Sean Duffy Wants $10 Billion For AI Air Traffic Control Software
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asked Congress for an additional $10 billion to modernize U.S. air‑traffic‑control infrastructure, with a focus on AI‑driven scheduling software. The request trims his earlier $19 billion ask but builds on the $12.5 billion already allocated under the Trump administration. Duffy stressed AI will assist, not replace, human controllers, citing the recent 90‑second radar blackout at Newark and chronic staffing shortages as catalysts. The proposal aims to automate flight rescheduling, reduce delays, and preserve human oversight.
College Students Using Deepfakes to Harass Could Be Investigated, Punished Under Proposed Law
Louisiana Senate Bill 347, championed by Sen. Regina Barrow, expands the state’s power‑based violence definition to include deepfakes, allowing colleges to investigate and punish students and employees who create AI‑generated sexual content. The measure cleared the Senate Education Committee unanimously...
FAA Targets 2026 Approvals, Fleet Upgrade by 2028
Timeline on issue per OIG: "In our latest update from FAA, it stated the engine-level approval is expected in the 2nd quarter of 2026 and the airplane-level approval is expected in 3rd quarter of 2026. Further, once Boeing publishes its...
US Admiral Who Blasted Crypto Is Now Running a Bitcoin Node for America’s Security
Admiral Samuel Paparo, once a vocal critic of cryptocurrency, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the U.S. Indo‑Pacific Command now operates a Bitcoin node, treating the blockchain’s cryptography as a tool for network security and power projection. The comment...
Intimate Talks: Brussels Ponders the Naked Body in AI Bill
The EU is fine‑tuning its AI Act to ban AI‑driven nudification, after Elon Musk’s Grok tool generated millions of non‑consensual sexual images. A draft list defines intimate parts such as genitals, anus, buttocks and female nipples, while the inclusion of...
Improving Connecticut’s Public Health Through Cross-Sector Data-Sharing
Connecticut’s Prevention Data Portal, launched in 2018 by the State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup, aggregates local, state, and federal health data to support substance‑use prevention and broader public‑health initiatives. The portal’s success stems from an executive order mandating open data, strategic...
India Needs Digital Identity for Every Device and Stronger AI-Led Cyber Defence to Curb Threats: Experts
At the Cyber Security India Expo, experts urged India to assign a digital identity to every networked device and to bolster AI-driven cyber defenses. Lt General Madhavan Unnikrishnan Nair argued that device identities are crucial for accountability and protection of...
Keeping GPS Free From Interference: An Interview with Lisa Dyer
Lisa Dyer, executive director of the GPS Innovation Alliance, warned that GPS—critical to billions of users and essential for transportation, finance, and defense—is increasingly vulnerable to jamming and spoofing. With 32 medium‑Earth‑orbit satellites transmitting low‑power signals, both foreign actors and...
FCC Bans Dozens of Foreign‑Made Wi‑Fi Routers Over National‑Security Risks
The Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on the sale of dozens of foreign‑made Wi‑Fi routers, citing unacceptable national‑security risks. The list targets Chinese manufacturers, a U.S.‑registered firm owned by a Chinese company, and Russia’s Kaspersky Lab, tightening supply‑chain controls...
GCHQ Urges UK to Ditch Passwords in Favor of Passkeys, Warning of Rising Cyber Threats
The UK’s cyber security agency, GCHQ, has issued a fresh advisory urging citizens and organisations to stop using passwords and adopt passkey technology, which it says can eliminate entire categories of attacks. The move reflects growing concerns over credential‑stuffing and...
Police Body Looks for £15m Partner to Support Forces’ Plans to Test and Deploy AI Tools
The Home Office and police procurement body BlueLight Commercial have issued a market‑engagement notice for a £15 million (≈$19 million) two‑year contract to act as lead delivery partner for Police.AI, a new national unit that will accelerate AI adoption across England and...
