Artificial Intelligence

FCC makes AI-generated voices in robocalls illegal

The move gives states new authority to crack down on AI-generated voice-cloning schemes.

Cybersecurity

AI escalates election cyber threats with the US as prime target, reports find

Election workers face increased concerns due to the potential for AI systems to help enable disinformation. Outside cyber threats aren’t helping, either.

People

Announcing the 2024 Federal 100

Meet the 100 outstanding individuals being honored for going above and beyond in support of federal IT over the past year.

Defense

Defense innovation Unit looks to scale up in new phase

The director of the Defense Innovation Unit said the new strategy places a greater focus on helping the Pentagon “leverage the best of commercial technology and innovation at speed and scale.”

Cybersecurity

White House to release memory-safe code guidance in coming weeks

The U.S. and other intelligence partners have previously advised developers to adopt memory-safe programming languages.

Cybersecurity

CISA unveils election resource page for officials and workers

Election officials have several fears on their mind this year, including possible foreign interference in elections and physical threats linked to conspiracy theories.

Artificial Intelligence

DHS launches hiring push for new AI Corps

The department wants to hire 50 feds to focus on artificial intelligence.

Cybersecurity

US must ratchet up its response in pursuing hackers, MITRE CTO argues

The technical and innovation strategy leader sat down with Nextgov/FCW to discuss recent events in cyberspace and the government’s response to bad actors.

Cybersecurity

Recent US operations rendered Chinese-backed hackers’ support system inert, research finds

The support network, called KV-botnet, has helped enable the activities of Volt Typhoon and other Chinese state-backed hackers.

Digital Government

National Archives tees up new rules for UFO records

New legislation mandates a governmentwide repository of records dealing with "unidentified anomalous phenomena."

Cybersecurity

Contracts featuring automation, built-in security can boost agencies’ cyber defenses, VA officials say

As the federal government looks to harden its cyber resilience, officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs said agencies should work to modernize outdated technologies and ensure that vendor contracts include more rigorous security standards.

Artificial Intelligence

House lawmakers say existing regulatory powers can police generative AI abuse

Reps. Marcus Molinaro and Don Beyer discussed how legislative action – on a state and federal level – is needed to continue to police new generative artificial intelligence usage.

Artificial Intelligence

FCC issues cease-and-desist order to operator linked to AI-generated Biden robocall

The agency and 51 state attorneys general are warning the company may be violating several consumer protection laws.

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft launches ‘first in a series’ of updates to its federal Azure OpenAI capabilities

Customers with an Azure Government account will be able to use more advanced generative artificial intelligence features within Microsoft and OpenAI’s partnership.

Cybersecurity

Proposed contractor cyber reporting rule sets a ‘significantly problematic’ bar, industry groups say

The groups, which represent tech and cybersecurity companies sometimes contracted by the government, say the proposals are too rigorous and inconsistent.

Cybersecurity

State Department to levy visa restrictions on spyware abusers

The move builds on several actions taken by the Biden administration in the past year to counter abusive commercial spyware practices.

Emerging Tech

Autonomous tech featured in Senate border and foreign aid bill 

The Senate’s proposed $118 billion immigration and foreign aid package includes more than $260 million to deploy emerging technologies to secure the border.

Defense

Defense Innovation Board looks to lock data access in 'all vendor agreements'

A recent study from the advisory group said data access requirements in the Pentagon’s vendor agreements are “fragmented and inconsistent” and called for Congress to take action.