Police Are Using AI Camera Networks to Stalk Women
Police departments nationwide are exploiting automated license‑plate readers (ALPRs) to stalk romantic partners and strangers, with at least 14 documented cases since 2024. The surge follows Flock Safety’s rapid expansion to over 6,000 U.S. cities and 76,000 readers, despite the company’s claimed safeguards. In Milwaukee, a veteran officer resigned after using the system 180 times to monitor his girlfriend and her ex, a breach uncovered only after victims checked HaveIBeenFlocked.com. Civil‑rights advocates warn that the lack of a warrant requirement makes such surveillance ripe for abuse.
Preparing for Major Events: NUSTL Field Guidance for C-UAS Planning
The Department of Homeland Security’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) released new field guidance to help agencies place counter‑unmanned aircraft systems (C‑UAS) sensors for upcoming large‑scale events such as the FIFA World Cup and America250. The guidance was field‑tested...
Schools Have Another Year to Make Websites Accessible. Why That Matters
The U.S. Department of Justice has pushed back the deadline for school districts to meet new web‑accessibility regulations until 2028, extending the original 2027 target for smaller agencies. The rule, issued under Title II of the ADA, mandates compliance with WCAG 2.0...
US Bill Would Require Warrants for Digital Surveillance, Biometric Searches
The House introduced the Surveillance Accountability Act (H.R. 8470), a bipartisan bill that would require a warrant for virtually all government searches of digital and biometric data, including facial recognition, license‑plate readers, cloud storage, and data‑broker records. The legislation amends...
Drone Pilot Makes US Rescind No-Fly Zones Around Unmarked, Moving ICE Vehicles
After a series of protests in Minneapolis, the FAA issued a sweeping temporary flight restriction in January 2026 that barred drones from flying within 3,000 feet laterally and 1,000 feet vertically of any moving Department of Homeland Security vehicle, even if unmarked....
Massachusetts Police Share Fingerprint Data with ICE Despite Limits, Report Says
A Citizens for Juvenile Justice report reveals Massachusetts police, sheriffs, and courts continue to transmit fingerprint data and other records to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite the 2017 Lunn v. Commonwealth decision limiting civil detainer arrests. The 49‑page study, based...
Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University Launch Mayors AI Forum at CityLab
Bloomberg Philanthropies and Johns Hopkins University announced the Mayors AI Forum at the Bloomberg CityLab 2026 summit in Madrid. The initiative gathers forward‑thinking mayors from cities such as Bogotá, Boston, London, and Tokyo to demonstrate responsible AI deployment in public...
Army Sets Industry Day for High-Performance Computing Recompete
The Army Corps of Engineers announced an industry day on June 24‑25 to launch the High Performance Modernization Computing Program‑Unrestricted III (HITS‑UIII), the next iteration of its high‑performance computing support contract. BAE Systems, the incumbent from the HITS‑UII award, has already had...
New Bill Would Autofill Tax Forms
Rep. Bill Foster (D‑Illinois) introduced the “Autofill Act,” a bill that would let taxpayers download tax forms already filled with data the IRS receives from employers, the Social Security Administration and financial institutions. The pre‑populated forms would be available both...
Capito Bill Tightens FCC Vetting of Broadband Providers
Congress approved the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025, directing the FCC to vet broadband providers before awarding high‑cost universal service funds. The FCC must issue a rulemaking within 180 days requiring applicants to demonstrate technical, financial and operational capability...
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass To Speed Up Permits After Meeting With Trump
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order to overhaul the city’s building‑permit process, a move prompted by a recent meeting with President Donald Trump who criticized LA’s slow post‑wildfire rebuilding. The order introduces artificial‑intelligence review, expands pre‑approved housing...
Drones Join Police Helicopters in Los Angeles’ Skies
The Los Angeles Police Department deployed drones more than 3,500 times in 2024, with half arriving before officers and helping cancel unnecessary units. A $1.2 million donation will fund an expansion from nine to 24 drones, adding launch pads across five...
