Space Force opens secretive space tracking to commercial firms
The U.S. Space Force is integrating commercial data and artificial intelligence into its classified satellite tracking systems. The initiative, part of what the military calls battle management, command and control, aims to improve space domain awareness by distinguishing normal orbital maneuvers from potential hostile intent. Commercial data feeds combined with AI prediction models compress decision timelines ten- to one hundred-fold, allowing operators to assess threats and respond before an attack materializes.
SpaceNews • Mar 1
SURVEILLANCE AI INFRASTRUCTURE
Hackers hit Iranian apps, websites after US-Israeli strikes
Cyber-enabled operations accompanied joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran early Saturday. State-linked Iranian hacking groups conducted data-wiping attacks on Israeli targets, while unidentified actors defaced the BadeSaba religious calendar app—downloaded by over 5 million users—with messages urging Iranian armed forces to disarm. CrowdStrike observed Iranian-aligned threat actors conducting reconnaissance and DDoS attacks alongside physical military operations.
Reuters • Mar 1
SURVEILLANCE CYBERCRIME CYBERWAR
Strikes on Iran will test US cyber strategy abroad, and defenses at home
The federal government's cyber defense agency faces heightened threat levels while operating with significant staffing shortages, cybersecurity experts warn. Iranian-linked groups have historically targeted U.S. financial institutions, infrastructure providers, and industrial control systems through DDoS campaigns, ransomware, and hack-and-leak operations. Former officials anticipate retaliatory operations targeting exposed operational technology and internet-facing PLC hardware.
Defense One • Mar 1
REGULATION CYBERWAR INFRASTRUCTURE
‘Attempted corporate murder’: Trump’s threats against Anthropic chill AI industry
President Trump ordered a government-wide boycott of Anthropic's Claude AI and threatened prosecution against the company after CEO Dario Amodei refused to permit military use of the technology for mass surveillance or autonomous armed drones. Defense Secretary Hegseth had suggested invoking the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to force compliance, which legal experts warned would constitute effective partial nationalization of the AI industry.
POLITICO • Mar 1
CORPORATE NEOCORP REGULATION
Datacentre developers face calls to disclose effect on UK's net emissions
Campaign groups are demanding UK data center developers disclose environmental impacts and fund renewable energy construction proportional to their projects. The government maintains data centers will help meet environmental challenges while acknowledging to MPs that future demand from the sector "remains inherently uncertain." The initiative comes as the UK's target for a virtually carbon-free power grid by 2030 faces mounting pressure from electricity cost increases.
The Guardian • Mar 1
CORPORATE REGULATION AI
Stablecoin yield rewards (likely won't be) banned under OCC proposal: State of Crypto
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency published proposed rulemaking under the GENIUS Act to govern U.S. stablecoin issuance, with provisions addressing custody controls and capital requirements. The yield-related sections contain ambiguous language that multiple observers tracking the process describe as controversial, raising unresolved questions about how regulators will treat yield-generating stablecoin products.
CoinDesk • Mar 1
CORPORATE CRYPTO FINANCE
Online Platforms Are Not Liable for What Users Post. Should That Include Gen AI?
Senator Ron Wyden, co-author of Section 230, stated that generative AI tools do not automatically qualify for the law's liability protections. Speaking at a conference hosted by the R Street Institute, Wyden argued that AI-generated content differs from passive hosting of user speech, suggesting regulations should target "harmful use" rather than specific development methods. Panelists highlighted the financial risks AI companies face if courts rule that algorithmic output constitutes platform-created content rather than third-party speech.
PCMag • Mar 1
CORPORATE REGULATION SOCIAL
Meta won’t let morality get in the way of a product launch
Meta has introduced "Name Tag," a facial recognition feature for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that identifies people in real-time using cameras and AI. The launch comes as ICE expands surveillance operations and the administration weaponizes deportation infrastructure, with the company maintaining close ties to federal authorities. Unlike previous facial recognition controversies that sparked public backlash, this deployment arrives amid normalized surveillance conditions where biometric identification is becoming ambient infrastructure embedded in consumer devices.
The Verge • Mar 1
NEOCORP SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY
OpenAI's Sam Altman announces Pentagon deal with 'technical safeguards'
OpenAI has reached an agreement with the US Department of War to deploy its AI models within the Pentagon's classified network. CEO Sam Altman stated the deal includes prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and maintains human responsibility for autonomous weapon systems. The agreement follows the collapse of negotiations between the Pentagon and rival AI company Anthropic, which refused to remove safeguards against surveillance and autonomous weapons use.
