National Security
Ongoing coverage on National Security.
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Federal Court: Pentagon’s Blacklisting of Anthropic Was Unconstitutional Retaliation
A federal judge ruled that the Pentagon's blacklisting of AI lab Anthropic was unconstitutional retaliation, violating the First Amendment. The court found the "supply chain risk" designation illegal and arbitrary, stemming from Anthropic's refusal to enable mass surveillance or build lethal autonomous weapons.
Judge rules that the Pentagon's Anthropic ban was 'illegal and baseless'
A judge has ruled that the Pentagon's ban on the AI company Anthropic was illegal and baseless. The ruling stated that the invocation of national security was not sufficient grounds to punish government critics.
Trump slaps a 100 percent tariff on heavy and 'sensitive' drones
President Donald Trump has implemented tariffs of up to 100 percent on drones deemed "particularly sensitive" for national security. This policy change affects the import costs of specific drone technologies.
Washington’s New Robot Import Ban Reaches Far Beyond Chinese Humanoids
A new US federal ban, effective July 28, prohibits the import of foreign-produced advanced robotic devices, extending beyond Chinese humanoids to include items like robot vacuums. The regulation, driven by national security concerns over cybersecurity flaws, casts a wide net and affects new models from various countries, including allies like Germany, Japan, and South Korea. While intended to spur domestic manufacturing, analysts worry it could slow innovation by cutting off access to lower-cost foreign platforms before comparable Western alternatives are available.
The US is banning foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters
The United States is implementing a national security strategy that includes banning foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters. This move aims to stimulate domestic production of emerging technologies.
Ex-TSMC manager first to be indicted under National Security Act for allegedly attempting to leak core Taiwanese…
Taiwanese prosecutors have indicted a former TSMC manager for allegedly attempting to steal trade secrets and establish a semiconductor company in China. This case is the first prosecution under the National Security Act for an alleged attempt to leak national core technologies. While the attempt to transfer technology was unsuccessful, the former manager copied confidential documents and could face up to seven years in prison.
Morning Legal Briefs
DOJ lawyers are arguing that xAI is vital for national security in a lawsuit filed by the NAACP. The article discusses the legal arguments presented regarding xAI's role and its implications for national security.
Anthropic blocks all customers' access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5
Anthropic has suspended all customer access to its new AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, due to a government order citing national security concerns. The company is complying with the directive to block access to these advanced AI systems.
Anthropic suspends access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models following U.S. government directive
AI company Anthropic has suspended access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for all customers following a U.S. government directive citing national security concerns. The directive, which targets foreign nationals, stems from a perceived method of bypassing the AI's safeguards, though Anthropic disagrees with the severity of the finding. Access to other Anthropic models remains unaffected.
GamesStop wants eBay, Nintendo confirms Switch 2 price hike, and union boss says EA buyout is a national security risk - Patch Notes #51
This week's gaming news roundup covers GameStop's $55.5 billion takeover bid for eBay, Nintendo's confirmation of price hikes for the Nintendo Switch 2, and concerns raised by a union boss regarding the potential Saudi Arabian buyout of Electronic Arts, citing national security risks. The article also touches on internal leadership changes at Xbox, layoffs at 2K, and the rebranding of CCP Games.
CWA Canada president says Saudi buyout of EA should trigger 'virtually every alarm bell'
CWA Canada president Carmel Smyth has urged the Canadian government to scrutinize the proposed $55 billion buyout of Electronic Arts by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund due to national security risks. Concerns include potential data misuse, surveillance, and the transfer of sensitive AI technology to a foreign state. The union also highlighted potential job losses for Canadian EA workers due to the deal's financing structure.
AI Yi-Yi!
CAISI has signed agreements with Google DeepMind, Microsoft, and xAI concerning frontier AI national security testing. Separately, an AI tool designed for dinosaur tracks has inadvertently discovered the first bird footprints.
Google and the Pentagon sign classified deal to give the Department of Defense unfettered access to its AI models
Google has entered into a classified agreement with the US Department of Defense, granting the military access to its AI models for unspecified lawful purposes. Despite assurances regarding responsible use, concerns have been raised by over 560 Google employees who signed an open letter urging the company to reject such deals due to potential misuse in surveillance and weaponry. Google joins other tech companies like OpenAI and xAI in making similar classified AI agreements with the government.
Palantir posted a manifesto that reads like the ramblings of a comic book villain
Palantir CEO Alex Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska published a 1,000-word social media post summarizing their book, "The Technological Republic." The manifesto outlines 22 points on the necessity of hard power, software development for national security, and cultural critiques, drawing significant attention for its assertive and controversial stances.
Morning Safety Dance
An article from The Register suggests that the United Kingdom's reliance on Big Tech companies poses a significant national security risk. The piece explores the implications of this dependence on the country's infrastructure and data.
Anthropic appeal to avoid US Government blacklisting denied by federal court
A federal court has denied Anthropic's appeal to avoid a national security risk designation by the US Department of Defense. The court's decision allows the designation to remain in place while a lawsuit concerning the matter is ongoing.
Hyun Bin Ditunjuk Jadi Agen Kontraintelijen Kehormatan BIN Korsel
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) has appointed actor Hyun Bin as an honorary counter-intelligence agent to raise public awareness about national security. His role will focus on educating the public about counter-intelligence efforts against foreign intelligence operations, especially in light of recent revisions to the criminal code expanding the definition of espionage.
The FCC says foreign routers 'pose an unacceptable risk' and now require special approval to be sold in the US
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has added foreign-produced consumer routers to a 'Covered List,' deeming them an unacceptable national security risk. New foreign routers will require special approval to be sold in the US, though existing devices are unaffected. This measure aims to mitigate risks such as network surveillance and cyberattacks, particularly those linked to state-sponsored actors.
The FCC bans imports of foreign-made consumer wireless routers over national security concerns
The Federal Communications Commission has implemented an import ban on newly manufactured foreign-made consumer wireless routers. This decision is based on national security concerns.
The US bans all new foreign-made network routers
The Federal Communications Commission has banned new foreign-made consumer network routers, deeming them a security risk. While previously purchased routers are unaffected, new models must meet stricter requirements, potentially impacting companies like TP-Link, NetGear, Eero, and Google Nest, which manufacture overseas. The policy aims to reduce US dependence on foreign components for national security and economic reasons.