Google Signs Deal to Allow AI in Classified Military Work
Google has signed a contract with the U.S. Defense Department permitting its artificial‑intelligence systems to be used on classified military projects. The agreement was finalized at 4 p.m. on Monday, despite vocal opposition from Google researchers who objected to weaponizing the...
FDA Debuts Plan to Collect Real-Time Clinical Trial Data
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a pilot program that will collect clinical‑trial data in real time, allowing scientific reviewers to see information as it is generated. The initiative, launched on Tuesday, includes participation from major drugmakers AstraZeneca and...
Geoforce Lands Railcar Telematics Contract From U.S. Army
Geoforce, through its AssetLink Global subsidiary, secured a multi‑year U.S. Army Transportation Command contract to provide railcar in‑transit visibility. The agreement, which began deployment in December 2025, equips Department of War‑owned railcars with advanced sensors for load, impact, temperature, and...
Google Expands Pentagon’s Access to Its AI After Anthropic’s Refusal
Google has signed a deal giving the U.S. Department of Defense access to its generative AI for classified networks, permitting all lawful uses. The agreement follows Anthropic’s refusal to provide unrestricted AI, which led the Pentagon to label Anthropic a...
State Broadband Merger Limps Into a Second Decade
The state‑owned Broadband Infraco (BBI) and signal distributor Sentech have seen their merger pushed to the 2028/29 financial year, marking the third major timeline shift since approval in 2017. BBI has posted consecutive losses since 2019, been declared technically insolvent,...
DMDC Improves Access for Millions Via Okta Identity Management
The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) has replaced its two‑decade‑old DS Logon system with Okta’s cloud‑based Identity‑as‑a‑Service platform, branded MyAuth. The migration covers roughly 60 million active‑duty personnel, civilians, contractors, veterans and dependents, delivering faster, mobile‑friendly login and biometric options. Help‑desk contacts...
Cyber Command, NSA Chief Warns Foreign Adversaries Likely to Target Midterms
U.S. Cyber Command head Gen. Joshua Rudd told the Senate that foreign adversaries are likely to attempt interference in the 2024 midterm elections. He noted uncertainty about whether the Election Security Group, the joint task force used since 2018, has...
The US Department of Education Just Finalized Its AI in Education Priority. Here’s What It Means.
On April 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education issued its final supplemental priority titled “Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Education,” establishing a policy framework that will steer discretionary grant dollars toward AI‑related initiatives in K‑12 and higher education. The priority,...
Chattanooga’s ‘Tech Guy’ Mayor Reflects on Embrace of AI, Quantum
Chattanooga mayor Tim Kelly says the city is leveraging its municipal fiber network, AI, and a new quantum computing center to modernize government operations. AI tools have lifted employee productivity by 65% and slashed internal communications time by 75%, while...
Tighter Policies Lead to Fewer Facial Recognition Searches for Detroit Police
Detroit police dramatically reduced facial‑recognition usage, conducting only nine searches in 2025—a 91% drop from 2023. The decline follows a 2024 settlement that imposed stricter policies limiting the technology to violent crimes and prohibiting its use as the sole basis...
Italy Pushes Citizens to Adopt CIE as SPID Digital ID Is Phased Out
Italy is urging citizens to activate the electronic ID card (CIE) as the government prepares to retire the existing SPID system. SPID, used by nearly 40 million Italians, will be phased out over the next two to three years, making CIE...
US FMCSA Tightens ID Checks for Driver Database, Taps Idemia
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced stricter identity‑verification requirements for users of its Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a database that flags commercial drivers barred for substance‑related offenses. The new rules target medical review officers, substance‑abuse professionals, third‑party administrators...
