TISA Warns Government over “Systemic Risks” Of Digital ID
The Investing and Saving Alliance (TISA) has cautioned the UK government about systemic risks linked to a national digital identity scheme. While TISA acknowledges that digital IDs could reduce friction, boost financial inclusion and accelerate onboarding, it stresses that a secure, scalable foundation is essential to earn public trust. The group submitted its concerns during a Cabinet Office consultation, urging policymakers to balance innovation with robust risk management. TISA warns that over‑restrictive measures could unintentionally cut off fintech services it presently backs.
Samsung SDS Wins Deal to Build South Korea’s Blockchain Securities System: Report
Samsung SDS, the IT services arm of Samsung, secured a contract to build and operate a token securities platform for the Korea Securities Depository (KSD). The blockchain‑based system will link KSD’s existing electronic securities accounts with distributed‑ledger data, enabling stable...
Overview Energy Awarded Contract to Provide Space-Based Solar Power to U.S. Air Force
Overview Energy, a Virginia‑based solar aerospace startup, secured a U.S. Air Force contract to field its orbit‑to‑grid system for resilient power in logistics‑constrained environments. The technology places geosynchronous satellites in space to harvest solar energy and beam it via infrared...
'Fire Box 4647, Final Rounds': N.H. FD Retires 154-Year-Old Fire Alarm Box System After Final Call
Manchester’s fire department retired its Gamewell telegraph fire alarm system, a network first installed in 1872, after the final master box (4647) sent its last signal on May 1, 2026. The hard‑wired copper‑line system, once a staple of public‑safety communications, saw its...
Chinese Chamber of Commerce Puts a $432bn Price Tag on the EU’s Cybersecurity Overhaul
The China Chamber of Commerce in the EU commissioned KPMG to estimate the cost of the European Commission’s revised Cybersecurity Act, which would force the removal of Chinese suppliers from 18 critical sectors. The study puts the price tag at...
Verizon Deploys Digital Twin Tech & Expanded Satellite Fleet for 2026 Hurricane Season
Verizon is rolling out a Digital Twin platform that pairs high‑resolution drone imagery with AI to locate storm damage to its network in real time. The carrier has also expanded its satellite fleet to 2,600 assets, adding a Multi‑Orbit Off‑Road...
This Trump FCC Cybersecurity ‘Fix’ Is About To Make Hardware Way More Expensive For Everyone
The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, announced a ban on any testing labs that maintain offices in China from certifying electronic devices for the U.S. market. Roughly 75% of U.S.-bound smartphones, cameras and computers are currently tested in Chinese...
ICO Publishes Guidance to Help Public Bodies Handle AI-Generated FOI Requests
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has released new guidance to help public authorities manage the surge in AI‑generated freedom of information (FOI) requests. Requests climbed to a record 94,526 in 2025, up from 83,041 in 2024, driven by tools...
UK High Court Dismisses Facial-Recognition Judicial Review Case
The UK High Court dismissed a judicial review brought by anti‑knife activist Shaun Thompson and privacy advocate Silkie Carlo, finding that the Metropolitan Police’s live facial‑recognition (LFR) policy contains sufficient legal constraints. The court rejected claims that the policy is...
Greenerwave and Telespazio France Sign Strategic Agreement to Distribute Multi-Orbit, Low-Power and Sovereign SATCOM Terminals in Europe
Greenerwave and Telespazio France, a Leonardo group subsidiary, have signed a strategic agreement to distribute Greenerwave’s low‑power, multi‑orbit (GEO/LEO) satellite communications terminals across France, the broader European market and the United Kingdom. The partnership targets defense, government and security customers,...
FAA Releases Long-Awaited NPRM for Drone Restrictions Around Critical Infrastructure
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to create a petition‑based framework for restricting unmanned aircraft around critical infrastructure. The 181‑page proposal adds a new 14 CFR Part 74, introducing Standard and Special Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restrictions (UAFRs) with...
