Homeland & Cybersecurity
The latest coverage of the Department of Homeland Security and cyber threats around the globe.
Senate panel advances bill to protect against unauthorized AI copies of voice or likeness
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced a bipartisan bill to protect against unauthorized digital copies of a person’s voice or likeness amid a rise in AI copycats.
Military used Musk’s Grok in strikes against Iran, Pentagon reveals
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence tool Grok was used to identify targets to strike against Iran, a top defense official revealed Tuesday.
FBI shutters covert Chinese websites targeting secrets
Federal authorities shut down 13 internet domains on Wednesday, which were said to be used by China for operations to obtain classified and sensitive U.S. government information, the Justice Department said.
EU orders Meta to restore WhatsApp access for rival AI chatbots
European Union regulators on Tuesday ordered Meta Platforms to restore access to WhatsApp for rival AI chatbot makers until an antitrust investigation is complete.
Federal judge erases Trump’s 39-country travel ban
A federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s policy that barred applicants from the 39 countries on the president’s travel ban list.
FCC takes aim at school internet program as Big Tech backlash grows
All that classroom screen time may not be a good idea after all. The Trump administration is considering a top-to-bottom overhaul of a decades-old federal program that pays for public school internet — a system some children are using to watch pornography in class.
Three GOP congressmen probe foreign efforts to block U.S. data center build-out
A trio of Republicans requested evidence of foreign influence campaigns working to slow U.S. artificial intelligence progress and block the development of the infrastructure needed to power it.
Lawmakers propose bill to block sale of robots built in China
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation to block the importation of robots made in China, as experts sound the alarm over security risks from advanced robots made by U.S. rivals.
California tech CEO arrested after feds say he supplied sanctioned computer equipment to Iran
A California tech CEO is facing 20 years in prison after allegedly earning millions by selling U.S.-origin computer networking equipment to Iran’s military and nuclear establishments, Justice Department officials said.
Uber capping internal use of AI coding software after blowing through budget
Uber is setting limits on how much employees can spend on artificial intelligence agents after its workers blew through their yearly AI coding budget in just four months.
Markwayne Mullin refutes Delaney Hall detainees’ allegations, reports no health violations found
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that no health violations have been found in the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, which has become the latest flash point of anti-ICE violence.
Trump signs order creating voluntary cybersecurity for AI models before their release
President Trump quietly signed an executive order promoting artificial intelligence and doubling down on cybersecurity efforts, less than two weeks after postponing a signing ceremony hours before it was scheduled.
Sen. Bernie Sanders teases bill to give the public ownership in AI companies
Sen. Bernard Sanders announced he will soon propose a bill to give the public a 50% ownership stake in the largest artificial intelligence companies in the U.S.
Apparent hack targets Space Force official’s Instagram account, posts pro-Iran content
An apparent hack targeted a key U.S. Space Force official’s Instagram account recently and reportedly posted pro-Iran and anti-American content.
Nvidia bets on AI personal computers with new ‘superchip’ powering Windows laptops
Nvidia on Monday unveiled new powerful chips that would bring advanced artificial intelligence functions into laptops and desktop computers, with the new personal computer models from brands including Microsoft and Dell set to roll out later this year.
Multimedia
Document: Cybersecurity 2018: Online Security and Safety in Government, Industry and Civil Society
Download the Special Report available in the January 29, 2018, edition of The Washington Times. (3.8 MB)