TechCrunch • Mar 1
CORPORATE NEOCORP REGULATION
US confirms first combat use of LUCAS one-way attack drone in Iran strikes
U.S. Central Command confirmed the first combat deployment of the Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drone during Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, 2026. The autonomous kamikaze drones, reverse-engineered from Iranian Shahed-136 designs, targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command facilities, air defense systems, and military infrastructure. The deployment follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's July directive to accelerate acquisition of affordable autonomous systems and establish drone squadrons capable of saturating adversaries with inexpensive, expendable platforms.
Defense News • Mar 1
GEOPOLITICS AUTOMATION CYBERWAR
US court blocks landmark law limiting social media use for children
A federal judge has blocked Virginia's law restricting minors' social media access, ruling the state lacks authority to limit 'minors' access to constitutionally protected speech.' Tech lobbying group NetChoice, representing Meta, Google, X and others, successfully argued the law violated the First Amendment. The Virginia ruling follows similar injunctions in Louisiana and Ohio, while California's narrower law targeting 'addictive feeds' was upheld in January.
Financial Times • Mar 1
CORPORATE PRIVACY REGULATION
China Asked ChatGPT for Help Crafting Online Harassment Campaigns
OpenAI's threat intelligence report reveals Chinese government operatives used ChatGPT to refine 'cyber special operations' targeting political dissidents abroad. The operation, linked to the 'Spamouflage' network, generated fake evidence for takedown requests and created impersonation accounts targeting US-based critics.
PCMag • Mar 1
SURVEILLANCE CYBERWAR SOCIAL
Dirty water, death and decline: the inside story of a privatisation scandal
A Guardian investigation reveals UK water privatization has loaded companies with debt while infrastructure crumbles. Secret 2002 government reports predicted this outcome. UN special rapporteur Pedro Arrojo-Agudo criticizes the system, while Thames Water—serving 16 million customers—struggles with £20bn debts and private equity owners demand 15-year exemptions from environmental rules.
The Guardian • Mar 1
CORPORATE REGULATION INFRASTRUCTURE
AI just leveled up and there are no guardrails anymore
New York State Assemblyman Alex Bores authored the first major AI safety law in the US and is now running for Congress, becoming a target for deregulation advocates. The article examines how AI development is accelerating faster than governance frameworks can adapt, with the Anthropic-Pentagon conflict highlighting the tension between safety constraints and government pressure.
CNBC • Mar 1
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE REGULATION
Bitcoin is stuck in a rut but JPMorgan says new legislation could be the ultimate spark
The Clarity Act, proposed U.S. legislation to establish federal cryptocurrency oversight, has stalled in the Senate after Coinbase withdrew support over concerns the text would restrict innovation and stablecoin rewards. JPMorgan analysis suggests comprehensive regulatory clarity would unlock sidelined institutional capital from asset managers and pension funds currently deterred by legal uncertainty, potentially allowing new projects to raise up to $75 million annually without full SEC registration.
CoinDesk • Mar 1
CORPORATE CRYPTO FINANCE
Major Data Brokers Tried to Hide Their Opt-Out Pages From Search Engines
Sen. Maggie Hassan's investigation found data brokers Comscore, IQVIA Digital, Telesign, and 6sense Insights used "no index" code to hide opt-out pages from search engines, preventing consumers from exercising privacy rights. The companies changed their practices after being contacted, except Findem, which failed to respond and continues blocking its opt-out form. The report estimates identity theft from four major data broker breaches cost consumers $20.9 billion.
PCMag • Feb 28
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE PRIVACY
The Case for Why Better Breach Transparency Matters
RSA Conference session led by security consultants Adam Shostack and Adrian Sanabria highlights systemic lack of feedback mechanisms in cybersecurity incident response, arguing that mandated detailed breach disclosure is essential to reduce cyber-risk. Current US requirements vary state-by-state with publicly traded companies only obligated to report material-impact incidents, while The British Library's 2023 ransomware after-action report cited as rare example of comprehensive public accountability.
Dark Reading • Feb 28
PRIVACY REGULATION CYBERCRIME
Opinion: Red lines and Red flags
The Pentagon is demanding unrestricted military use of Anthropic's Claude AI, threatening contract termination and supply-chain penalties if the company maintains current usage restrictions. More than 200 engineers at major AI firms signed petitions opposing unrestricted military use amid fears that national security demands could override ethical AI development norms. The dispute centers on whether AI providers can simultaneously safeguard human values while meeting military operational requirements.