Maine Governor Veto Opens Way for Jay Data Center and Rural Fiber Rollout
Maine Governor Janet Mills vetoed a statewide data‑center moratorium, clearing regulatory hurdles for a new data center at the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay. The move accelerates the rollout of the MooseNet‑backed fiber network that will bring high‑speed broadband to...
Kenya Moves to Turn Huduma Kenya Into Independent One‑Stop Agency
Kenya's Ministry of Public Service unveiled a draft policy that would elevate Huduma Kenya from a program to an independent statutory agency. The overhaul promises a nationwide network of sub‑county service centers, uniform service standards and full back‑end digitisation, with...
Anthropic's Claude Still Powers Pentagon Contractors as Hiring Surges
Anthropic’s Claude remains in active use across U.S. defense contractors, with 88 classified job ads in Q1 2026—a near‑fourfold increase over 2025. The data shows a multi‑model ecosystem, as 61 of those ads also cite OpenAI, underscoring enterprise confidence in Anthropic...
Ann Arbor Utility Deploying Solar + Storage Systems on Local Homes
Ann Arbor’s city‑owned Sustainable Energy Utility is piloting a residential solar‑plus‑storage program, the first of its kind for a U.S. municipality. The initiative will install rooftop solar and FranklinWH battery systems in about 150 homes in the Bryant neighborhood, where...
Shifting Gears at the eMarketplace: More Options for Better Choices
The Philippine Procurement Service recently held alignment meetings with electric‑vehicle makers BYD, Kia, MG, Nissan and Foton, integrating EV, hybrid and plug‑in models into the government eMarketplace. The platform now lets agencies compare and order these greener vehicles, cutting procurement...
CFTC Deploys AI to Streamline Crypto Registrations and Boost Market Surveillance
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced a rollout of artificial‑intelligence systems to automate crypto registration reviews and enhance trade surveillance. Chairman Mike Selig says the tools will help the agency maintain oversight despite a workforce reduction of more than one‑fifth.
Pennsylvania Has Spent $1.4 Million Updating Its Voter Registration System — but Won’t Provide Progress Reports
Pennsylvania has spent roughly $1.4 million on the first phase of a $10.6 million upgrade to its two‑decade‑old Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE) system, contracted to Louisiana‑based Civix. The state aims to have the modernized platform ready for the 2027 elections,...
ETCOG Awards Civic Marketplace to Expand Cooperative Purchasing for Rural Communities, Schools, and Local Districts
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) has selected Civic Marketplace as the technology platform for its cooperative purchasing arm, COGWORKS. The partnership brings AI‑driven procurement tools to rural communities, school districts and local governments across East Texas and beyond,...
Google and the Pentagon Sign Classified Deal to Give the Department of Defense Unfettered Access to Its AI Models
Google has entered a classified agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense that grants the Pentagon unrestricted API access to the company’s commercial AI models for any lawful government purpose. The contract, whose full terms remain secret, stipulates that the...
Lawmaker Calls on FAA To Permanently Ground MD-11
Rep. Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat from Kentucky, has asked the FAA to issue an emergency airworthiness directive that would permanently ground all remaining McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft. The request follows the fatal UPS Flight 2976 crash on Nov. 4, 2025, in Louisville,...
Iowa FD's Whole Blood Pilot Program Proves Worth with Stabbing Victim
The Des Moines Fire Department launched a pilot that equips ambulances with whole‑blood units and transfusion kits, allowing paramedics to start life‑saving transfusions before hospital arrival. In February, a paramedic used the system on a stabbing victim, delivering blood on...
China Watchdog Warns ByteDance on AI Tags
China’s Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has formally warned ByteDance for failing to label AI‑generated content on its Jianying and Maoxiang video editors and the Jimeng AI website. The regulator said the platforms breached national cybersecurity rules that mandate conspicuous...
Dutch Govt Looks at Relaxing Rules for Mobile Antenna Sites
The Dutch government is reviewing its regulations to make it easier for mobile operators to install antennas in new locations, especially in densely populated cities. State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts presented the proposal to parliament, citing a Monet industry report that...
