Commission Okays Drone Regulation Reforms
Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) approved four draft notifications on April 7 to broaden drone spectrum use, raise technical standards, and tighten operational oversight. The new rules replace visual‑line‑of‑sight limits with provisions for beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) missions, logistics, surveillance and industrial applications. Mandatory remote‑ID will broadcast a drone’s ID and location, while new unlicensed bands at 72‑72.475 MHz and 920‑925 MHz supplement existing 433 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz allocations. Stakeholders are invited to a public hearing before the regulations are finalized.
After a Nearly a Decade, GSA on Track to Fully Implement TDR
In his first 100 days, GSA Administrator Ed Forst moved to complete the decade‑long rollout of Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) across all Multiple‑Award Schedule (MAS) contracts. The agency will issue MAS Refresh 31 later this month, mandating TDR for the remaining...
Anthropic’s Bid to Lift ‘Supply Chain Risk’ Label Suffers Setback in US Appeals Court
A federal appeals court in Washington denied Anthropic's request to lift the Pentagon's "supply chain risk" designation, keeping the AI firm barred from new defense contracts. The ruling underscores the ongoing legal clash between the U.S. government and leading AI...
North Andover, Mass., To Buy Body-Worn Cameras for $200K
North Andover’s Select Board voted unanimously to earmark $200,000 from its Capital Improvement Plan to purchase body‑worn cameras for the police department. The funding will equip 50 officers at roughly $2,000 each, covering both hardware and software. The allocation replaces...
Tackling Water Scarcity: ABB's Vertical Hollow Shaft Motors Support Mexico's Infrastructure Needs
ABB announced the rollout of its vertical hollow shaft (VHS) motors in Mexico after securing NOM and ANCE certifications. The motors, available in 15‑500 horsepower variants, are engineered for vertical pumping systems used in water supply and wastewater treatment. ABB...
Federal Agencies Modernize Contact Centers to Improve CX
Federal agencies, including the VA and SSA, are shifting to digital‑first, multichannel contact‑center strategies to streamline service delivery and improve customer experience. The VA’s Veterans Experience Office is working to let users start online and seamlessly transition to voice or...
House Set To Vote on ALERT Act Next Week
The U.S. House will vote next week on the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act (H.R.7613) under suspension of the rules, requiring a two‑thirds majority. The bill expands on the earlier ROTOR Act by directing the FAA to...
Could AI Be Harming Public Servants?
Australian governments are promoting AI to improve service productivity, but new research warns it may erode public servants’ critical thinking. Studies show AI‑generated hallucinations and bias are already raising concerns among policy analysts. Emerging neuroscience suggests frequent AI reliance can...
GAO Warns DOD’s CMMC Fix Could Become the Program’s Biggest Threat
The Government Accountability Office issued a report warning that the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is vulnerable to external risks, notably an over‑reliance on waivers and a shortage of qualified assessors. GAO also highlighted DOD’s lack...
CRTC Launches Fourth Call for Broadband Fund Money
Canada’s telecom regulator, the CRTC, has opened its fourth round of funding under the Broadband Fund, targeting fixed broadband and satellite projects that meet the universal service benchmark of 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. Applicants must demonstrate new builds or...
UC Santa Barbara Installs Loitering Alert System
The University of California, Santa Barbara has deployed new surveillance cameras and three mobile security units at the campus’s high‑risk lagoon area, with two additional units elsewhere, including one targeting bike theft. The units use motion detection to alert police...
Space Force Awards Kratos $447 Million Contract for Missile Warning Tracking
The U.S. Space Force awarded Kratos Technology & Training Solutions a $447 million Other Transaction Agreement to build a ground‑management integration system for its missile‑warning satellites. The contract will initially support the 12‑satellite Epoch 1 constellation slated for launch in 2027‑28, followed...
UK’s OfDIA Assigns International Digital Identity Standards Role as DVS ‘Backbone’
The UK Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA) has positioned itself as the lead coordinator for international digital‑identity standards, using the British Standards Institution to channel UK input into ISO, IEC and CEN bodies. OfDIA argues that aligning the...
