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Last week the US Department of Defense (DoD) announced it had submitted their 2023 Cyber Strategy to Congress, and while the document is technically classified, a brief fast sheet offers an overview of the plan’s unclassified elements. The new strategy builds upon the foundation of the strategy created in 2018 while also incorporating new developments and lessons learned over the past five years. “Since 2018, the Department has conducted a number of significant cyberspace operations through its policy of defending forward, actively disrupting malicious cyber activity before it can affect the U.S. Homeland. This strategy is further informed by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which has demonstrated how cyber capabilities may be used in large-scale conventional conflict,” the fact sheet reads.
As the Record notes, outgoing Cyber Command and National Security Agency chief Gen. Paul Nakasone stated earlier this month that the new strategy would continue with the Defend Forward approach that was first laid out in 2018. “There was a huge inflection point in 2018 with the Defend Forward. I don't see, necessarily, a huge change in the strategy coming out,” Nakasone stated. As NextGov adds, the strategy calls out North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China as the country’s greatest foreign cyber adversaries, with China representing “the department’s pacing challenge in the cyber domain.” The fact sheet outlines the strategy’s four overarching goals, which include defending the nation against malicious cyber actors, bolstering the nation’s preparedness for war time, strengthening cyber partnerships with allies, and building long-lasting advantages in cyberspace. An unclassified summary of the strategy is expected in the coming months.
Big Tech and lawmakers have been struggling to find the best way to regulate artificial intelligence, and in a recent blog post, the head of Microsoft laid out the company’s proposed strategy for governing AI without stifling innovation. As Computerworld notes, Microsoft President Brad Smith’s five-step approach includes the creation of a new US agency focused on AI legislation. In a recent address in Washington, Smith stated, “We would benefit from a new agency. That is how we will ensure that humanity remains in control of technology,” echoing the sentiments recently expressed by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, maker of AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT. Smith’s blog post also called for the implementation of government-led AI safety frameworks and a mechanism to make it easier to determine if content is AI-generated. He also recommended that safety brakes be required for AI systems that control critical infrastructure. “These fail-safe systems would be part of a comprehensive approach to system safety that would keep effective human oversight, resilience, and robustness top of mind,” the post reads.
As CBS News reports, Smith also predicts the US government will likely follow in the footsteps of China and the EU by adopting its own AI regulation strategy in the next year. "I was in Japan just three weeks ago, and they have a national A.I. strategy. The government has adopted it," Smith said during an interview on the “Face the Nation” news program. "The world is moving forward. Let's make sure that the United States at least keeps pace with the rest of the world." Cybersecurity expert and former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Chris Krebs agreed that it’s time the US creates a strategy for reigning in the tech market, and that AI could be a necessary catalyst for change. "AI is probably that kind of forcing function that will push us there," Krebs stated.
Portugal has blocked Chinese tech giant Huawei from 5G network (Interesting Engineering) Portugal joins the ranks of Western nations as it effectively blocks Chinese tech giant Huawei from its 5G network.
DOD Transmits 2023 Cyber Strategy (U.S. Department of Defense) The Defense Department transmitted the classified 2023 DoD Cyber Strategy to Congress.
Fact Sheet: 2023 DoD Cyber Strategy (U.S. Department of Defense) This week, the Department of Defense (DoD) transmitted to Congress the classified 2023 DoD Cyber Strategy. The 2023 DoD Cyber Strategy establishes how the Department will operate in and through cyberspace to protect the American people and advance the defense priorities of the United States.
'Real-world experience' informs new Pentagon cyber strategy (Record) The document, sent to Congress this week, reflects lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine and builds on the “Defend Forward” policy established in the previous 2018 version, the Defense Department said.
Microsoft seeks US agency for AI governance, lays out strategy (Computerworld) In a blog post, Microsoft laid out a five-step blueprint for public governance of AI that includes implementing government-led AI safety frameworks at the inception level and identifying content generated by AI.
Brad Smith, Microsoft president, says he believes A.I. regulation will happen in the coming year (CBS News) "The world is moving forward. Let's make sure that the United States at least keeps pace with the rest of the world," Smith told "Face the Nation."
Army reorganizing program offices for network and cyber ops, UAVs may be next: Officials (Breaking Defense) The way the historic PEO organizations were initially set up was “for a reason,” but now the Army is modernizing, and the shift is needed to support its unified network, Young Bang said.
Now is the Time to Split NSA and CYBERCOM (The Cipher Brief) Amid reports of new Chinese hackers and the nomination of a new CYBERCOM chief, Javed Ali argues it is now time to split NSA and CYBERCOM.
Even If Social Media Is Hurting Kids, Regulating It Won’t Be Easy (Washington Post) Warning: The surgeon general has determined that social media is harmful to your mental health, at least if you’re a teen.
State lawmakers find bipartisan support for stronger privacy protections (Record) State efforts to pass privacy legislation are heating up in the absence of federal progress on the issue.