CHATBOT Act Introduced in Senate
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee introduced the Children’s Health, Advancement, Trust, Boundaries, and Oversight in Technology (CHATBOT) Act, aiming to shift control of AI chatbot use from tech firms to parents. The bill mandates family accounts, parental consent, and bans...
Vanta Receives FedRAMP 20x Moderate Authorization
Vanta announced that its Government Cloud has received FedRAMP 20x Moderate authorization, making it one of the first cloud service providers to complete Phase Two of the pilot program. The 20x initiative leverages automation, machine‑readable validation and continuous control monitoring...
The "Kill" Switch
Congress’ 2021 infrastructure law mandates that new vehicles embed technology to detect impaired driving, turning cars into data‑collecting platforms. The system combines cabin cameras, steering sensors and emerging breath or skin‑based alcohol detectors, initially marketed as safety features but increasingly...
Machine-to-Machine Economies Break Human
Here's the thing about machine-to-machine economies: Regulations designed for humans break • No beneficial owners • No intent to prove • No humans to jail • No meetings to record • No emails to subpoena The entire regulatory framework assumes meat in the loop What happens when there...
Bipartisan Bill Targets Deepfakes, Tightens AI Regulations
Lawmakers are moving to address AI risks more directly. A new bill would impose stricter penalties for distributing deepfakes and establish clearer standards for AI systems, with bipartisan backing. It reflects a broader shift. Regulation is starting to catch up with the...
Godshill Residents Left in Lurch as New Forest Gigabit Contract Adjusted
Godshill, a village in the New Forest, has been removed from the UK Government’s Project Gigabit contract, leaving 159 homes without a guaranteed full‑fibre connection. The original timeline promised service by the end of 2026 from Wessex Internet, but the...
CBP's New Refund System Moves Fast, Yet Rejects Over Half
CBP just issued the first tariff refund update since its CAPE system went live on 4/20. Good news: They're moving pretty quickly (for the government) Bad news: There are already LOTS of rejections. The first screen rejected 37%, & the second screen...
FDA Partners with AZN, AMGN to Accelerate AI-Driven Trials
FDA launches effort with $AZN $AMGN to speed up clinical trials, using AI https://t.co/k4LjxnDLmq via @LizzyLaw_
NYC and LA Districts Roll Out Early AI Curricula for K‑12 Students
New York City and Los Angeles public schools have unveiled AI curricula that let students as young as elementary age experiment with generative tools, guided by a traffic‑light framework. The move balances teacher oversight with privacy safeguards, while critics warn...
Josh's Team Deploys NY's $542M BEAD Broadband Funding
Congrats to @joshdotfm and his team at @EmpireStateDev for starting to implement NY State's $542 M BEAD allotment for locations unserved or underserved by high-speed broadband. The high profile names take credit, but Josh is the engine that gets it...
NJ Police Recover $870K Stolen Chemical‑Sprayer Drones, Heightening Defense Security Concerns
New Jersey State Police recovered 15 Ceres Air C31 drones valued at $870,000 that were stolen from CAC International in March. The drones, capable of spraying 40 gallons of liquid chemicals, have ignited worries about their potential use in chemical...
FAA Proposes $0.25‑per‑Pound User Fees for U.S. Rocket Launches, Capped at $30,000
The Federal Aviation Administration announced a draft rule to levy user fees on commercial rocket launches and reentries, starting at $0.25 per pound of payload in 2026 and rising to $1.50 by 2033, with a $30,000 cap per flight. The...
Peru’s Central Bank Targets Late‑2026 Launch of TAPP Unified Payments Platform
Peru’s central bank announced that the Transferencias Automáticas de Pagos Perú (TAPP) platform will go live in late 2026. The public‑infrastructure layer will let fintechs, telecoms and retailers initiate bank‑to‑bank payments with a single tap, addressing a fragmented payments ecosystem...