US Firms Could Face Exclusion Under New EU Cyber Bill, Lead Lawmaker Says
The European Parliament is revising its Cybersecurity Act to address non‑technical risks from third‑country vendors, a move that could label U.S. technology firms as high‑risk suppliers. Lead negotiator Markéta Gregorová warned that American companies may face exclusion if they fail...
The Creation of the Credential Protection Register; More than 750,000 Fraudulent Verification Requests Blocked
Australia’s Albanese Government has launched the Credential Protection Register, a national database designed to stop identity‑theft fraud in digital government services. Since its rollout, the register has blocked more than 750,000 fraudulent verification requests, averaging 18,000 per month. An investment...
Singapore Outlines AI-Led Health System Strategy for a Super-Aged Society
Singapore announced a comprehensive AI‑led health system strategy to address its super‑aged society, where over 20% of residents are 65 or older. The plan rests on three pillars: a robust digital foundation with the National Electronic Health Record and the...
Jobs Connect Opens Opportunities for Cape Residents
Between July 2023 and April 2026 Cape Town’s Jobs Connect platform placed 12,914 residents into jobs, including 432 graduates and 388 people with disabilities. The service also delivered education and training to 2,376 users and has attracted 170,000 total profiles since its...
NITI Aayog Launches CPO Portal to Strengthen Real-Time Governance in Aspirational Districts
India’s policy think‑tank NITI Aayog unveiled the Central Prabhari Officer (CPO) Portal, a mobile‑first digital platform for officials in aspirational districts and blocks. The system lets field officers upload observations instantly, making them visible to district, state and central authorities...
Microsoft, Google, xAI Tackle US AI Security
Microsoft announced testing and evaluation agreements with the U.S. and U.K. governments, extending the pact to include Google DeepMind and Elon Musk’s xAI. The deals channel the AI Security Institute and the U.S. Centre for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI)...
Why Europe Must Refuse the Data-Sharing Deal with the US
The European Commission is weighing a deal that would let U.S. authorities access personal data of 450 million Europeans in exchange for preserving the visa‑waiver program. Critics, led by the European Data Protection Supervisor, argue the arrangement lacks reciprocity and undermines...
AI Is Rewriting the Threat Playbook
South Africa pulled its draft National AI Policy after discovering AI‑generated fictitious citations, highlighting the danger of unchecked machine‑generated content. The withdrawal comes as frontier AI models capable of rapid vulnerability discovery are expected to be widely accessible within six...
How Signatures Are Evolving in Digital-First Systems
Digital workflows are now the norm, and India leads the shift with platforms like DigiLocker and Aadhaar enabling billions of paper‑free transactions. The article argues that signatures must evolve from a familiar, visual cue to a cryptographically verified, system‑embedded trust...
Skyports, Australia’s City of Gold Coast Partner to Develop Vertiport Network
Skyports Infrastructure has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Gold Coast to develop a vertiport network that will support advanced air mobility (AAM) in the region. Skyports will lead site selection, regulatory navigation and infrastructure design, with...
Federal Data Center Requirements: A Guide for Upgrading Existing Facilities
The U.S. Office of Management & Budget’s Data Center Optimization Initiative is pushing federal agencies toward secure, efficient colocation, prompting data‑center operators to upgrade existing facilities to meet government standards. Operators must assess current physical structure, MEP systems and security...
Schools Spend $4B on Physical Safety Measures. Here’s What Research Says They Should Do Instead.
U.S. schools allocate over $4 billion annually to physical security tools such as metal detectors, surveillance cameras and AI‑driven weapons detection systems. The Learning Policy Institute warns many of these technologies lack proven effectiveness and can erode trust, citing false arrests...
EU Cyber Plan Barring Chinese Suppliers Will Cost US$430 Billion: Report
The European Union is set to adopt a new Cybersecurity Act that would bar Chinese hardware from critical infrastructure such as telecoms, energy grids, and transport networks. A recent study estimates the required replacement of Chinese equipment will cost the...
