Cybersecurity

House lawmakers join effort to remove flagged Chinese tech from telecoms networks

The companion proposal to a Senate bill would allocate an additional $3 billion to the Federal Communications Commission to help fund its ‘rip and replace’ reimbursement program.

Cybersecurity

Iran is accelerating US election influence operations, Microsoft research says

One Iran-linked disinformation collective staged covert news websites that focused on politically divisive topics. Another group breached a low-level account in a county-level swing state.

Policy

Bipartisan bill pushes DHS to review terrorist risks from foreign-based mobile apps

The legislative proposal calls out several China- and Russia-tied apps for particular attention.

Artificial Intelligence

Mitigating AI risks requires global cooperation, officials say

The U.S. is looking “to try and build international consensus around a set of norms” for countries’ uses of AI, a State Department official said on Thursday.

Cybersecurity

US accuses Russian national of helping deploy malware on Ukrainian government computers

The alleged hacker used U.S. computer infrastructure to distribute the infamous “WhisperGate” malware into Ukrainian systems.

Cybersecurity

US blacklists sale of Russia-based Kaspersky products over ties to Kremlin

The Commerce Department says the company’s links to Russia’s government pose a national security risk, opening up systems using its software to cyber exploitation.

Cybersecurity

Space assets are in foreign adversaries' cyber crosshairs, DOD official says

The easiest targets are ground assets like operation centers and launch facilities, said Mieke Eoyang.

Cybersecurity

Russian hackers breached, sabotaged Texas water treatment plant, cyber firm says

If confirmed by U.S. officials, it would add Moscow to the list of American adversaries that have infiltrated water infrastructure in the past year.

Artificial Intelligence

Five Eyes agencies issue guidance on securing AI

The new best practices aim to help organizations deploying AI to secure their digital environments, with a particular focus on protecting AI model weights and extensive system vigilance.

Artificial Intelligence

US, EU update shared AI taxonomy, unveil new research alliance

At the conclusion of the sixth meeting of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council, leaders focused on creating uniformity in AI terminology and continuing transatlantic collaboration.

Policy

US targets 6 to 8 month timeframe for new nations to join spyware pact

Six new countries joined the agreement last week, and the State Department was working behind the scenes to initially get more signed on.

Artificial Intelligence

NIST’s new AI safety institute to focus on synthetic content, international outreach

Inaugural U.S. AI Safety Institute Director Elizabeth Kelly said she aims for the new NIST initiative to become the “leading safety institute in the world.”

Cybersecurity

US accuses Chinese hackers of 14-year campaign targeting government officials

The coordinated charges include sanctions on Chinese government-affiliated hackers and an up to $10 million reward for information about the defendants.

Digital Government

Export control agency lacks funding and tech to manage its workload, official says 

The head of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security gave lawmakers “an emphatic no” when asked if his office has the IT resources it needs to carry out its mission.

Artificial Intelligence

Pentagon official says US values will outcompete Beijing in AI 

The U.S. continues to lead the global AI arms race with China “because it's powered by a free and open society, committed to responsible-use values and ideals,” according to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

Artificial Intelligence

US has shared AI security interests with ‘every country around the world,’ State official says

Seth Center, the State Department’s deputy envoy for critical and emerging technology, broke down the U.S. diplomatic approach to cultivating cohesive regulatory approaches. 

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.

Digital Government

Enhanced analytics can make tech export controls more effective, experts say

Export controls designed to limit Beijing’s access to sensitive U.S. technologies can be strengthened further if officials leverage AI and data science to identify gaps and weaknesses.