government

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says that OpenAI is working with the U.S. AI Safety Institute, a federal government body that aims to assess and address risks in AI platforms, on…

OpenAI pledges to give U.S. AI Safety Institute early access to its next model

U.S. airports are rolling out facial recognition to scan travelers’ faces before boarding their flights. Americans, at least, can opt out. 

How to opt out of facial recognition at airports (if you’re American)

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Data breach exposes millions of mSpy spyware customers

A huge batch of mSpy customer service emails dating back to 2014 were stolen in a May data breach.

Data breach exposes millions of mSpy spyware customers

Today, after months of testing, Google is rolling out labels in the Play Store to denote official state and federal government apps in more than 14 countries. This new label…

Google will now show labels in Play Store to denote official government apps

A bipartisan bill designed to protect children from online sexual exploitation is headed to President Biden’s desk. Proposed by Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-SC), the bill aims…

Bill to strengthen national tipline for missing and exploited children heads to Biden’s desk

In addition, it says that over 7 million U.S. businesses rely on TikTok and that 224,000 jobs were supported by small business activity on the platform in 2023.

Hoping to stall a ban, TikTok says it generated $14.7B for US small businesses last year

The government’s reward for information now extends to ALPHV’s affiliates, which claimed responsibility for a massive weekslong healthcare cyberattack.

US offers $10M to help catch Change Healthcare hackers

Tech companies are pledging to fight election-related deepfakes as policymakers amp up pressure. Today at the Munich Security Conference, vendors including Microsoft, Meta, Google, Amazon, Adobe and IBM signed an…

Tech giants sign voluntary pledge to fight election-related deepfakes

Spurred by the growing threat of deepfakes, the FTC is seeking to modify an existing rule that bans the impersonation of businesses or government agencies to cover all consumers. The…

FTC seeks to modify rule to combat deepfakes

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is getting closer to becoming a law, which would make social platforms significantly more responsible for protecting children who use their products. With 62…

Lawmakers revise Kids Online Safety Act to address LGBTQ advocates’ concerns

The TikTok ban on U.S. government devices is proving hard to enforce. A month after the IRS was found to be in non-compliance with the federally mandated ban on the…

Some IRS employees still access TikTok despite ban on government devices

Pornhub’s parent company Aylo Holdings will pay $1.8 million to the U.S. government to resolve a charge of profiting off of sex trafficking. The company, formerly known as MindGeek, will…

Pornhub owner pays US government $1.8M to resolve sex trafficking probe

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have written to the US Acting Secretary of Labor expressing concerns over the disproportionate impact tech layoffs could have on Black workers,

Black representatives in Congress voice concerns over impact of tech layoffs on minority workers

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Lawmakers say Costco’s decision to continue selling banned China surveillance tech is ‘puzzling’

Two U.S. lawmakers have asked retail giant Costco why it continues to sell surveillance equipment made by Lorex, despite warnings of cybersecurity risks and links to human rights abuses. The bipartisan letter dated October 31, sent by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ, 4th) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), said Costco’s continued…

Lawmakers say Costco’s decision to continue selling banned China surveillance tech is ‘puzzling’

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Why ransomware victims can’t stop paying off hackers

In September, MGM Resorts was hit by a devastating ransomware attack, downing operations at some of its most iconic casino hotels in Las Vegas, including the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and the Cosmopolitan. Guests were forced to wait hours to check in after the cyberattack crippled electronic payments, slot machines, ATMs…

Why ransomware victims can’t stop paying off hackers

An international group of law enforcement agencies have disrupted the notorious RagnarLocker ransomware operation. TechCrunch reported Thursday that an international law enforcement operation involving agencies from the U.S., European Union…

Authorities confirm RagnarLocker ransomware taken down during international sting

A security researcher says a bug on an Indian state government website inadvertently revealed documents containing residents’ Aadhaar numbers, identity cards and copies of their fingerprints. The bug was fixed…

Indian state government fixes website bug that revealed Aadhaar numbers and fingerprints

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California passes law mandating VC firms to release investments’ diversity information

This is the United States’ first piece of legislation that aims to increase diversity within the venture capital landscape.

California passes law mandating VC firms to release investments’ diversity information

X this week confirmed it’s lifting its ban on paid political ads — a move it committed to earlier this year, shortly after Elon Musk took over the social network…

X to allow paid political ads, lifting Twitter’s earlier ban

Security researchers at Mandiant say China-backed hackers are likely behind the mass-exploitation of a recently discovered security flaw in Barracuda Networks’ email security gear, which prompted a warning to customers…

Mandiant says China-backed hackers exploited Barracuda zero-day to spy on governments

A few months ago we introduced you to the brand new Security Stage, our debut space dedicated to cybersecurity at TechCrunch Disrupt. Ahead of the big day, we’re excited to…

Decrypt the complete Security Stage agenda at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023

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How the US dismantled a malware network used by Russian spies to steal government secrets

The U.S. government said it has disrupted a long-running Russian cyber espionage campaign that stole sensitive information from the U.S. and NATO governments, an operation that took the feds almost 20 years. The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that an FBI operation successfully dismantled the “Snake” malware network used by…

How the US dismantled a malware network used by Russian spies to steal government secrets

Australia banned TikTok on official devices today, joining western countries including the U.S. and the UK to ban the app.

After New Zealand, Australia bans TikTok on official devices

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that it’s investigating malicious cyber activity on its own network. CNN reported on Friday that hackers compromised an FBI computer system at…

FBI confirms it’s investigating a cyber incident on its own network

Taiwanese authorities have fined car rental and ridesharing giant iRent after TechCrunch revealed the company was spilling customers’ data and identity documents onto the open web for months. According to…

Taiwan fines car renting giant iRent for customer data spill

In a first-of-its-kind coordinated action, authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom have sanctioned seven individuals allegedly behind the infamous Russia-based cybercrime gang Trickbot. The action, which marks the…

US, UK sanction 7 alleged members of infamous Russian Trickbot hacking gang

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Meet the prolific Russian espionage crew hacking spymasters and lawmakers

A notorious hacking group with alleged ties to Russian intelligence services has claimed its latest victim: British lawmaker Stewart McDonald. McDonald, a member of Parliament for his constituency in Glasgow South, told BBC News that he fears he had been the victim of a “disinformation” campaign after his personal email…

Meet the prolific Russian espionage crew hacking spymasters and lawmakers

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Ransomware is a global problem that needs a global solution

This time last year, we were optimistic. It seemed like the tide was turning on ransomware after the U.S. government scored a handful of wins against the cybercriminals carrying out these increasingly damaging attacks: the Justice Department successfully seized $2.3 million in bitcoin that Colonial Pipeline paid to the DarkSide…

Ransomware is a global problem that needs a global solution

Beam, a startup that helps citizens access government financial aid, has raised $6.4 million in Series A funding. The company, previously known as Edquity, helps deliver funds across a wide…

Beam raises $6.4M to help citizens access safety net funds

Ring today announced that local government agencies will be able to have an official presence on the company’s Neighbors app. Beginning with the City of North Port and Pinellas County…

Ring launches pilot program to let local agencies share updates and ‘safety information’