Hong Kong Expands Use of AI and Data Systems to Strengthen Slope Safety Management
Hong Kong is rolling out a suite of AI‑driven tools and a unified digital catalogue to boost slope safety amid rising extreme‑weather events. The Civil Engineering and Development Department will launch an AI landslip warning system and explore drone‑based inspections,...
Digest: US Rethinks AI Safety Stance; Omnicom Data Chief Steps Down; Image AI Models Outpace Chatbots in App Growth
Washington is drafting a Pentagon‑led AI safety framework that could require federal, state and local agencies to vet AI models before deployment, and may be codified in a new executive order. The proposal aims to mitigate security risks but faces...
ESD Malaysia Revises Online Appeal Submission Timeline in Line with New Expatriate Employment Policy
Malaysia’s Expatriate Services Division will cut the appeal period for rejected Employment Pass and Professional Visit Pass applications from six months to 14 days, effective 15 May 2026. The change aligns with the new Expatriate Employment Policy and requires employers to submit...
Dark Sky Technology, and Carahsoft Partner to Deliver Advanced Software Supply Chain Risk Management Solutions to Government Agencies
Dark Sky Technology and Carahsoft have formed a strategic partnership to make the Bulletproof Trust platform available to U.S. government agencies through Carahsoft’s extensive contract vehicles. The platform ingests Software Bills of Materials, monitors more than 30 vulnerability databases, and...
US Government To Review Major AI Models
The U.S. Department of Commerce will require Google, Microsoft and xAI to submit new AI models for pre‑deployment review, expanding the voluntary framework first used with OpenAI and Anthropic in 2024. The Centre for AI Standards and Innovation aims to...
US DOW Doubles Down on Domestic Drone Production
On April 27 the U.S. Department of War released the Drone Dominance Program Supply Chain Framework, tightening procurement rules to favor domestic production of small unmanned aerial systems. The initiative earmarks $1.1 billion for 200,000 one‑way attack drones, targeting propellers, airframes...
Singapore Proposes Amendments to IMDA Act to Strengthen Media Competition Oversight
Singapore’s Parliament tabled amendments to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Act on 6 May 2026, aiming to tighten competition oversight and boost consumer protection in the media sector. The changes broaden IMDA’s authority over ownership transactions, requiring approval for any acquisition...
UIDAI, NFSU Sign 5-Year Pact to Boost Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics
India’s Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI) has signed a five‑year partnership with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) to boost cybersecurity and digital forensics across the Aadhaar ecosystem. The agreement, announced on May 5 in Ahmedabad, outlines six strategic pillars covering talent...
Australia Forms Cyber Incident Review Board to Strengthen Defences After Major Breaches
Australia has established a Cyber Incident Review Board under the Cyber Security Act 2024 to conduct no‑fault, post‑incident analyses of major cyber attacks affecting both government and private firms. Chaired by Telstra’s CISO Narelle Devine, the board brings together leaders...
How AI Can Help (and Hurt) Election Officials
AI capabilities have surged—now roughly 675 times stronger than during the 2020 election—raising both new threats and operational opportunities for election officials. Large‑language‑model agents can autonomously generate misinformation, deepfakes, and denial‑of‑service attacks, lowering the barrier for malicious actors. At the...
OpenAI Quietly Gave US Government Early Access to Its Powerful GPT-5.5 Model for ‘National Security Testing’
OpenAI disclosed that it has provided the U.S. government with early access to its latest GPT‑5.5 model for national‑security testing, including a specialized “GPT‑5.5 Cyber” version aimed at cyber defenders. The company is collaborating with the White House and the...
Digital Approach Needed for Patient Flow
A new Public Policy Projects report argues that NHS patient‑flow problems stem from governance failures rather than technology gaps. It calls for whole‑system digital intelligence paired with redesigned workflows, clear accountability, and cultural change. The paper proposes four recommendations, including...
Transforming Public Services Through Data
GeoPlace’s Connecting People and Places conference, held on 21 May at Leicester Tigers, showcases how address and street intelligence—particularly UPRNs and USRNs—are reshaping public services. Government Digital Service, Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport will present case studies on data‑driven...
