TOP OF THE DAY
Staying Ahead in the Global Technology Race
(Center for Strategic & International Studies – 29 October 2024) The United States is in the midst of a generational shift in economic policy and its role in national security planning. Even in these polarized times, there is surprising consensus across the American political spectrum that the economic policies and global institutions fostered since World War II are no longer adequate. They have left the United States vulnerable to competition with non-market actors, principally China; domestic economic dislocations; and global crises such as climate change and pandemics. These vulnerabilities persist and will await the next administration. The need for an allied approach to economic security is now axiomatic. It will require the United States to lead and partner in equal measures as it navigates the emerging economic security policy trilemma between promote, protect, and partner policies. The challenge for the next administration is to focus on the time- and stress-tested drivers of innovation—competition in secure, trusted international technology markets and cooperation with allies. – Staying Ahead in the Global Technology Race: A Roadmap for Economic Security
Broader federal investment in quantum sensing needed to outpace China, industry report says
(Patrick Tucker – Defense One – 29 October 2024) The tech industry needs more funding from the U.S. government—not just the Pentagon—if it is to outpace China in the quest for quantum sensors, whose national-security implications include ground-based replacements for aging and vulnerable GPS satellites, an industry group argues in a new report. Currently, the U.S. government spends about $900 million on quantum sensing each year, most going to the Defense Department.. An increase is needed, according to the report, which was produced by the industry-driven Quantum Economic Development Consortium with funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. – Broader federal investment in quantum sensing needed to outpace China, industry report says – Defense One
Armenia’s Tech Aspirations
(Jason Wahlang – Manohar Parrikar Institute – 29 October 2024) Armenia hosted the 28th World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT) from 4 to 7 October 2024. The theme of this year’s Congress was ‘The Power of the Mind: AI Beyond Limits, Within Ethics’. The Congress focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), ethical innovation, Green AI, AI for crisis management and eco-friendly technologies among other topics. Armenia had previously hosted the Congress in October 2019. The WCIT is one of the oldest technology conferences and some of the largest companies participate in this conference. India had hosted the WCIT in 2018 in Hyderabad, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conference. – Armenia’s Tech Aspirations | Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
How to Improve the Security of AI-Assisted Software Development
(Matias Madou – SecurityWeek – 29 October 2024) By now, it’s clear that the artificial intelligence (AI) “genie” is out of the bottle – for good. This extends to software development, as a GitHub survey shows that 92 percent of U.S.-based developers are already using AI coding tools both in and outside of work. They say AI technologies help them improve their skills (as cited by 57 percent), boost productivity (53 percent), focus on building/creating instead of repetitive tasks (51 percent) and avoid burnout (41 percent). – How to Improve the Security of AI-Assisted Software Development – SecurityWeek
Five Eyes Agencies Launch Startup Security Initiative
(Phil Muncaster – Infosecurity Magazine – 29 October 2024) The UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australian governments have launched a new program designed to help their tech startups improve baseline cybersecurity measures, in the face of escalating state-backed threats. Secure Innovation was originally a UK initiative run by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and MI5’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA). However, it has now been adopted and promoted by all Five Eyes intelligence agencies in regionalized versions. – Five Eyes Agencies Launch Startup Security Initiative – Infosecurity Magazine
Suspicious Social Media Accounts Deployed Ahead of COP29
(Kevin Poireault – Infosecurity Magazine – 29 October 2024) A network of 71 suspicious accounts on X has been deployed ahead of the UN’s COP29 climate change conference. The accounts aim to give the impression of grassroots support for the Azerbaijan government, according to NGO Global Witness. Azerbaijan, host of the 29th Climate Conference of Parties (COP29) from November 11 to 22, 2024, has a track record of using coordinated inauthentic accounts on Facebook to target the country’s journalists and democracy activists as well as using bots and troll farms on X to criticize Armenia. – Suspicious Social Media Accounts Deployed Ahead of COP29 – Infosecurity Magazine
