Artificial Intelligence
Congress Inches Closer to Creating a National Cloud for AI Research
Legislation launched in early June received new attention and support this week.
Emerging Tech
House Subcommittee Again Takes Aim at Amazon over Ring Surveillance
The subcommittee wants assurances from Amazon that its Ring doorbell camera isn’t being misused by law enforcement.
Digital Government
New Legislation Would Increase Oversight Over Agency Relocations
Measure would require federal officials to conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses and provide them to inspectors general and the public for review before undertaking any effort to move federal agencies.
Policy
Senate Passes Bill to End Payments to Dead People
The bill follows an audit that found the IRS sent $1.4 billion in stimulus checks to deceased individuals.
Emerging Tech
Senators Introduce Deepfake-Focused Amendment to Defense Authorization Act
The Deepfake Report Act would require the Homeland Security Department to study the threats posed by manipulated and synthetic media—including text.
Emerging Tech
Industry Calls on Government to Invest Billions for Developing Secure 5G Networks
Comments to the NTIA also say the administration shouldn’t choose winners and losers to compete with Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.
Emerging Tech
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Ban Federal Use of Facial Recognition Tech
If passed, federal agencies would not be able to run, fund, purchase or otherwise use data from facial biometric systems without congressional authorization.
Digital Government
Intelligence Authorization Would Add to Due Process Rules for Security Clearance Reviews
Also new in the bill is a provision allowing the government to share negative information about contractors with their companies.
Emerging Tech
Bill Calls for Federally Funded Research on Police Use of Force and Facial Recognition
The legislation would authorize millions to underpin the efforts it mandates.
Artificial Intelligence
Defense Authorization Act Clears Key Subcommittee in the House
The legislation includes some recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, but not the main one.
Emerging Tech
5G-Focused Legislation Aims to Improve Security in Military Telecom Infrastructure
The DoD 5G Act would direct the launch of a Defense Secretary-led telecommunications security program.
Cybersecurity
CIA Report Prompts Call for DHS Cyber Authority Over Intelligence Agencies
Senator asks the director of national intelligence why his office hasn’t implemented a basic anti-phishing tool like the rest of the government.
Artificial Intelligence
Bipartisan Senate Bill Would Increase Pentagon’s Artificial Intelligence Capacity
The bill would enable the Defense Department to ramp up hiring AI and cyber professionals.
Emerging Tech
FCC Directs First 5G-Focused Universal Service Funding to Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Both territories’ communications infrastructures were ravaged by hurricanes in recent years.
Digital Government
House Pushes IGs to Investigate Federal Agency Reopenings
IGs may have more work to do regarding the government’s coronavirus response.
Cybersecurity
Senators Call for Legislation to Ensure Security Reviews of Foreign Telecoms
The bipartisan report says a recent executive order on the issue doesn’t go far enough.
Emerging Tech
Policing Reform Bill Would Prohibit Embedding Facial Recognition in Body Cameras
The Justice in Policing Act contains several restrictions on the use of facial biometric technologies for federal, state and local law enforcement.
Digital Government
GAO Provides Inspector General Reform Guidance to Congress
Among many recommendations, the Congressional watchdog suggested IGs only be removed for just cause.
Artificial Intelligence
Congress Seeks Creation of National Research Cloud for Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers introduced bicameral legislation this week aimed at keeping the United States ahead of China and other adversaries in AI efforts.
Policy