Cybersecurity
US disrupts China-linked cyber campaign impacting critical infrastructure, Justice officials say
The hackers infected privately owned small office/home office routers to conceal the origins of their intrusions into critical infrastructure systems.
Artificial Intelligence
Pentagon’s new bug bounty seeks to find bias in AI systems
The head of DOD’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office said “the outcome of the AI bias bounties could powerfully impact future DOD AI policies and adoption.”
Policy
OPM: Federal salaries won't be tied to private sector pay histories
Agencies can’t use non-federal salaries to help set pay for new or returning federal employees, under a new rule from the Office of Personnel Management.
Cybersecurity
Top cyber, intelligence chiefs to call out China as leading cyber threat
Researchers and officials have previously designated China as a clandestine, preparatory operator in cyberspace, quietly breaching and securing systems to use to their advantage at a later time.
Acquisition
Agencies are losing out on software savings, GAO finds
Agencies don’t have the right data and aren’t always checking to make sure they’re not over- or under-purchasing software licenses, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
Artificial Intelligence
Agencies are on track with AI executive order deadlines, White House says
At the 90-day mark since President Joe Biden’s sweeping artificial intelligence executive order, agencies have met mandated timelines, with some initiatives ahead of schedule.
Ideas
Touching base with some young contracting officers
COMMENTARY | Steve Kelman connects with up-and-coming federal procurement officials.
Artificial Intelligence
VA should establish an AI disclosure process, Republican lawmaker says
Though the Department of Veterans Affairs has already made “admirable” use of artificial intelligence, transparency “has got to be elevated to a top priority,” according to Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont.
Exclusive
Digital Government
Interior Department taps first-ever chief digital experience officer from OMB
Andy Lewandowski, who has been a digital experience advisor to the federal CIO for over two years, is starting a new gig at the Department of Interior.
Artificial Intelligence
Stop funding predictive policing tech without ‘evidence standards,’ lawmakers tell DOJ
Seven Democrats are urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to cease grant funding for predictive policing systems until DOJ ensures they are not having “a discriminatory impact.”
Emerging Tech
Senators take bipartisan shot at preventing space jams
Senate legislation seeks to make “basic-level” space data, analytics and other services available to help maintain U.S. dominance in the space sector.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
‘Relatively few’ agency policies met standards for IoT security, OMB reports
Early last year, the White House office ran a sweeping assessment on agency IoT device security policies. Most fell short on aligning with NIST guidance, according to a letter sent to Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.
Digital Government
OMB wants public input on privacy impact assessments
A forthcoming request for information includes questions about how agencies procure data about Americans from commercial sources.
People
Former DHS employees sentenced for plot to steal government software, databases
The trio wanted to to build a commercial software product that would have been sold to government agencies.
Emerging Tech
TSA uses ‘minimum’ data to fine-tune its facial recognition, but some experts still worry
The Transportation Security Administration is planning to expand its facial recognition scanners to more than 400 airports, an agency official said.
People
Retiring lawmaker Ruppersberger was one of first to sound alarm on Huawei, ZTE in US networks
The Maryland congressman, who announced he would not seek reelection at the end of his term, set a precedent for modern-day cybersecurity policy.
Cybersecurity
NCA celebrates National Data Privacy Week while CISA eyes new cybersecurity guidelines
The week’s themes reflect a new era where everything is interconnected and new threats like artificial intelligence are poised to make a big impact on cybersecurity.
Artificial Intelligence
USAID wants help in crafting a playbook for global AI uses
The federal government’s latest artificial intelligence guidance is looking to take recommendations from earlier risk management documents.
Cybersecurity
Proposed law aims to boost food and agriculture industry’s cyber posture
The bill would direct multiple stakeholders to conduct exercises that simulate when the food and agriculture sectors are hacked.
Artificial Intelligence