Davidhorn To Unveil Next-Generation Interview Experience
At the Police Interview Summit 2026, Davidhorn unveiled a prototype of its next‑generation interview experience, dubbed Capture 2.0, aimed at streamlining the entire investigative workflow from evidence capture to court‑ready output. The suite adds live translation in up to 50 languages, integrated...
America’s Cyber Strategy Has a Budget Problem
The Trump administration’s FY2027 budget proposes a $707 million cut to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), shrinking its budget to just over $2 billion—well below the $2.6 billion Congress had earmarked. The proposal also trims the Office of the National Cyber...
China and Chile Set up a Fully Digital Phytosanitary Certification System for Exports
Starting April 20, 2026 Chile began using a fully electronic phytosanitary certification system for all agricultural and forestry exports to China, marking the first time the Asian giant has adopted a completely digital inspection process with a trade partner. The platform was...
329. Inside California’s Mobility Playbook
In this episode, California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omashakian explains how the state manages its massive, diverse transportation network—spanning 50,000 miles of highway, 20,000 bridges, 300 transit agencies, and 250 airports—by tailoring solutions to regional needs rather than using a...
From Gas Lamps to LEDs: The 100-Year War on Headlight Glare
The article chronicles a century‑long fight against headlight glare, beginning with 1912 gas‑lamp cars that produced only 21 candlepower—about 13 times dimmer than today’s LED units. Repeated parliamentary complaints spurred a wave of anti‑dazzle inventions in the 1930s, culminating in...
Türkiye Passes Sweeping Digital Law Restricting Social Media Access for Under 15s
Turkey’s Grand National Assembly approved a sweeping digital regulation that bans social‑media access for children under 15 and imposes mandatory age‑rating systems and parental controls. Platforms with more than 100,000 daily Turkish users must appoint local representatives, and non‑compliant firms...
Rapporteur’s Report About the EU Business Wallet
The European Parliament’s ITRE committee, led by rapporteur Eero Heinäluoma, released a draft report outlining the legal framework for an EU Business Wallet. The regulation will enable trusted digital interactions—identification, e‑signatures, authentication, and data exchange—between companies, public administrations, and other...
Why Cities Are Entering a New Phase of Innovation Maturity
City leaders gathered in Dublin to acknowledge that urban innovation is moving beyond isolated pilots toward a mature, impact‑driven approach. The discussion highlighted three pillars—foundational data and governance layers, the shift from testing to scaling, and a culture that empowers...
MPs Call for Publication of Secret Documents that Outline Chronic Risks From UK’s Dependence on Big Tech
Cross‑party MPs and the Open Rights Group have urged the UK government to publish classified documents that outline chronic risks from the nation’s dependence on foreign digital platforms, especially US‑based Big Tech and AI providers. The request follows an Open...
Saudi Arabian Government Entities Surpass 76% Emerging Tech Adoption
Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Authority reported that government entities lifted their Emerging Technologies Adoption Readiness score to 76.04%, up from 74.69% in 2025. The fourth‑edition index surveyed 54 agencies, a jump from 40 the prior year, reflecting deeper engagement in...
Home Office Signs £90m Duo of Deals for QA and Testing
The UK Home Office announced two three‑year contracts with LA International to provide quality assurance and testing services for its digital programmes. The larger contract, valued at about £50 million (≈ $64 million), will support the Public Safety Group’s law‑enforcement and crime‑policy initiatives....
Kalshi Fines Three Politicians $7,552, Suspends Them Five Years for Election Insider Trading
Kalshi, the CFTC‑regulated prediction‑market exchange, fined three political candidates a total of $7,552 and barred them from trading for five years after discovering they wagered on their own elections. The enforcement action comes as lawmakers and governors push for tighter...
Bipartisan ‘Parents Decide Act’ Would Force Age‑Verification for All Computers and Smartphones
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D‑NJ) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R‑NY) introduced the Parents Decide Act, a bipartisan measure that would obligate operating‑system providers to verify a user’s age and obtain parental consent before a minor can use a computer, tablet or...
