Science and Technology Legislation

Social Media

commentary
Protecting Free Speech Compels Some Form of Social Media Regulation
Given the profound challenges posed by social media, corrective measures need to go beyond “deplatforming” bad apples. But how can the United States make such a structural change without compromising the democratic tradition of free speech?
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Oct 20, 2023
The RAND Blog
Luke J. Matthews, Heather J. Williams @HeatherJWill, et al.

Artificial Intelligence

commentary
A Model for Regulating AI
While AI will bring many benefits, it is also potentially dangerous. We would do well to establish a model of oversight that focuses on the three parts of the AI supply chain: hardware, the training of each model, and rigorous review before each model is released.
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Aug 16, 2023
Washington Post
Jason Matheny @JasonGMatheny
Supply Chain Management

commentary
The CHIPS Act Alone Won't Secure U.S. Semiconductor Supply Chains
The implementation of the CHIPS Act shows promise for revitalizing the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing industry via investments in research and development, workforce development, and incentive programs. But executing on these ambitions could take some time and may not resolve all semiconductor supply chain risks.
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Oct 12, 2022
The Hill
Jared Mondschein @JSMondschein
Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

commentary
Difficult Choices in the Race to Innovate and Compete
Senate passage of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act recognizes the fierce competition across the globe for leadership in key technology areas. The potential for such a momentous national investment in resources and attention brings with it options and choices for policymakers to consider.
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Jun 21, 2021
The Hill
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

commentary
Biden's Proposed New Health Agency Would Emphasize Innovation. Here's How It Might Work
President Biden has proposed a new health agency modeled on DARPA to work on groundbreaking research. This agency could pursue the kind of high-risk research that can lead to high-reward results and help get more medical treatments to market sooner.
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May 24, 2021
Los Angeles Times
Luke Muggy, Catherine C. Cohen, et al.
Science and Technology Legislation

commentary
Scientific Research Integrity Demands Transparency—the Law Should Require It Too
China pays U.S. scientists for their innovations in exchange for money and access to research laboratories and speaking and publication opportunities. They require the researchers to keep these agreements secret from their employers or the U.S. government. Perhaps it is time to codify scientific transparency into law.
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Apr 12, 2021
Cortney Weinbaum @cortney_dc
Terrorism Threat Assessment

commentary
Approaching a 'New Normal': What the Drone Attack in Venezuela Portends
The attempt to assassinate Venezuelan President Maduro showed that drones are easy to use and difficult to defend against. Commercial off-the-shelf technology is easy to acquire. It is imperative that counterterrorism specialists begin planning a robust response to the threat.
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Aug 13, 2018
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Colin P. Clarke
Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

commentary
After the March for Science: What Now?
Politicized rhetoric may imply otherwise, but scientific expertise and civic participation are not at odds with each other. As the scientific community decides how to respond to shifting political attitudes about science, it's time to focus on a long-term strategy for science policy in the United States.
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Apr 26, 2017
United Press International
Elizabeth L. Petrun Sayers, Jaime Madrigano @JMadrigano
Autonomous Vehicles

commentary
How California Is Trying to Keep Autonomous Vehicle Development on Track
California's Department of Motor Vehicles recently proposed new regulations governing the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles. Will this help retain the state's status as a testing and deployment ground for the technology, and will it make California safer?
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Apr 10, 2017
TechCrunch
Nidhi Kalra
Cybersecurity

commentary
The False Choice at the Core of the Apple-FBI Standoff
The Apple-FBI case should spark a broader debate among technology companies concerning their role in maintaining the privacy and security balance. A starting point should be to recognize that the majority of cyberattacks are related to phishing—and a user's action—not to whether a device can be secured.
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Mar 21, 2016
The National Interest
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

commentary
How the 'Wonks' of Public Policy and the 'Geeks' of Tech Can Get Together
Conventional wisdom says that technology innovates and disrupts, while public policy regulates and controls. What might a better integration of the commercial tech sector with the policy community look like?
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Mar 18, 2016
TechCrunch
Lillian Ablon, Andrea M. Abler
Cybersecurity

commentary
The Cost of Security in the iPhone Era
As the security on the iPhone better protects users from criminals, it also excels at keeping law enforcement from accessing the data. The dispute between the FBI and Apple over unlocking the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino attackers continues but the real debate is about whether society wants legislation that weakens iPhone security for law enforcement.
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Feb 26, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
Bradley Wilson
The Internet

commentary
The Clash of Internet Civilizations: Why Neither Side Should Prevail
The debate over net neutrality pits two opposing philosophies against each other — one pushing for the continued evolution of the Internet as an open information superhighway, the other asserting that the Internet's evolution needs to take more account of the many ways it is and will be used.
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Apr 10, 2015
Government Technology
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein

Quoted

BBC World Service's efforts [to begin broadcasting a Gaza emergency service]…should motivate the U.S. Agency for Global Media…to initiate its own radio transmissions to Gaza. Doing so would not only provide Gaza's 2 million residents with valuable news and information but potentially help to begin rebuilding regional trust in the United States' voice in finding a durable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Benjamin J. Sacks

Policy Researcher

Source: Inside Sources

Deterring North Korean coercion involves some combination of threatening to impose costs on the North and to deny North Korea the benefits it seeks with employment of nuclear weapons.

Bruce W. Bennett

Adjunct International/Defense Researcher

Source: Korea On Point

How Could the United States Gain Greater Access to Asia During a Conflict?

A Toolkit for Community-Police Dialogue

BBC's Gaza Service Demonstrates Power of Radio During Conflict

From the Ashes of Hamas-Israel War, Can Economics Drive Peace?

The Safety and Security of the U.S. Maritime Environment

The Policy Currents Podcast

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Science and Technology Legislation

Protecting Free Speech Compels Some Form of Social Media Regulation

A Model for Regulating AI

The CHIPS Act Alone Won't Secure U.S. Semiconductor Supply Chains

Difficult Choices in the Race to Innovate and Compete

Biden's Proposed New Health Agency Would Emphasize Innovation. Here's How It Might Work

Scientific Research Integrity Demands Transparency—the Law Should Require It Too

Approaching a 'New Normal': What the Drone Attack in Venezuela Portends

After the March for Science: What Now?

How California Is Trying to Keep Autonomous Vehicle Development on Track

The False Choice at the Core of the Apple-FBI Standoff

How the 'Wonks' of Public Policy and the 'Geeks' of Tech Can Get Together

The Cost of Security in the iPhone Era

The Clash of Internet Civilizations: Why Neither Side Should Prevail

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