Apple, Amazon executives to meet with White House to discuss software security

Executives from Apple, Amazon and other top tech firms are meeting at the White House Thursday to discuss software security with the administration after major cyberattacks last year. 

At the meeting, executives and government officials will discuss concerns around the security of open-source software and how it can be improved, according to a senior administration official.

Other companies joining include IBM, Microsoft, Meta and Oracle Corp.

The meeting comes a month after White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan invited executives from the companies to talk after the Log4j security vulnerability was discovered, according to the administration official. 

It will be hosted by the deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, Anne Neuberger, with other government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and the Commerce Department, in attendance, according to Reuters. 

The meeting continues the work of the executive order aimed at improving cybersecurity that Biden signed in May. The administration anticipates there will be additional discussions on the topic with the organizations joining Thursday as well as others, according to the official. 

The Biden administration has prioritized cybersecurity concerns after attacks last year. One attack, the SolarWinds hack, left nine government agencies comprised. President Biden put sanctions on Russia in April in retaliation for both the SolarWinds hack and election interference. 

–Updated at 2:44 p.m.