MoD ‘Has Long Recognised Risks’ of Fitness Apps and Will Issue Guidance Where Necessary
An investigation by the i Paper found that 519 UK military personnel inadvertently disclosed their whereabouts by posting Strava workout data, some of which mapped routes around sensitive bases. The revelations prompted a parliamentary question about the Ministry of Defence’s...
AirData Automates Logs for BRINC Emergency Response Drones
AirData announced an integration that automatically captures flight data from BRINC’s Lemur 2 and Responder emergency drones, eliminating manual log uploads for public‑safety pilots. The platform, which has already processed more than 60 million flights, now creates mission records directly from BRINC...
NHTSA Unveils Sweeping Traffic Safety Initiative for the US
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration unveiled the Pathways to Safer Streets (P2SS) plan, targeting impairment, speeding, distraction and seat‑belt non‑use—the four leading causes of traffic deaths. The initiative restores law‑enforcement grants, expands data‑driven enforcement, and introduces new technology...
How to Close the Machine-Speed Gap in Cyber Defense with Nik Seetharaman of Wraithwatch
In this episode, Nick Seetharaman, founder and CEO of Wraithwatch, discusses how AI can close the speed gap between machine‑driven attackers and human‑limited defenders. He explains Wraithwatch’s AI‑native platform that unifies existing security tools into an intelligent command‑and‑control layer, enabling...
New Irish Rail IT System Is ‘a Slowly Developing Shambles’, Says Dáil Committee Chairman
Ireland’s Dáil Public Accounts Committee warned that Indra Group’s €200 million‑plus (≈$215 million) next‑generation contactless ticketing programme is at risk after the contractor’s train traffic‑management system ran into severe delays and cost overruns. Over €31 million (≈$33 million) has already been spent on the...
NCSC Backs Passkeys, Hailing a New Era of Sign-In
The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has officially endorsed passkeys as the primary login method for consumers, moving away from passwords except where passkeys are unavailable. The endorsement follows a year of collaboration with the FIDO Alliance and successful...
UNIFE Supports the Rollout of ERTMS Through the Adoption of Measures
UNIFE’s Director General Enno Wiebe urged EU rail stakeholders to adopt concrete measures that simplify authorisation, harmonise technical requirements and accelerate the phase‑out of legacy systems, aiming to unblock the rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The call...
How the Government Is Ramping up Mass Surveillance with AI-Driven Tech
The U.S. government is dramatically expanding its mass‑surveillance capabilities by purchasing vast troves of consumer data from commercial brokers and forging direct partnerships with private‑tech firms. Advanced AI algorithms now sift through data from smartphones, connected cars, and retail cameras...
Turkish Parliament Passes Bill to Restrict Social Media Access for Under-15s
Turkey’s parliament approved a bill that forces social‑media platforms to block users under 15, install age‑verification systems and provide parental‑control tools. The legislation, prompted by a recent school shooting, requires rapid removal of harmful content and imposes penalties such as...
San Francisco Helps Home Child Care Centers Wean Off Gas
San Francisco’s Environment Department has launched a $300,000 pilot to replace gas water heaters with electric heat‑pump units at up to 30 home‑based child‑care centers in low‑income neighborhoods. The program, funded by a Clean California Quick Start Grant and administered...
Nigerian Banks Gain Access to Telecom Data to Stop Fraud
On April 20, 2026, Nigeria’s Central Bank and the Nigerian Communications Commission signed an agreement to share telecom data via the Telecom Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS). The platform gives banks and fintechs real‑time visibility into SIM‑history, allowing them to...
EU Rolls Out NCAF 2.0 Framework to Boost National Cybersecurity Readiness
ENISA has released NCAF 2.0, an updated National Capabilities Assessment Framework that enables EU Member States to evaluate and improve the maturity of their national cybersecurity strategies. The new version introduces refined maturity level definitions, expanded assessment questions, and alignment...
New Digital Service for Planning Appeals Goes Live
The Planning Inspectorate has launched the new “Appeal a planning decision” digital service, fully replacing its legacy Appeals Casework Portal. The cloud‑based platform now handles most planning and enforcement appeals, aligning with the latest government digital and data standards. Existing...
