In the coming weeks before the election, Congress could sprint forward on key tech legislation—or momentum could stall. This week, Roll Call offers a timely roundup of where major tech legislation stands, including proposals on data privacy, AI in elections and campaigns, broadband, and kids online safety. Each of these issues is a priority for some members of Congress, but it remains to be seen if enough support coalesces in both the House and Senate to push any of the proposals across the finish line. The clock is ticking.
Thank you for reading. You’ll find more tech policy news below, along with a featured podcast.
This Week in Washington
- StateScoop: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published a checklist for state and local election administrators to ensure that election infrastructure is protected from malicious actors. CISA also recommends officials use multi-factor authentication to prevent phishing and ensure election networks are separate from other business operations.
- Nextgov: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is the most recent beneficiary of the Technology Modernization Fund. The NLRB will receive $23 million to modernize its case management system, improving NLRB’s ability to process labor disputes and protect workers’ rights.
- Axios: In 42 states and D.C., there is bipartisan support among state attorneys general for a federal effort to add a surgeon general’s warning about risks to youth wellbeing on social media platforms. While youth digital wellbeing has backing in Congress, legislation remains stalled.
- StateScoop: The new draft guidance from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) generated discussion among state officials regarding the possible disruption of the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. The guidance retracts its previous preference for fiber optic connectivity and instead is favoring cheaper broadband technology for remote areas.
Article Summary
- Reuters: The utilities and power infrastructure in the US has experienced an almost 70% increase in cyberattacks this year compared to 2023. The infrastructure has become more vulnerable due to the grid expansion to meet rapid demand for power.
- TIME: If used correctly, AI can help achieve healthcare equity for women. Data collection regarding women’s health is an underserved area and data interpretation is not easy for everyone. AI can help fix these areas by beginning to collect more data and transform it into easily understandable visualizations.
- Washington Post: YouTube “terminated” several right-wing political channels, including Tenet Media, after the accounts were linked to allegations from the Justice Department that Russian government employees were paying for right-wing influencer content.
- WHYY: The AI-powered software program known as Dysolve AI is helping students with dyslexia improve their reading and writing skills. Dysolve AI works similarly to other educational online programs students may use, however, instead of having pre-made games or lessons, it learns to interact with each student individually based on their needs.
Featured Podcast
- Radio Lab
What is AI really capable of achieving? Journalist Evan Ratliff aims to find out. For his new podcast Shell Game, Ratliff slowly integrated an AI voice clone of himself into the narration throughout episodes. Tune in and hear about the behind-the-scenes of making this happen and what else this voice clone is capable of doing. (“Shell Game” – September 6, 2024)