Idbio Makes Strong NIST Iris, Fingerprint Biometrics Debuts, Gets MOSIP-Certified
U.S. biometrics firm Idbio posted top results in NIST’s IREX 10 iris and PFT III fingerprint evaluations, achieving a 0.0051 FNIR at FPIR 0.01 and four‑microsecond fingerprint matches. Its iris matcher delivered a 0.237‑second one‑to‑many search using 1,035‑byte templates, while fingerprint templates were...
The FCC Announces Plans to Speed Up The Internet & Fight Robocalls
The FCC set an agenda for its April 30, 2026 Open Commission Meeting that targets five priority areas: modernizing satellite spectrum sharing to expand rural broadband, tightening Know‑Your‑Customer rules to curb illegal robocalls, overhauling device‑authorization to secure communications equipment, launching...
CIA Plans for ‘AI Coworkers’, Deputy Director Says
The CIA announced it will embed artificial‑intelligence "coworkers" into analyst platforms within the next few years, allowing AI to draft judgments, edit for clarity and flag emerging trends. Deputy Director Michael Ellis said the tools will augment, not replace, human...
New Jersey Uses Data to Improve Population Health
New Jersey’s Integrated Population Health Data (iPHD) project, created by statute in 2016, now links more than 90 million person‑level health and administrative records. The initiative, funded by the state Department of Health, breaks down data silos across agencies to support...
Space Force Awards GPS Ground Contract Amid OCX Uncertainty
The U.S. Space Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $105 million contract to sustain and enhance its interim GPS ground system, known as the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP). The funding adds capabilities for launch, early‑orbit and disposal operations of the upcoming GPS...
EU Publishes Implementing Act for Remote EUDI Wallet Onboarding
On Tuesday, the European Commission released an Implementing Act that sets reference standards for remote onboarding of European Digital Identity (EUDI) wallets. The act mandates a high assurance level, combining electronic identification with additional procedures, and aligns with ETSI TS 119 461...
For Kenyan Stablecoin Issuers, Reserves Must Be Kept Close to Home
Kenya’s draft Virtual Asset Service Provider regulations require stablecoin issuers to hold 30% of reserves in segregated accounts at local commercial banks and the remaining 70% in cash or short‑term government securities. Issuers must maintain at least KES 500 million (≈$3.85 million) in...
Arkansas Petitions To Reinstate Restrictions On Social Media Algorithms
Arkansas has asked the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a preliminary injunction that blocked a state law prohibiting social‑media platforms from using algorithms or design features that could lead users to suicide, drug use, eating disorders, or addiction....
FCC Proposes Sweeping Rules on Foreign Call Centers: Onshoring Mandates, Consumer Protections and Robocall Deterrence
On March 27, 2026 the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking targeting foreign call centers. The package proposes a 30% cap on calls handled abroad, English‑proficiency testing, mandatory disclosures, and a right for consumers to be transferred to U.S....
How Tech Is Helping Improve Avalanche Forecasting
An avalanche in Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon that claimed an 11‑year‑old’s life underscored the growing danger of snow‑pack instability. The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC), a nonprofit with a long history of data‑driven forecasting, is turning to artificial intelligence, machine learning...
OpenAI National Security Lead Endorses ‘Appropriate Human Judgment’ in AI
OpenAI’s head of national security policy, Sasha Baker, told a Special Competitive Studies Project conference that integrating advanced AI into defense will require a workforce transformation and the application of “appropriate human judgment.” The remarks followed OpenAI’s recent Pentagon agreement,...
IATA Trials Show Biometric, Contactless Air Travel Already Secure, Efficiently’
IATA’s recent trials across Europe and Asia‑Pacific demonstrated that fully contactless, biometric‑enabled international travel can be completed securely and efficiently without a physical passport or boarding pass. Travelers used mobile‑wallet digital IDs such as Apple Wallet, Google ID Pass and...
