Category «Government Resources»

Book Review – Watchdogs: Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government

The 2024 election results have prompted discussion about the effectiveness of “guardrails” that might restrain Presidential activities that could harm the nation. Jerry Lawson’s review notes that Glenn Fine’s new book, Watchdogs: Inspectors General and the Battle of Honest and Accountable Government is a timely and welcome contribution to the national debate. Fine has had considerable experience with Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs), one of the key institutions that serve as limits to corrupt or overreaching Executive Branch actions.

Subjects: Book Reviews, Government Resources, Legal Research, United States Law

How Do I Protect My Privacy If I’m Seeking an Abortion?

The reelection of former president Donald Trump is almost certain to disrupt the future of reproductive rights in the U.S. The president-elect has pledged to leave abortion up to states but could appoint anti-abortion leaders to federal positions or begin enforcing anachronistic laws that limit access. Meanwhile, measures to protect or expand abortion access on Election Day failed in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota, and nearly 20 other states have banned or severely restricted abortion since the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade. This important, timely and comprehensive guide to keeping your plans private through every step of an abortion in any state, including Florida and South Dakota is by Tomas Apodaca.

Subjects: Government Resources, Healthcare, Legal Research, Privacy, United States Law

The Heritage Foundation’s Reckless Misuse of FOIA to Target Individuals

In this Opinion, researched and authored by Michael Ravnitzky, he says that the Heritage Foundation’s current public records campaign is an abuse of the FOIA process. In recent years, the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project and its publishing spinoff, The Daily Signal, have filed an unprecedented and overwhelming number of FOIA requests – 65,000 according to Reuters and more than 50,000 according to ProPublica. According to recent articles, the goal of the requests is to scrutinize government employees’ communications, to identify (for example, individuals using keywords or phrases such as “climate change”, “reduction in force” or DEI) and potentially remove civil servants perceived as obstructive to Trump’s agenda, in preparation for a potential Trump administration.

Subjects: Digital Archives, E-Discovery, Freedom of Information, Government Resources, Legal Research, United States Law

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, August 31, 2024

Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex and wide ranging ways technology is used to compromise and diminish our privacy and online security, often without our situational awareness. Six highlights from this week: Remote Work: A Ticking Time Bomb Waiting to be Exploited; Microsoft to overhaul Windows security after outage hits hospitals; How safe is Telegram?; Wyze’s new AI feature lets users search security cam footage; Safeguarding Subsea Cables Protecting Cyber Infrastructure amid Great Power Competition; and When A.I.’s Output Is a Threat to A.I. Itself.

Subjects: AI, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Government Resources, Healthcare, Privacy

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, August 17, 2024

Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the increasingly complex and wide ranging ways technology is used to compromise and diminish our privacy and online security, often without our situational awareness. Six highlights from this week: How to stop the government from deleting itself; Six ransomware gangs behind over 50% of 2024 attacks; Thousands of Corporate Secrets Were Left Exposed. This Guy Found Them All; The California Journalism Preservation Act takes a step forward; Microsoft Tweaks Fine Print To Warn Everyone Not To Take Its AI Seriously; Study finds 94% of business spreadsheets have critical errors.

Subjects: AI, Business Research, Competitive Intelligence, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Economy, Financial System, Freedom of Information, Government Resources, Legal Research, Privacy, Search Engines

AI in Banking and Finance, August 15, 2015

This semi-monthly column by Sabrina I. Pacifici highlights news, government documents, NGO/IGO papers, industry white papers, academic papers and speeches on the subject of AI’s fast paced impact on the banking and finance sectors. The chronological links provided are to the primary sources, and as available, indicate links to alternate free versions. Six highlights from this post: How Conversational and Generative AI is shaking up the banking industry; IMF AI Preparedness Index; Deep Learning for Economists; Crisis Amplifier? How to Prevent AI from Worsening the Next Economic Downturn; Generative artificial intelligence and cyber security in central banking; and Financial agencies’ AI tests could get reprieve from enforcement.

Subjects: AI in Banking and Finance, Business Research, Computer Security, Congress, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Financial System, Government Resources, Legal Research, Legislative

Unlocking History: How a Small Group of Researchers Dominates the Declassification Appeals Process

Attorney and FOIA expert Michael Ravnitzky shines a spotlight on people, process and procedural challenges with his illuminating article. A small core group of researchers and historians have filed most of the declassification appeals being reviewed by the responsible appellate body. While these individuals are working diligently to facilitate public access to long-classified records that shed light on our nation’s history, their efforts also highlight weaknesses in the declassification framework.

Subjects: E-Government, Freedom of Information, Government Resources, Legal Research

Protecting the Vulnerable: Navigating Online Risks for Minors

Veronica Garrick’s paper is an insightful, factual and timely discussion of how in today’s digital age, minors are exposed to technology at a young age, presenting both great opportunities and risks. Online risks include data privacy breaches, access to inappropriate, cyberbullying, and online child predators. These challenges can have negative long-lasting effects, including privacy, mental, emotional, and physical safety. Addressing these risks associated with increased technology among minors requires a collaborative effort across many sectors. If communities, government, law enforcement, online platforms, and tech companies work together, they can minimize these risks. Once they start prioritizing online safety and implementing new safeguards, children can explore the digital world securely and safely.

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, Cyberlaw, Cybersecurity, Federal Legislative Research, Government Resources, Legal Research, Privacy, United States Law

AI in Finance and Banking June 30, 2024

Subjects: AI in Banking and Finance, Cybersecurity, Economy, Education, Government Resources

AI in Finance and Banking – May 31, 2024

This semi-monthly column by Sabrina I. Pacifici highlights news, government documents, NGO/IGO papers, industry white papers, academic papers and speeches on the subject of AI’s fast paced impact on the banking and finance sectors. The chronological links provided are to the primary sources, and as available, indicate links to alternate free versions. Seven highlights from this post: Banks could lose $40 billion from fraud with the help of AI, Deloitte predicts; Mastercard’s AI system is helping banks keep fraudsters in check — and it could save millions of dollars; Measuring Development 2024: AI, the Next Generation; Gita Gopinath: Crisis Amplifier? How to Prevent AI from Worsening the Next Economic Downturn; JPMorgan is making a big bet on AI. Here’s how its private bankers are using it; Will banking’s increasing turn toward AI level the playing field or widen the gap between big and small banks?; and Artificial intelligence (AI) act: EU Council gives final green light to the first worldwide rules on AI.

Subjects: AI in Banking and Finance, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Economy, Financial System, Government Resources, Legal Research