Homeland & Cybersecurity
The latest coverage of the Department of Homeland Security and cyber threats around the globe.
‘Let data reign’: Trump gives his full endorsement of data centers
President Trump said on Monday that towns that reject big data centers will fumble the “Golden Goose” and end up poor.
Meta settlement’s age verification requirements spark fears of lost privacy, free speech rights
The landmark settlement state attorneys general secured against Meta will require more robust age verification methods, alarming First Amendment advocates who worry it will intrude on users’ privacy and lead to dangerous crackdowns on free speech.
Michigan Republicans try to counter Democrats’ data center attacks
In purple Michigan, Republicans are seeking to contrast themselves with Democrats on every issue except one — data centers.
Report warns: China’s AI data commercialization to boost nation’s trade, intel collection, military
Communist China is commercializing and monetizing data sets in ways designed to boost both commercial trade and intelligence collection and military capabilities, according to a congressional China commission report.
AI-assisted tool helped secure satellite communication system after 2022 Russian hacking
On the same day it invaded Ukraine in 2022, Russia disabled thousands of satellite modems across Ukraine and other European countries, aiming to disrupt communications. A new AI-assisted tool aims to help close that kind of vulnerability amid concerns about continued Russian aggression and newer Iranian threats to cyber infrastructure.
Left-wing activist charged with wiping phone during federal search
The Justice Department is trying to prosecute a left-wing activist because he used a duress passcode to erase his phone’s data while being detained at the Atlanta airport.
Trump expands feds’ use of cyber tools against global criminals
President Trump directed federal law enforcement agencies to expand their use of cyber tools against transnational criminal organizations that operate outside the U.S. and target Americans.
Surveys find most Americans use AI, but mistrust it
A pair of surveys released this week shows most Americans are using artificial intelligence to save time on work and routine tasks, but still mistrust it and expect the technology to have negative impacts.
Kids online safety bills head to full Senate in yearslong effort to rein in Big Tech
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Wednesday advanced four kids online safety bills to the floor.
DOJ to fight contempt of court order after DHS fails to turn over personal phone records
The Justice Department vowed Wednesday to “prevail” in a battle with a federal judge who has held the Trump administration in contempt of court after the Department of Homeland Security refused to produce the personal phones of dozens of agents involved in last year’s immigration enforcement surge in Los Angeles.
New laws amid public resistance could curb Virginia’s data center boom
More restrictive legislation could soon curb Virginia’s data center boom, as residents push back on increased noise and utility bills.
Judge orders Homeland Security to restart voter registration drives at naturalization ceremonies
A federal judge in Maryland ordered the Department of Homeland Security to set aside its new policy that blocked outside groups from showing up at naturalization ceremonies to register newly minted citizens to vote.
Anthropic says its AI models hacked three organizations during testing
Anthropic said its artificial intelligence models hacked into three other organizations during testing, just days after ChatGPT maker OpenAI raised concerns over AI controls after it disclosed its rogue models hacked another company.
House Judiciary Democrats question why ICE officers are still not wearing cameras
A Democratic duo on the House Judiciary Committee questioned Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin over immigration officers’ lack of body cameras — a pledge made by his outgoing predecessor.
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)