Govt Opens OTT Financial Bids to Formalise Digital Ad Partnerships
The Indian government has opened financial bids for the empanelment of over‑the‑top (OTT) platforms, aiming to integrate streaming services into a formal advertising ecosystem. Led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Central Bureau of Communication, the bids were launched...
NOAA Fisheries, NFWF Announce USD 3.4 Million in Fishing Data Modernization Grants
NOAA Fisheries and the National Fish and Wildlife Service announced $3.4 million in grants to modernize fisheries data collection through electronic monitoring and AI. The funding, part of the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting (EMR) Grant Program, will be spread across 13...
Australia’s AML Reforms: Strategies for Success in 2026
Australia’s anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorism financing reforms will take effect in early 2026, prompting regulators and industry leaders to adopt a risk‑focused, outcomes‑based approach. AUSTRAC’s chief executive signaled a move away from tick‑box compliance toward substantive risk management, encouraging firms...
Michigan Sees Boom in License Plate Reader Usage
Waterford Township police chief secured board approval to expand its license‑plate reader (LPR) network, adding four new cameras to the existing twelve. LPR technology has surged across Michigan, with more than 180 law‑enforcement agencies—about one‑third of the state—using Flock Safety...
RBI Proposes New Measures to Combat Rising Digital Payment Frauds
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has unveiled a discussion paper proposing several safeguards to curb the surge in digital payment frauds. Key measures include a one‑hour delay on account‑to‑account transfers above ₹10,000, a trusted‑person authentication for vulnerable users on...
Lawsuit Alleges Systemic Misuse of Facial Recognition by Reno Police
A Nevada lawsuit claims the Reno Police Department arrested Jason Killinger after a casino’s facial‑recognition system falsely matched him to a banned patron. The arrest was made without corroborating evidence, despite Killinger presenting valid IDs, and the officer later admitted...
If only We Didn't Need so Much Petrol... The Electrification Plans NZ Has Dreamed up, and Abandoned
Rising diesel prices—now about $4 per litre and up 33 % for households—have revived New Zealand’s stalled electrification agenda. The Clean Car Discount, which collected roughly $71 million USD in levies and paid $173 million USD in subsidies, was terminated in 2023, yet EV...
Voters in Wisconsin City Pass Nation's First Data Center Referendum
Port Washington, Wisconsin voters approved a referendum that forces city leaders to obtain voter consent before granting tax incentives to data‑center developers, making it the nation’s first voter‑approved data‑center restriction. The measure does not halt the $15 billion Vantage Data Centers...
ClearPoint vs Envisio: Best for Local Gov? | ClearPoint Strategy Blog
ClearPoint Strategy and Envisio are the two leading SaaS platforms for local‑government strategic planning. Envisio, priced around $20,000 a year, offers a clean UI and quick public dashboards ideal for small towns with a single plan. ClearPoint serves a broader...
3 City AI Policies to Watch
Local governments are rapidly formalizing AI use, with Seattle, San Francisco and Austin each unveiling comprehensive policies. Seattle updated its 2023 framework after nearly 40 pilot projects, tightening bans on bias‑prone applications like emotion analysis and social scoring. San Francisco...
South Africa Chose Flexibility over Control in Its New AI Policy
South Africa released a draft AI policy on April 2, 2026 that favours sector‑specific oversight instead of a single super‑regulator. Existing bodies such as the FSCA, Reserve Bank and SAHPRA will enforce risk‑tiered rules ranging from bans on unacceptable systems...
USCIS Explores Remote Identity Verification for Immigration Services
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Request for Information seeking a software‑only, API‑driven platform that can authenticate identity documents and perform facial comparison remotely. The agency wants a solution that works on any mobile device or web browser,...
Pennsylvania Senators Weigh Consumer Protections From Cryptocurrency Scams
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 1015, which would require cryptocurrency kiosks to display anti‑fraud warnings, obtain a money‑transmitter license, and provide 24/7 customer support. The bill targets a growing problem: more than 31,000 Pennsylvanians lost an estimated $538 million last...
