Emerging Tech

Government needs to regulate facial recognition tech, says National Academies

A facial recognition risk management framework, new legislation and more are among the recommendations in a new report requested by the FBI and DHS.

Cybersecurity

CISA, FBI warn on risks of China-made drones

The new guidance is meant to alert critical infrastructure operators to potential security risks, including data exfiltration and cybersecurity risks, posed by unmanned aircraft systems manufactured in China.

Digital Government

Senators call for Transportation to offer ‘accessible, mobile-friendly’ service animal form

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., called the paperwork that disabled Americans need to complete before traveling with their service animals “poorly designed and needlessly difficult to complete.”

Ideas

Reining in AI means figuring out which regulation options are feasible, both technically and economically

COMMENTARY | One form of regulating AI is watermarking its output – the equivalent of AI signing its work.

Artificial Intelligence

Can NIST get it all done?

The small technology agency has a big share of the responsibility for executing on the Biden administration's executive order on artificial intelligence.

Policy

Senate starts process to pass more stopgap funding measures to avoid a government shutdown

Facing a potential shutdown at the end of the week, Congress aims to push the deadlines into early March.

Emerging Tech

US Geological Survey inks partnership to look beneath Earth’s surface using quantum sensing

The U.S. Geological Survey entered into a new collaborative partnership with quantum technology company Q-CTRL to explore if quantum sensing can help find critical minerals and predict natural disasters.

Digital Government

Bureau of Prisons would issue IDs to released inmates under new bill

The bipartisan proposal would also require BOP to set up a system where ID cards issued by the bureau could be traded for state IDs.

Cybersecurity

CISA needs better collaboration with the EPA and water sector, watchdog says

CISA had “inconsistent collaboration” with relevant stakeholders due to a lack of formal mechanisms, according to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.

Ideas

Data brokers know everything about you – what FTC case against ad tech giant Kochava reveals

COMMENTARY | Kochava’s secretive data acquisition and AI-aided analytics practices are commonplace in the global location data market.

Defense

Pentagon unveils its long-awaited defense industry strategy

The first-of-its-kind document aims to address fragile supply chains revealed by a global pandemic and simultaneous international conflicts.

Cybersecurity

State's cyber bureau has ‘raised the U.S. profile on cyber globally,’ watchdog says

The Government Accountability Office said the creation of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy in 2022 has “helped to better position State to achieve its cyber diplomacy goals.”

Cybersecurity

White House looks to eliminate college degree requirements for cyber jobs with federal contractors

National Cyber Director Harry Coker also said Thursday that the federal government will be conducting a series of hiring sprints this year to fill seats.

Cybersecurity

EU signs on to IoT safety label plan

A U.S.-led effort to offer cyber-safe labels for connected devices is gaining momentum internationally.

Modernization

OPM reduces the retirement backlog by one-third in 2023

The federal government’s HR agency’s work on improving the retirement application process for federal workers led to the agency shattering yet another longstanding record last month.

Artificial Intelligence

How often does ChatGPT push misinformation?

Researchers found that one of the most popular generative-AI tools agreed with false statements up to one-quarter of the time.

Artificial Intelligence

House lawmakers join push for agencies to disclose public-impacting AI uses

A group of House members from both parties rolled out companion legislation to a Senate bill that would require agencies to notify individuals when they are engaging with AI tools.

Digital Government

IRS has ‘unconscionable delays’ in helping identity theft victims, taxpayer advocate says

The average wait time for taxpayers trying to resolve fraudulent returns, coupled with legitimate filers being mistakenly flagged as fraudulent, has become a top challenge for the IRS, according to a new report.

Acquisition

Google Cloud eliminates 'exit fees' for departing customers

The cloud services provider appears to be getting out ahead of regulatory efforts in Europe and elsewhere to promote seamless movement of data between cloud providers.