Augmentation, Not Substitution: HCSS Manual for the Responsible Use of Generative AI
(Tim Sweijs, Jesse Kommandeur, Abe de Ruijter – The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies – 24 October 2024) This manual outlines principles for the responsible and effective use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) at HCSS, in recognition of both the opportunities and the challenges and limitations related to the use of Generative AI applications in applied research and policy analysis. The manual outlines ten maxims based on a set of principles centering on confidentiality, transparency, authenticity, reliability, integrity and ingenuity. These principles serve to ensure the responsible use of Generative AI in line with professional practices of research, ethical standards, and legal requirements related to privacy and copyright. Overall, the manual calls for a balanced approach towards integrating generative AI in research and policy analysis. It underscores the need to address inherent biases within generative AI applications and reiterates the importance of multidisciplinary and multimethod approaches in applied research. Ultimately, the principles serve as a foundation for harnessing the capabilities of Generative AI while enhancing the effectiveness of human analysts and safeguarding the integrity of research outcomes. The manual will be updated in due course as the situation evolves. – Augmentation, Not Substitution: HCSS Manual for the Responsible Use of Generative AI – HCSS
GOVERNANCE
EU boosts EIC budget for supporting deep tech R&D and strategic scale-ups
(Natasha Lomas – TechCrunch – 29 October 2024) The European Union will spend €1.4 billion (about $1.5 billion) next year to bolster deep tech research and support scale-ups in strategic areas like AI, low-carbon technologies, agritech and biotech, the European Commission said on Tuesday. The budget for the 2025 Work Program of the European Innovation Council (EIC), part of the bloc’s flagship Horizon Europe research program, has been increased by nearly €200 million compared to last year. – EU boosts EIC budget for supporting deep tech R&D and strategic scale-ups | TechCrunch
Data Proxies for Clients of Cloud Service Providers
(David Kris – Lawfare – 29 October 2024) Cloud storage offers significant benefits for security and efficiency, but many organizations may be hesitant to adopt it due to the risk of secret disclosure: the practice by which law enforcement can compel cloud service providers to turn over customer data while legally prohibiting them from notifying the customer. To address this concern, in this paper I propose the appointment of a “data proxy,” a highly trusted individual (like a retired federal judge) who would be contractually authorized to represent the organization’s interests when it cannot represent itself due to a nondisclosure order. – Data Proxies for Clients of Cloud Service Providers | Lawfare
AI tutors are already changing higher ed
(Megan Morrone – Axios – 29 October 2024) Generative AI is already transforming higher ed, giving students more access to professors’ expertise and boosting efficiency for both faculty and students in some fields. – How AI tutors are already reshaping learning for college students
Can AI Improve Medical Diagnostic Accuracy?
(Adam Hadhazy – Stanford HAI – 28 October 2024) A new study from Stanford researchers has highlighted the untapped potential of large language models, a form of artificial intelligence, to improve the accuracy of medical diagnoses and clinical reasoning. The researchers presented a series of cases based on actual patients to the popular model ChatGPT-4 and to 50 physicians and asked for a diagnosis. Half of the physicians used conventional diagnostic resources, such as medical manuals and internet search, while the other half had ChatGPT available as a diagnostic aid. – Can AI Improve Medical Diagnostic Accuracy?
SECURITY
Chenlun’s Evolving Phishing Tactics Target Trusted Brands
(Alessandro Mascellino – Infosecurity Magazine – 29 October 2024) An ongoing, sophisticated phishing campaign has been observed targeting individuals with text messages impersonating trusted brands like Amazon. DomainTools researchers linked this activity to the threat actor Chenlun, who last year was known for exploiting USPS delivery alerts during the holiday season to lure recipients into providing sensitive information. – Chenlun’s Evolving Phishing Tactics Target Trusted Brands – Infosecurity Magazine
ICO: 55% of UK Adults Have Had Data Lost or Stolen
(Phil Muncaster – Infosecurity Magazine – 29 October 2024) The UK’s privacy watchdog has issued a stern warning to the nation’s organizations to improve their data protection posture, after revealing that over half of adults have had their personal information lost or stolen. Information commissioner, John Edwards, revealed the figures in a blog post on Monday, arguing that companies often forget the toll that data compromise can take on victims. – ICO: 55% of UK Adults Have Had Data Lost or Stolen – Infosecurity Magazine