The Next Web • Feb 28
CORPORATE REGULATION CYBERWAR
Ransomware payments cratered in 2025
Chainalysis research shows ransomware payments dropped to record lows in 2025 despite attacks surging 50% year-over-year, with over 8,000 organizations publicly named on leak sites according to Emsisoft data. Developed economies remain primary targets with the US leading followed by Canada, Germany, and UK, while high-profile victims included Jaguar Land Rover's costliest UK cyber incident and Marks & Spencer's Scattered Spider-linked breach wiping hundreds of millions in market value.
The Register • Feb 28
CORPORATE REGULATION CYBERCRIME
Trump directs US agencies to toss Anthropic's AI as Pentagon calls startup a supply risk
The Trump administration ordered federal agencies to immediately cease using Anthropic technology after the AI company refused Pentagon demands to remove guardrails on its Claude model for autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk to national security—a label typically reserved for firms from adversarial nations like China—blocking any military contractor from working with the company. The $200 million defense contract represented a small portion of Anthropic's $14 billion revenue, but the blacklisting threatens its planned public offering and broader business relationships. Anthropic stated it would challenge the designation in court.
Reuters • Feb 28
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE REGULATION
CISA replaces acting director after a bumbling year on the job
Madhu Gottumukkala is being replaced as acting director of CISA after a year marked by staff cuts, layoffs, reassignments, and alleged security lapses. The shakeup at the nation's primary cybersecurity agency comes amid rising congressional scrutiny and concerns about the organization's capacity to defend critical infrastructure. Nick Andersen will take over as acting director while Gottumukkala moves to a strategic implementation role at DHS.
TechCrunch • Feb 28
REGULATION CYBERWAR TECH
These former government tech leaders are prepping day-one plans for a future administration
A coalition of former government technology leaders including US Digital Service veterans and former VA CTO Marina Nitze have formed "Tech Viaduct" to prepare comprehensive day-one plans for the next presidential administration. The group aims to reform federal procurement, civil service, and oversight processes to enable effective technology delivery in government. The initiative reflects recognition that institutional capacity for technology governance has eroded and requires structural intervention regardless of political outcome.
Government Executive • Feb 28
CORPORATE REGULATION TECH
Tech bills of the week: Updated AI innovation; expanding cybersecurity for SNAP; and more
New federal legislation aims to establish voluntary AI testing standards through NIST and mandate chip-enabled security for SNAP benefit cards to prevent fraud. The AI innovation bill would codify the Center for Artificial Intelligence Standards and Innovation within NIST to develop unified AI standards through public-private partnerships. Separate bipartisan legislation addresses cybersecurity gaps in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring chip technology for EBT cards, which currently lack the protections standard for credit cards.
Nextgov/FCW • Feb 28
SURVEILLANCE REGULATION TECH
FCC approves the merger of cable giants Cox and Charter
The Federal Communications Commission has approved Charter Communications' $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Enterprises' residential cable, commercial fiber, and managed IT businesses. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr claimed the merger will expand rural connectivity and keep jobs in the U.S. The deal creates one of the largest cable and Wi-Fi providers in the country, consolidating significant telecommunications infrastructure under a single entity. The approval follows a pattern of merger-friendly decisions under the current FCC leadership.
Engadget • Feb 28
CORPORATE NEOCORP ANTITRUST
Conduent Data Breach Could Affect 25M People. Learn How to Protect Your Online Accounts
A ransomware attack on government contractor Conduent has exposed personal data of 25 million Americans across multiple state healthcare programs, including names, Social Security numbers, and medical information. The SafePay ransomware gang spent three months in Conduent's systems before discovery, exfiltrating approximately 8 terabytes of data. Many affected individuals were unaware their data flowed through Conduent's backend systems, highlighting systemic supply-chain vulnerabilities in government technology procurement.
CNET • Feb 27
CORPORATE SURVEILLANCE REGULATION
Acting head of the nation's cyber agency reassigned amid rising congressional scrutiny
Madhu Gottumukkala, the acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has been reassigned to a new DHS role as director of strategic implementation. The move comes amid expected congressional questioning about his leadership decisions and connections to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, now DHS Secretary. CISA faces growing oversight as Republican lawmakers scrutinize its disinformation research partnerships and seek to refocus the agency toward core infrastructure protection mandates.
POLITICO • Feb 27
SURVEILLANCE REGULATION CYBERWAR