Attorney General Tim Griffin hosted a Cybersecurity Summit at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, in collaboration with the FORGE Institute. The event featured Jen Easterly, Director of the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In his opening remarks, Griffin emphasized the importance of cybersecurity, referencing recent incidents such as "China hacking three American telecom companies." He stated, "I don’t think anyone can question the need for cybersecurity now."
Griffin highlighted various threats from individuals to nation-state actors like China, Russia, and Iran. He noted that whether one is an individual or a company, large or small, cybersecurity is essential. "When it comes to cybersecurity, we are only as strong as our weakest link," he said.
The summit included discussions between Griffin and Easterly about CISA's role and resources available to Arkansas. Other speakers on the first day included Congressman French Hill (AR-02), Senator Tom Cotton (AR), and Lee Watson of the FORGE Institute. Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) was scheduled to speak on the second day.
Griffin has a long history of public service. He became Arkansas's 57th Attorney General in January 2023 after serving as Lieutenant Governor from 2015 to 2023. His previous roles include U.S. Army Reserve officer, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and various positions within the U.S. government.
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