Cybersecurity

Return of net neutrality will hamstring some foreign broadband firms, FCC official says

The reclassification of broadband as a Title II service will give the Federal Communications Commission new power over internet service providers, and the agency says it will be a boon to U.S. network security.

Emerging Tech

DOD is looking to grow its marketplace for speedy acquisitions of innovative tech

The Pentagon is working to build its Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace “out of the proof of concept phase” to help more DOD entities quickly acquire innovative industry products.

Cybersecurity

Microsoft at fault for ‘avoidable errors’ leading to Chinese email hack last year, DHS group finds

The company’s cybersecurity culture contributed to an environment that enabled the incident, according to the findings.

Modernization

Federal weather system experiences outage amid severe weather nationwide

The agency is seeking money to shore up weather forecasting IT systems in fiscal year 2025.

Emerging Tech

FTC rejects software companies’ bid to use facial recognition to verify user age

The Federal Trade Commission voted unanimously against approving a software verification tool that would use biometrics to meet requirements under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule.

Cybersecurity

CISA resource looks to help high-risk groups thwart cyberattacks

Civil society organizations, community groups and others often lack budgets and resources needed to defend against hackers.

Artificial Intelligence

AI is creating ‘more sophisticated’ but not unprecedented election threats, DHS official says

AI is likely to create more convincing phishing campaigns but is “not necessarily introducing a new threat or risk in and of itself,” the official said.

Ideas

Why plugging leaks sometimes means protecting leakers

COMMENTARY | Congress needs to establish a form of amnesty that, where appropriate, provides an exit ramp for individuals who have unwittingly violated the terms of a security clearance and wish to come clean.

Digital Government

Lawmakers propose extending pandemic analytics center beyond 2025 sunset

Oversight officials say that the Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence needs to survive past the looming sunset date, unlike a similar analytics center used to oversee stimulus spending that shuttered in 2015.

Cybersecurity

CISA sounds alarm on deep-seated vulnerability in Linux tool

The malicious code was introduced by a user that has long-contributed to the open-source ecosystem.

Ideas

What is Volt Typhoon? A cybersecurity expert explains the Chinese hackers targeting US critical infrastructure

COMMENTARY | Volt Typhoon has compromised thousands of devices around the world since it was publicly identified by security analysts at Microsoft in May 2023.

Emerging Tech

Deepfakes will be a ‘big problem’ for the 2024 election, officials say

Leaders from the Federal Election Commission and the National Intelligence Council noted that bad actors’ capabilities are increasing, while the government’s policing capabilities remain limited.

People

Top women officials say there’s more work to do on gender balance in government tech

Women seem to be far more common in government’s top tech leadership positions than they used to be, but “we are far from done,” one such leader warns.

Cybersecurity

DOD stands up new civilian-facing cyber policy office

The nominated head of the new Pentagon office is awaiting confirmation in Congress.

Artificial Intelligence

Swedish, US officials see promise of AI but also the need for global agreements

The U.S. and other nations need to have “an open and enlightened global conversation” around regulating AI technologies to maximize their potential and mitigate their risks, according to Sweden’s director general for trade.

Emerging Tech

Clinton warns of hackers’ ‘leap in technology’ impacting the 2024 election

Rapid AI-backed advancements have let bad actors craft more sophisticated deepfakes and other sham content that could sway election results, she said.

Defense

The Pentagon wants to help boost cybersecurity for small contractors

A new strategy outlines how the Defense Department plans to increase security and strengthen relationships across the industrial base.

Artificial Intelligence

NTIA's latest policy recommendations look to improve AI accountability

The new AI Accountability Policy Report from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration calls for independent audits and transparency in training data for artificial intelligence systems.

Cybersecurity

2 wireless protocols expose mobile users to spying — the FCC wants to fix that

The protocols are a cornerstone of wireless communications but may contain flaws that enable hackers to tap into Americans’ mobile activities, the agency says.