Webinar: Election Security in the Era of AI
Join the Microsoft Alumni Network and Voices for Innovation at 11 a.m. (PDT) on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, for “Election Security in the Era of AI.” Ashley O’Rourke, a member of Microsoft’s Tech for Social Impact team, will discuss how Microsoft works to ensure that campaigns and political organizations have access to cutting-edge cybersecurity tools and support. In addition, the company is encouraging the responsible use of AI and working to combat the use of deepfakes to influence elections. > Register Now
Data Privacy
Microsoft has been calling for federal digital privacy legislation since 2005. Since that time, members of Congress have introduced several legislative proposals to strengthen data privacy protections. However, despite this work, Congress has not yet enacted a comprehensive data privacy law that would provide a nationwide legal framework for both businesses and consumers.
Last month, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released a discussion draft of the bipartisan, bicameral American Privacy Rights Act (APRA). This is a significant step forward in advancing federal data privacy legislation. The proposal establishes clear data privacy rights and protections, and preempts the existing patchwork of state data privacy laws.
A summary of the bill can be found here and the full discussion draft here. This bill represents the best opportunity to pass data privacy legislation in 2024, though there may not be time in the legislative calendar to move this bill to passage.
Voices for Innovation will closely follow the progress of the APRA. If you would like to stay informed about this and other tech policy issues, please sign up to hear from VFI.
Election Security
A new report from the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) details the current scope of foreign election interference in the U.S.—and the use of AI for malign influence. The full report can be found here and a summary discussion here.
Microsoft and many other tech companies are taking steps to detect and respond to nation-state election interference as part of their participation in the Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 Elections. Voices for Innovation will continue to follow this issue throughout the 2024 election cycle.
Stay Current on Tech Policy News
For a weekly roundup of tech policy news, sign up for Voices for Innovation’s Executive Briefing.