Minnesota Passes the Nation’s First Ban on ‘Nudification’ Apps
Minnesota’s Senate approved the nation’s first ban on “nudification” apps, a 65‑0 vote that targets AI tools that turn clothed photos into non‑consensual nude images. The measure, already cleared by the House, would let survivors sue app owners and authorize the attorney general to levy up to $500,000 fines per violation. Advocacy groups, led by RAINN, pushed the bill after a surge in deep‑fake abuse affecting schools and women. Governor Tim Walz is expected to sign the legislation soon, making it law.
OpenAI Makes Frontier Model Available to Critical Cyber Defenders
OpenAI is rolling out its new cybersecurity‑focused model, GPT‑5.5‑Cyber, to the U.S. federal government and a vetted pool of critical cyber defenders. The launch is paired with a Cybersecurity Action Plan that outlines shared‑defense pillars and coordination between public and...
St Vincent Advances Digital ID, Civil Registry Overhaul
St. Vincent and the Grenadines kicked off a seven‑day series of working sessions to overhaul its civil registration and digital identity infrastructure. The initiative, backed by the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, brings together senior government officials and a PwC implementation...
NOAA Starts the Bidding for ProTech 2.0's Environmental Monitoring Domain
NOAA has opened the solicitation for the final ProTech 2.0 domain—Space‑Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM). The agency will accept proposals from up to 12 small businesses, with a deadline of 10 a.m. ET on May 5, 2026. SBEM work will initially target GNSS radio‑occultation...
US-Backed $2.4B Airport Biometrics Proposal Faces Scrutiny in Pakistan
The U.S. government is backing Securiport’s $2.4 billion, 25‑year proposal to install biometric e‑gates and advanced passenger‑screening systems at Pakistan’s airports. The offer includes API and PNR capabilities, full data custody for Pakistan, and a passenger‑security surcharge to recoup costs while...
Bastille Presents: The Wireless Threat Series Podcast, Flipper Zeros
In this episode of the Wireless Threat Series, Adrian Sanabria and John Bundy dissect the Flipper Zero, a compact, open‑source device that bundles sub‑gigahertz radio, RFID/NFC, BLE, infrared and USB "bad‑USB" capabilities. They demonstrate how the Flipper easily captures and...
FCC Moves Forward With ‘Audible Crawl Rule’ Update
The Federal Communications Commission’s three voting members unanimously approved a Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the longstanding Audible Crawl Rule. The amendment removes a provision that broadcasters, the National Association of Broadcasters and TV station owners have called...
FCC to Revise Audible Crawl Rule, Protecting Visually Impaired
Reminder for some of my colleagues covering the @FCC meeting today -- the commission votes on lots of items like changes to the "Audible Crawl Rule" which eliminates " a technically unworkable provision while ensuring that people who are...
South Africa Pulls AI Policy After AI Authorship Revealed
Too beautiful. South Africa withdraws AI policy after it was found written by AI https://t.co/oDtlJZEyA7
Meet the 2026 Smart Cities Dive Public Service Award Winners
Smart Cities Dive announced the 2026 Public Service Award winners, honoring three municipal leaders for transformative work in Texas, New York, and Florida. Betsy Keller modernized El Paso County’s building portfolio with a resident‑first approach, Janet Aristy digitized a century of NYC infrastructure...
WHOOP Secures Contract for U.S. Navy CREW Program
WHOOP 🤝 U.S. NAVY 🇺🇸 I’m proud to share that WHOOP has been awarded a contract to support the U.S. Navy’s Command Readiness, Endurance, and Watchstanding (CREW) program. Learn more here: https://t.co/Ep9RXpvqe6
Inside the Department of Labor's Plan to Make American Workers AI-Ready
In this episode, Chief Innovation Officer Taylor Stockton of the U.S. Department of Labor explains the agency’s push to make American workers AI‑ready through a comprehensive AI literacy strategy. He outlines the department’s AI 101 text‑message course, the AI literacy...