MoJ Extends Relationship with Scrumconnect
The UK Ministry of Justice has awarded data consultancy Scrumconnect a £38 million (≈ $48 million) contract to modernise the Common Platform, the case‑management system used by magistrates’ and Crown Courts. Scrumconnect will deliver managed digital services, including design, development, testing and automation,...
Cambridge, Leeds and Plymouth Uses of Proptech Shortlisted
Three UK local authorities have been shortlisted for the Planning Awards after piloting AI‑driven proptech solutions funded by the government’s Digital Planning programme. Leeds’ Xylo Core saved planners an average of one day per week, while Greater Cambridge’s PlanAI reduced...
India's Digital Currency Push Targets Its Leaky Welfare System
India’s Reserve Bank is piloting the e‑rupee, a central bank digital currency, to streamline its $80 billion welfare system. The program, run with the World Bank and state partners, targets sectors like farm subsidies and food rationing, with an estimated 10 million...
Japan Turns Earthquake Resilience Into Data-Driven Design
Japan does not treat earthquakes as rare events. It treats them as a design requirement. That is what I find so striking. Japan sits in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions, yet it has spent decades building resilience into the system through...
ID Checks for Device Use Echo Dystopian China
Requiring you to show ID to use a computer or other device at all is about the most dystopian thing I've heard all day. What is this, China?
GDPR Works, but only Where Someone Enforces It
A cross‑country measurement study of 525 popular websites shows that GDPR‑style opt‑in rules dramatically lower web tracking, but only where regulators actively enforce them. Users in Germany and Spain experienced roughly 50% fewer tracker connections than visitors from non‑EU regions,...
Odisha to Set up 14 New Automated Vehicle Testing Stations to Boost Road Safety
The Odisha government announced plans to establish 14 new automated vehicle testing stations (ATS), effectively doubling the state’s existing network of seven facilities. These stations will use advanced machinery to assess fitness across two‑wheelers, three‑wheelers, and light to heavy commercial...
Covered California Teams with Google and Deloitte to Cut Eligibility Work by 40%
Covered California announced an expanded partnership with Google Public Sector and Deloitte to embed Google Cloud's Document AI into its CalHEERS platform. The AI upgrade reduces manual processing by 40%, delivering real‑time eligibility verification for millions of Californians and strengthening...
Hanoi Targets 95% E‑ID Coverage by Year‑End in New Digital Transformation Plan
Hanoi has approved a sweeping digital transformation plan that will require all municipal agencies to adopt artificial intelligence from Oct. 1 and aims to issue electronic IDs to 95% of its residents by the end of 2026. The initiative also sets...
Microsoft Invests $25B in AI to Embed Trust and Inclusivity Into the Australian Psyche
Microsoft announced a $25 billion, three‑year investment to expand AI infrastructure, cloud capacity and cybersecurity in Australia, emphasizing trust and inclusive growth. The plan includes adding 29 Azure data‑centre sites, extending the Cyber‑Shield program, and delivering AI skills to 3 million Australians...
U.S. House Introduces PACE Act to Open Fed Payment Rails to FinTechs
The U.S. House of Representatives unveiled the Payments Access and Consumer Efficiency (PACE) Act, creating a federal registration pathway that would allow non‑bank fintech firms meeting strict criteria to connect directly to the Federal Reserve’s core payment systems. The bill...
Whitepaper: A Roadmap for Responsible AI Adoption in Australia’s Public Service
The Australian Public Service (APS) has released a new whitepaper outlining a roadmap for responsible AI adoption, building on the APS AI Plan introduced in November 2025. The paper synthesizes a year‑long dialogue with public servants, including the nation’s first...
Climate Change Means More Landslides in NZ – but New Tech Can Help Reduce the Risk
Extreme rainfall linked to climate change is driving a surge in landslides across New Zealand, where they already cost an estimated $150‑180 million USD each year and claim more lives than volcanoes or earthquakes combined. New research shows that higher‑emission scenarios could...