customers. What makes this case so controversial is that it isn’t just about customer data, but protecting a brand image. If Apple does comply with the FBI, its products will get a reputation for poor privacy and the company will be branded as not caring about its customers’ security.
Congressman Yoder feels like it’s a slippery slope forcing a company to rewrite security to unlock a phone and that it openly violates the security agreements already in place with users. The Congressman said the FBI is essentially asking Apple to unseal their vault and doesn’t feel this will be a one-time thing.