Google’s Pentagon Deal Blindsided Its Own AI Researchers
Google announced a classified AI contract with the Pentagon that lets the department use its models for any lawful government purpose. The deal was revealed without prior notice, catching more than 600 Google employees off guard and prompting a massive...
Delhi Govt Plans to Partner with Tech Companies, Start-Ups for AI Tools in Various Fields
The Delhi government’s IT department announced a call for AI solutions from technology firms, start‑ups, and research institutions to improve governance, health, education, air‑quality monitoring, and mobility. Participants must demonstrate commercially available tools with proven public‑service track records and will...
Use Neutral Algorithm for Fair Districting, Like DeFi
More problems should be approached like Defi Districting doesn't need to be hard. Just pick a neutral/fair algorithm like shortest splitline Link the github so public can verify Move on to harder issues https://t.co/YpyEJ2aqxh
Reveal: Legal Tech in the Public Sector: A Story of Transformation and Innovation
The Reveal report highlights how U.S. government legal departments are grappling with exploding electronic data volumes, heightened regulatory oversight, and aging IT infrastructure. A 2023 GAO study notes agencies struggle with records management and litigation readiness as staff mobility rises....
This New York City Leader Unlocked a Century of Data, Turning Paper Files Into Actionable Intelligence
Janet Aristy, assistant commissioner at New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, has spent three decades converting centuries‑old paper records into a digital, AI‑enhanced system. By digitizing two million handwritten index cards, she created a searchable lead‑pipe inventory that drives targeted replacements...
CLT Runway Project to Generate Live Data on Surface Performance
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and UNC Charlotte have launched a runway instrumentation and digital‑twin program on the airport’s new 10,000‑foot parallel runway. Embedded sensors will stream real‑time data on wear, stress and drainage, feeding a digital‑twin model that predicts...
New Biometric Passport of the Republic of Armenia Reflects National Statehood
Armenia will roll out a new biometric passport featuring a red cover, polycarbonate biopage and Lasink printing technology. The documents comply with ICAO 9303 standards, positioning them among the world’s most secure travel papers. Prime Minister Pashinyan confirmed the rollout...
Schreiber Suspends Home Affairs Officials over Fake AI References
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has placed two senior officials on precautionary suspension after AI‑generated “hallucinated” references were discovered in the revised white paper on citizenship, immigration and refugee protection. This marks the second cabinet‑approved policy document in less...
City Learns Flock Accessed Cameras in Children's Gymnastics Room as a Sales Pitch Demo, Renews Contract Anyway
Atlanta‑suburb Dunwoody discovered that Flock Safety employees accessed live feeds from cameras in a children’s gymnastics room, a playground, a school, a Jewish community center and a pool as part of a sales demonstration. The company says the access was...
AI Agents Need Digital IDs for Effective Governance
AI agents cannot be governed without their own digital identity – CEPS https://t.co/1xEeWgok8n "Europe must design and deploy a digital identity infrastructure for AI agents" Discuss. https://t.co/sZutN2E3Um
Calgary Council Approves Water Efficiency Plan Aiming 20% Cut by 2040
Calgary City Council voted to adopt an updated Water Efficiency Plan that sets a city‑wide goal of cutting water use 20% by 2040 and introduces a year‑round lawn and landscape watering schedule. The plan invests in leak detection, modern metering...
Metal Shark Delivers High-Performance RBS III Demonstrator
Metal Shark Boats of Jeanerette, Louisiana, delivered its Response Boat Small (RBS) III demonstrator to the U.S. Coast Guard within months of receiving the contract. The 29‑foot vessel, based on the company’s Fearless platform, incorporates twin 300‑hp Mercury Verado outboards, advanced...
Waymo and Waze Launch Pothole Detection Pilot, Logging 500 Road Defects
Waymo and Waze have begun a joint pothole‑detection program that has already logged roughly 500 road defects across five U.S. metros. The pilot feeds real‑time data to city agencies and Waze users, aiming to cut repair delays and improve safety...
