Summary: Joe Sullivan, former Uber chief security officer, had his conviction for obstruction of justice upheld by the Ninth Circuit, following his attempt to cover up a 2016 breach that exposed millions of users’ data. Sullivan’s lawyers argued his innocence based on the misprision concept, while the court emphasized the importance of transparency and rejected this defense. While Sullivan was sentenced to probation and fined, the case highlights broader implications for accountability in the cybersecurity sector.

Affected: Uber

Keypoints :

• The Ninth Circuit endorsed the district court’s findings, emphasizing transparency during federal investigations.
• Sullivan’s defense hinged on misprision, claiming that an NDA with hackers retroactively legalized their illegal access, which the court rejected.
• Despite a push from prosecutors for a harsher sentence, Sullivan received probation, with significant community support suggesting a scapegoating narrative.