In this week's edition, NATO faces disagreements over Ukraine's path to membership, European regulation could jeopardize US national security, President Biden and Senator Schumer tackle AI regulation, and lawmakers propose cybersecurity measures for nuclear weapons systems. Additionally, advances in lithography will shape the future of computing, an attack on Kaspersky calls the lack of information on Western cyberattacks into question, and Facebook’s automated content moderation systems are criticized.
Industrial Policy & International Security
Fearing Russian escalation, some NATO allies favor hazier line on Ukraine | The Wall Street Journal
Ukraine and its allies are facing internal disagreements over how explicitly to outline Ukraine's path to NATO membership. The differences are significant enough to potentially overshadow NATO's annual meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited. Some fear that a specific membership pledge could escalate the war with Russia and limit room for a negotiated settlement. The Ukrainian offensive against Russian troops has proven slower and more challenging than expected, leading to questions about NATO's military support. The debate revolves around the timing and criteria for Ukraine's potential membership. The United States, as the most influential NATO member, will play a decisive role in determining the offer to Ukraine. Talks also involve discussions on security assistance for Ukraine outside of NATO's direct involvement. Ukrainian officials hope for concrete long-term pledges to deter future Russian aggression. NATO is expected to increase funding for strengthening Ukraine's democratic institutions and civilian control of its military. The political relationship between NATO and Ukraine is set to be elevated, but full membership is not yet on the table.
European overreach in tech regulation is becoming a problem for US National Security | Forbes
The European Parliament has endorsed legislation to restrict the use of artificial intelligence (AI), while European Union regulators have proposed breaking up Google to limit its dominance in digital advertising. These actions are aimed at curbing potential but unrealized risks, with concerns about the speculative harm to competitors being a basis for intervention. However, such regulatory impositions are already having an impact, as Google has delayed the release of its Bard chatbot in Europe due to privacy concerns, and OpenAI is considering exiting the European market. European restrictions on technology companies, which are primarily US-based and leading innovators in the information revolution, raise concerns for US national security. The author suggests that Europe should consider the bigger picture, such as the implications of China becoming the dominant player in AI. Increased consideration of unintended consequences for security could be a useful tool to reshape Europe’s regulatory instincts.
US and India to expand spaceflight cooperation | SpaceNews
The United States and India have agreed to enhance their collaboration on spaceflight, with India signing the Artemis Accords and planning for a joint mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The partnership was announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States. India became the 27th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, symbolizing a significant step forward in space cooperation between the two countries. NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will develop a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation by the end of the year. They aim to launch a joint mission to the ISS in 2024, although specific details were not disclosed. This agreement further strengthens existing space collaborations, including the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Earth science mission.
US Regulation
First AI advisory committee report stresses getting regulatory balance right | Nextgov
The National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC) has submitted its first mandated report to President Joe Biden, providing recommendations on maximizing the benefits of AI implementation in the US and managing emerging systems like generative AI. The report emphasizes the need for trustworthy AI systems, research and development initiatives, and international partnerships to align AI governance standards. The NAIAC believes that federal direction will determine whether AI technology has a positive or negative impact and calls for a whole-of-government approach to coordinating the development and deployment of trustworthy AI systems. The report suggests filling vacant AI leadership roles, establishing an Emerging Technology Council, and creating a chief responsible AI officer. The NAIAC also highlights the importance of adapting the US workforce to the changes brought by AI systems. The next steps regarding the recommendations rest with President Biden and the National AI Initiative Office.
Sen. Schumer introduces AI policy framework, calls for ‘comprehensive legislation’ | Fedscoop
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has introduced a comprehensive plan to develop legislation regulating and advancing artificial intelligence (AI) in the US. The plan, called the "Safe Innovation Framework for AI Policy," aims to protect, expand, and harness the potential of AI while supporting innovation. Schumer emphasized the need for a strategy to address the changes brought by AI and discussed the role of federal intervention in encouraging innovation. Additionally, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the National AI Commission Act, proposing the creation of a commission to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI. President Joe Biden has also shown commitment to safeguarding rights and safety in AI, focusing on user privacy, bias, and misinformation. Schumer and his team are determined to create comprehensive legislation to address these important issues surrounding AI.