Tyler Technologies Posts 9% Revenue Rise, SaaS Sales Jump 23.5% to $222.4M
Tyler Technologies posted a 9% increase in first‑quarter revenue to $613.5 million, with SaaS revenue soaring 23.5% to $222.4 million. The growth lifted recurring revenue to 88% of total sales and helped the company post a modest profit beat, highlighting the durability...
Government Is Deploying AI Faster Than It's Training Anyone to Use It
Government agencies are rolling out dozens of artificial‑intelligence applications before their workforces are ready to use them. A recently leaked slide deck lists more than 30 AI tools slated for deployment by year‑end, complete with vendor names and go‑live dates....
CATALYST Unveils Its Sat Product for City Skylines
Catalyst, a PCI Geomatics brand, launched UrbanSAR, a satellite‑based service that measures millimeter‑scale building movements floor‑by‑floor using interferometric SAR from multiple satellites. The system can reveal structural shifts up to 30 mm on high‑rise rooftops—areas missed by ground monitoring. Catalyst says...
Announcing the Summit “Fight for Us, Not for Them”: A Public Interest Vision for EU Tech Policy
Civil society groups announced a summit on 23 June 2026 in Brussels to present a public‑interest alternative to the EU’s digital deregulation agenda. Eleven NGOs, together with European lawmakers, regulators and journalists, will debate proposals to “simplify” core digital rights laws such...
How Cities Are Using AI and Smart Tech to Improve Traffic and Project Delivery
U.S. cities are accelerating AI adoption to ease traffic congestion and streamline infrastructure projects. Arlington and Dallas have installed the Israeli NoTraffic system, which uses live‑stream data to adjust signal timing in real time ahead of the World Cup. The...
India Prioritises Landslide Mitigation for Climate-Resilient Mountain Roads
India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways announced a new landslide mitigation program focused on Himalayan highways, emphasizing pre‑construction slope stabilization, advanced monitoring and geological assessments. The plan, unveiled by Minister Nitin Gadkari at a national workshop on April 30,...
Federal Zero Trust Advisory Skips Healthcare — But Reads as a Hospital Medical Device Cybersecurity Roadmap
Federal agencies released a 28‑page zero‑trust advisory for operational technology that omits any reference to hospitals, patients, or medical devices. The guidance outlines four OT constraints—availability, legacy infrastructure, minimal logging, and cross‑functional workflows—that map directly onto the challenges of managing...
Armed Forces Bill Introduces New Powers to Counter Uncrewed Aerial Threats
The UK Armed Forces Bill introduces new legal powers to counter uncrewed aerial systems, defining “uncrewed device” broadly and linking interference to a detailed list of security offences. It establishes a tiered authorisation regime, requiring senior military or civil officers...
Dismantle Implicit Trust in OT Networks, CISA Tells Critical Infrastructure Operators
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a 28‑page guide urging critical‑infrastructure operators to apply zero‑trust principles to operational technology (OT) networks. The guidance, co‑authored with the Department of Energy, the FBI, the Department of State and NIST,...
Tennessee Bans Crypto ATMs that Have Become 'Payment Portal of Choice for Scammers' — Second State to Restrict Machines After...
Governor Bill Lee signed a law banning cryptocurrency ATMs in Tennessee, effective July 1 2026, making the state the second to impose a blanket prohibition after Indiana. The ban follows FBI warnings that scammers have siphoned roughly $333 million through these machines nationwide....
Mobile Medical Lab Brings Lifesaving Training to Texas First Responders
Texas Health Fort Worth launched a 43‑foot mobile medical simulation lab that travels across North Texas, bringing realistic, hands‑on training to EMS providers, firefighters and rural healthcare workers. The unit replicates a patient room and classroom, allowing participants to practice...
Testing a Different Way to Improve Complex Public Services
The UK government’s CustomerFirst unit is piloting a "NewCo" approach to tackle the chronic fragmentation of authority in complex public services. By carving out bounded, multidisciplinary teams, the model shifts focus from redesigning solutions to testing the constraints that shape...