How Virginia State Police Saw $3 Million in Savings with the Power of Snowflake AI
Virginia State Police adopted Snowflake Intelligence, an AI‑powered analytics platform, to break down data silos and automate financial reconciliation. The agency reported up to an 80‑fold acceleration in data processing, cutting a two‑week, four‑person effort to 45 minutes for 4,000...
IAEM Webinar 4/23: Practical AI for Emergency Managers
The IAEM‑USA Emerging Technology Caucus is hosting a lunch‑and‑learn webinar titled “Practical AI for Emergency Managers” on April 23, 2026. The session will feature emergency managers who will showcase real‑world AI applications that improve planning, response, and recovery operations. Attendees...
France's OVH Answers Europe's Sovereignty Call with Dedicated Defence Unit
OVHcloud announced the creation of a dedicated defence unit aimed at serving European defence ministries and reinforcing data‑sovereignty initiatives. The new team will provide hardened cloud infrastructure, incident‑response capabilities, and compliance support tailored to government and critical‑infrastructure customers. OVHcloud’s move...
What Will the EU’s New Entry-Exit System Mean for British Travellers?
From October 2025 through April 2026 the EU will roll out its Entry‑Exit System (EES), a biometric border‑control network that replaces passport stamps for all third‑country nationals, including British travelers. The first crossing captures fingerprints and a facial scan; later trips only...
Coptrz Named Exclusive UK Partner for Avy
Coptrz has secured an exclusive partnership with Amsterdam‑based Avy, becoming the sole UK distributor of Avy’s long‑endurance BVLOS drone network for emergency services and defence. The agreement adds Avy’s fixed‑wing Aera aircraft and Dock "drone‑in‑a‑box" system to Coptrz’s portfolio, delivering...
HENSOLDT UK Secures Two Contracts with SRT for 50 Coastal Surveillance Radars
German sensor specialist HENSOLDT UK announced it has secured two contracts with UK‑based SRT Marine System Solutions to deliver 50 coastal surveillance radars. The radars, built on HENSOLDT’s Coherent Shore‑Based Sensor platform and featuring SharpEye solid‑state transceivers, will be integrated...
OpenAI Launches ‘Child Safety Blueprint’ Amid Surge in AI-Generated Abuse
OpenAI unveiled a "Child Safety Blueprint" to tackle the surge in AI‑generated child sexual abuse, a threat that saw a 14% rise in reported incidents in the first half of 2025. The framework, crafted with the National Center for Missing...
EU Shifting Customs Operations to EES System Tomorrow—What You Need to Know
On April 10 2026 the European Union and all 29 Schengen countries will switch to the Entry‑Exit System (EES), a fully digitized border‑control platform. The system replaces manual passport checks with a scan that records biometric data and timestamps each entry and...
DESNZ Launches Pilot for Non-Pipeline Carbon Capture Transport
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has launched the Non‑Pipeline Transport (NPT) Pathfinder, a pilot to test road, rail and ship CO₂ transport alongside existing pipelines. The initiative follows the December 2024 contracts for the Teesside carbon...
ENISA Launches Public Consultation on Draft EUDI Wallet Certification Schemes
ENISA has opened a public consultation on a draft certification scheme for providers of the EU Digital Identity (EUDI) wallet, following a two‑year agreement to back the European Commission’s rollout. The core EU wallet regulation took effect in May 2024, and...
Amid Rising Cyber and Physical Threats, Center for Cross-Sector Coordination Launches
The Center for Cross‑Sector Coordination (CXC) launched as an industry‑driven, not‑for‑profit hub that links owners and operators across all 16 U.S. critical infrastructure sectors. Its mission is to improve coordination, share security tools, training, and threat intelligence, and act as...
Don’t Just Fight Fraud, Hunt It
The article warns that AI has transformed fraud into an industrialized, global enterprise that can create tens of thousands of synthetic identities in days. Traditional detection methods—such as tracking reused emails or devices—are rapidly losing relevance, with unique email patterns...