Innovation
The chip patterning machines that will shape computing’s next act | MIT Technology Review
Semiconductor lithography, the process of manufacturing computer chips, has its roots in the mid-1950s when physicist Jay Lathrop invented a lithography process by turning the lens in his microscope upside down. This invention transformed the world by enabling the production of smaller circuitry and increasing computing power. The Dutch firm ASML is a leader in the field and its lithography tools are critical in manufacturing chips at nanometer scale with billions of transistors. The lithography industry plays a significant role in the future of computing power and is the subject of geopolitical competition. Advances in lithography have allowed for the miniaturization of transistors and the adherence to Moore's Law. However, America’s lithography industry was falling behind foreign competitors as early as the 1990s. Over the years, lithography has evolved to include deep ultraviolet light, immersion lithography, and multi-patterning. The development of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, an incredibly complex process, required international collaboration and is now used to produce key chips in smartphones, PCs, and data centers. ASML is expected to release a new version of EUV technology in several years.
Cyber
Lawmakers propose shoring up nuclear cyber standards ahead of NDAA markup | Nextgov
Lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee have introduced a measure in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act aimed at addressing cybersecurity risks to the nation's nuclear weapons systems. The bipartisan proposal would establish a working group within the Department of Defense to create a comprehensive strategy for identifying and mitigating cybersecurity gaps in National Nuclear Security Administration systems. A report by the Government Accountability Office in September 2022 highlighted the agency's failure to fully implement cybersecurity practices across its systems. The working group's strategy would incorporate recommendations from the GAO report and must be submitted to congressional defense committees by April 1, 2025. The lawmakers aim to include the measure in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. The proposal seeks to ensure the cyber resilience and readiness of the nation's nuclear force.
Why is it so rare to hear about Western cyber attacks? | BBC
A cyber-attack on Russia's largest cyber company, Kaspersky, blamed on US government hackers, raises questions about the narrative of cyber warfare. The attack infected iPhones through a malicious iMessage, granting access to messages, emails, and more. While Kaspersky avoided pointing fingers, the Russian government accused the US of conducting a reconnaissance operation using Apple devices. This incident highlights the rarity of mentions regarding Western hacking teams and cyber-attacks compared to attributions to Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. However, Russia and China are adopting a more aggressive approach in calling out Western hacking, as evidenced by China’s recent allegation that “the United States is the empire of hacking.” The lack of transparency and reporting on Western cyber-attacks may be due to data bias in Western cyber-security companies and a deliberate decision to invest less effort in investigations. Western cyber operations tend to be more precise, causing less collateral damage and therefore generating less public attention.
State & Local Tech Ecosystems
Silicon Valley VCs rush into defence technology start-ups | Financial Times
The US government's potential allocation of lucrative contracts to Silicon Valley companies developing cutting-edge defense systems has sparked a boom in investment in military tech startups. According to data from PitchBook, US venture capitalists have already agreed to over 200 defense and aerospace deals in the first five months of this year, totaling nearly $17 billion. Investment in defense startups surged from under $16 billion in 2019 to $33 billion in 2022, with a record $14.5 billion invested in the first quarter of 2023. Silicon Valley, previously wary of the defense sector, now believes that startups are poised to secure a significant share of the US defense budget, which is projected to reach a record $886 billion for 2024. The war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions with China have further fueled interest in tech-led defense companies, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine serving as a "game changer" for US military interest in commercial technology. However, founders caution that the public procurement process remains slow and challenging.
Democracy Online
Facebook’s content-review black hole | Axios
Facebook's increased reliance on automated content moderation systems without full human review since the pandemic is being criticized by civil rights groups and regulators for exacerbating a toxic environment for marginalized groups. According to a recent GLAAD report, all major social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, received failing marks for not evaluating reports of hateful content. The report attributed the rise in offline hate and harassment to social media companies' failure to enforce existing policies. Australia's eSafety commissioner reported a staggering 600% increase in illegal and harmful content on Facebook and Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has not disclosed the exact number of reports that go unreviewed by human moderators. Despite pandemic-related staffing issues easing and job cuts, Facebook continues to rely on outsourced contractors for content moderation.