New Trump‑named Site to List IRA Providers, Likely Wasteful
If I read this correctly, the EO provides for a new website named after Trump to list and sort IRA providers to support a Biden-era subsidy to low-income earners. I suspect it will cost millions and fall short of...
Data Is a Sovereignty Issue. And Broader than Just the Hyperscalers
UK lawmakers warn that dependence on US‑based hyperscalers threatens digital sovereignty, especially as public‑cloud adoption erodes traditional data‑ residency safeguards. The debate, sparked by Chi Onwurah’s critique, highlights that sovereignty concerns extend beyond Microsoft, AWS and Google to any non‑sovereign...
Henderson Launches First U.S. City‑Run Team to Dispatch Clinicians for 988 Calls
Henderson, Nevada, will soon dispatch a seven‑person Crisis Response Team of licensed clinicians to 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline calls that cannot be resolved over the phone. The pilot, led by clinical supervisor Lisa Kelso, aims to provide on‑scene suicide...
Inclusion and Addressing Imbalance in Digital ID Adoption
The Digital ID Observatory released a study examining gender inclusion in digital identity adoption. While ownership of citizen‑focused digital IDs in Italy showed little gender disparity in 2024, professional digital IDs remain skewed—68% are held by men. The research highlights...
New Law Cracks Down on Misogynistic Abuse Online
The UK Crime and Policing Act has become law, introducing sweeping measures to protect women and girls from online misogynistic abuse. It obliges AI chatbots, such as X’s Grok, to filter illegal content like non‑consensual deepfakes and child sexual abuse...
China and Serbia Launch Intergovernmental Tech Committee to Expand Surveillance Camera Network
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an intergovernmental technology committee to extend Huawei‑backed surveillance cameras across Serbia’s three largest cities. The move follows a $7.4 billion trade surge and nearly $20 billion in Chinese investments, raising concerns about...
Rural-Focused $42 Billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program Becomes Operational
The $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is finally operational after four years of planning, a rule overhaul, and months of delays. Most states have unlocked a portion of the funds and have six months to finalize contracts,...
Waymo Begins Portland Testing, Eyes Robotaxi Rollout
Waymo announced today that it has started manual driving of its autonomous vehicles in Portland, Oregon, to train the Waymo Driver for a future robotaxi service. The move expands the company’s network beyond Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Orlando...
Parly Committee Flags ICT Weaknesses at Medical Scheme Body
South Africa’s Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health that its 20‑year‑old ICT platform is hampering service delivery and caused its complaint‑resolution rate to slip from 85% to 75%. The committee warned that outdated systems increase...
Joby Aviation Launches First Electric Air‑taxi Flights over NYC Airports
Joby Aviation flew its production‑prototype eVTOL from JFK to Manhattan’s West 30th Street heliport, completing the first point‑to‑point electric air‑taxi flight at a major city airport. The week‑long demo, backed by the Port Authority and the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot...
TRAI V2X Consultation Paper: Regulatory Framework, Spectrum Strategy, and Market Opportunities for Connected Mobility in India
India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority released a consultation paper outlining a regulatory and spectrum framework for Vehicle‑to‑Everything (V2X) communications. The proposal earmarks 30 MHz in the 5875‑5905 MHz band for initial deployment and an additional 20 MHz for future ITS applications, with Cellular V2X...
Crypto Non-Compliance Could Land South Africans in Jail
South Africa’s National Treasury is drafting new Capital Flow Management Regulations that would bring crypto‑assets under the country’s exchange‑control framework. Breaches could attract up to five years in prison, a R1 million fine (about $54,000) or both, and authorities could demand...
NEVI EV Charger Rollout Sped up in 2025, Still Not Fast Enough Due to Roadblocks
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, funded with $5 billion under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and supplemented by $2.5 billion from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program, finally accelerated charger deployments in 2025. Operational stations rose from 26 at...