NISTA AI Project Tool Wins GDS Hackathon
The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) unveiled Cub, an AI‑powered tool that transforms a Project Initiation Document into a full‑featured project plan. The prototype, built in a single day at the Government Digital Service hackathon, includes an interactive...
Transparency in Infrastructure Needs a Business Case and This Is How to Make It
Governments waste roughly one‑third of infrastructure spending, equating to trillions of dollars, according to the IMF. The Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST) has introduced a new methodology that quantifies the financial benefits of transparency, accountability and public participation in infrastructure projects....
NCSC Highlights the Potential of AI to Enhance Cyber Defence
The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) warned that while artificial intelligence can significantly strengthen cyber‑defence, its rollout will be gradual and technically demanding. Deputy CTO Peter Haigh said AI could improve threat detection, vulnerability discovery, software security, system management...
Worcestershire Introduce New Digital Capabilities for Its Home First Services
Worcestershire County Council has teamed with Totalmobile to embed the Field First digital platform into its Home First reablement service. The solution unifies scheduling, mobile workflow and real‑time reporting for about 250 care and office staff. It aims to optimise...
Homeowners Face Strict Steps to Secure £500 EV Charger Grant Before 2027 Deadline
The UK government’s home‑charging scheme now provides up to £500 (≈ $635) per installation, but only for households where fitting a charger is technically challenging. Eligibility is restricted to properties without a private driveway or garage, and applicants must secure approval...
NGOs & Transport Businesses Call for Maintaining Remote Sensing Provisions in the Roadworthiness Package
The European Commission’s 2025 Roadworthiness Package introduced binding requirements for EU Member States to deploy remote‑sensing systems that screen vehicle emissions and noise. A coalition of NGOs and transport groups warns that recent European Parliament amendments seek to strip away...
The Digital Moat Around Public Data
In 2021 the South Carolina NAACP built a scraper to collect eviction filings, but the state blocked it, leading to the NAACP v. Kohn lawsuit that settled in 2023 and restored automated access. The case illustrates a broader problem: many...
European Industry Fears ‘Back Door’ for US in Cloud Law
The European Commission is drafting the Cloud and AI Development Act to foster a sovereign cloud ecosystem and reduce reliance on foreign tech. Critics say the proposal includes a loophole that permits U.S. providers when no European alternative exists, effectively...
DWP Signs £65m Deals for Extra Digital Resources
The UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has signed two two‑year contracts worth a combined £63.6 million (about $80.8 million) to boost its Government Digital and Data (GDaD) workforce. The larger deal, valued at £39.2 million (~$49.8 million), was awarded to Ernst & Young...
Infoway Fires Michael Green Amid E-Prescribe Fiasco
Canada Health Infoway’s board abruptly terminated CEO Michael Green after the PrescribeIT e‑prescribing platform collapsed, despite receiving roughly US$220 million in federal funding. Launched in 2017 to replace faxed prescriptions, the system saw less than 5 % adoption and is slated to...
Quebec May Not Standardize on Epic Province-Wide
Quebec’s health ministry has halted plans to adopt Epic Systems for a province‑wide electronic health record, citing soaring costs and privacy worries. The two pilot projects slated for May 9 now cost roughly $298 million USD, up from an initial $196 million...
AI-Enabled Vulnerability Discovery Is Reshaping National Cyber Defence
Anthropic’s Claude Mythos LLM demonstrated strong vulnerability‑discovery ability, flagging 271 flaws in Firefox during preview testing. AI‑enabled tools now automate key steps of zero‑day exploit development, dramatically reducing time and cost compared with traditional manual methods. The UK warns that...
OPM Touts New AI Tool that Can Generate Federal Position Descriptions
The Office of Personnel Management unveiled USA Class, an AI‑driven tool that drafts and refines federal position descriptions. Available early May on the existing USA Staffing platform, the service is free for agencies already using the system. By leveraging thousands of historic...