The hottest Technology Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Bipartisan Coalition Finally Tells Europe, and the FBI, to Shove It

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 11592 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation National Security Bipartisanship Privacy Technology Policy
  1. A bipartisan group in the U.S. is pushing back against foreign demands for encrypted user data. This marks a significant change in the way American leaders view privacy and security.
  2. The UK's Investigatory Powers Act allows its authorities to access encrypted data, making it easier for them to monitor citizens. This has raised concerns about privacy and government overreach.
  3. For years, there wasn't much opposition to government requests for encryption access. Now, key politicians are rekindling the debate, which could lead to stronger protections for user privacy.

Innovation Emergency with Trump 1.0's Patent Director

ChinaTalk • 237 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intellectual Property Legislation Innovation Technology Policy Trade Relations
  1. China is now granting way more patents than the United States, which may indicate they're leading in innovation. This shift in patent dominance could be a warning sign for the US economy.
  2. There's a tension in patent law between protecting inventors and allowing the public access to innovations. Strong patent rights can encourage investment in risky new technologies, but if they're too strong, they can limit public access.
  3. US companies sometimes prefer to enforce patents in China because their courts can provide quicker and more effective rulings. This shows a potential weakness in the American patent system that could need serious reforms.

CIA-adjacent VC community convenes in Boston during ice storm

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 691 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence Venture Capital Cybersecurity Defense Technology Policy
  1. A group of former CIA members and venture capitalists met in Boston to discuss new tech ideas for military and safety purposes. They talked about big topics like cybersecurity and defense technology.
  2. One interesting pitch was about using micro nuclear reactors to power U.S. military bases. They also discussed how these reactors could be involved in cryptocurrency mining.
  3. The importance of developing U.S. technology to stay competitive against countries like China was a hot topic. Everyone agreed that the U.S. must innovate to keep up.

RedNote, Uber Eats in Kinmen, Jimmy Carter's Taiwan Legacy, AI EO and More

ChinaTalk • 385 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Relations Public Policy Government Technology Policy History
  1. RedNote, a popular Chinese social media app, has become a new favorite for TikTok users in search of a platform that connects them with genuine interactions. People are enjoying sharing jokes and cultural experiences across borders.
  2. Jimmy Carter's approach to U.S.-China relations helped protect Taiwan's interests, allowing the U.S. to provide arms to Taiwan even after recognizing China. His actions laid the groundwork for Taiwan's future as a democratic society.
  3. Uber Eats is expanding its reach in Kinmen, Taiwan, but it faces unique challenges like local mischievous monkeys that like to swipe food from delivery drivers. This highlights the quirky side of food delivery in the region.

MORE Export Controls: Foundry, DRAM, and Reflections on Biden

ChinaTalk • 311 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Export Controls National Security Biden administration Technology Policy China relations
  1. New export controls from the U.S. aim to stop Chinese companies, like Huawei, from accessing advanced chips made in Taiwan. This is a big move to protect U.S. technology.
  2. A change in the definition of DRAM now makes it harder for Chinese companies to find loopholes to acquire necessary chip-making equipment. This is a stricter measure to keep high-tech manufacturing under control.
  3. There's a new checklist system for companies trying to buy advanced chips. Only approved companies can buy them, which could slow things down for startups looking to get into the market.
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Is The Chip War Already Lost?

Doomberg • 5608 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Trade Relations Geopolitics Sanctions Technology Policy
  1. The U.S. has tightened sanctions on China, particularly in the semiconductor industry, to weaken its tech growth. This move aims to limit China's access to advanced chip manufacturing technology.
  2. In response, China has imposed its own export restrictions, targeting materials critical for the tech industry in the U.S. This indicates that both countries are in an escalating trade war.
  3. China's efforts to develop its own semiconductor capabilities are showing significant progress, raising concerns about its growing self-sufficiency in this critical industry.

Amazingly Wonderful or Atrociously Bad?

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 15 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Economy Technology Policy Environmental Issues
  1. We are at a crossroads between a future of control by a wealthy few or a harmonious society where everyone can thrive. It's essential to choose a path that empowers people and promotes cooperation.
  2. Our current way of living, driven by individualism and consumerism, isn't sustainable. We need to shift towards a society based on shared resources and community participation.
  3. Transforming our consciousness and understanding of the world is key. By recognizing our interconnectedness, we can encourage positive change and foster a more compassionate society.

🌎 My Q&A with Francis Fukuyama on technological change and liberal democracy. Some sci-fi, too!

Faster, Please! • 822 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Technology Policy Democracy Regulation Transhumanism
  1. The impact of technology on society has both positive and negative effects. While the internet has helped people access information and organize for their rights, it has also created a lot of misinformation and chaos.
  2. Government regulation of AI and new technologies is complex and challenging. It's important to have experts in the field, but the existing systems might make it hard to adapt quickly enough.
  3. Science fiction can help us think about the future and its potential dangers. While many stories focus on dystopia, they also provide us with important lessons about the risks and benefits of new technologies.

Trump's Export Control Strategy

ChinaTalk • 207 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Trade policy Technology Policy Geopolitics Semiconductors National Security
  1. Trump's team may need to reconsider how they handle chip export controls to better respond to China's advancements in technology. Using broader, simpler restrictions might be more effective than current complicated rules.
  2. It's important for America to strengthen its semiconductor industry to avoid losing market share to China. Investing in domestic production is key, and the current CHIPS Act needs to be expanded.
  3. To effectively restrict China's tech growth, the U.S. should coordinate with allies and avoid creating loopholes. A united front will make it harder for China to advance their semiconductor capabilities.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #25

Faster, Please! • 548 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Energy Policy Technology Policy Research Funding Infrastructure
  1. AI is creating a big boom in US construction, especially for data centers. Spending on these centers has grown a lot since the launch of ChatGPT.
  2. The US government has plans to triple its nuclear power by 2050. This is to keep up with the demand for clean energy as AI and industries grow.
  3. There is a push for a new research initiative to support advanced science fields like quantum computing. This aims to keep the US ahead in technology against competitive countries.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #22

Faster, Please! • 639 implied HN points • 26 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy Economic Policy Political trends Environmental Issues Technology Policy
  1. A semiconductor plant in Arizona is performing better than one in Taiwan, which is good news for US manufacturing growth. This means the US is making strides in producing important tech products domestically.
  2. Construction productivity is struggling, showing negative growth for decades. Long approval times and strict regulations are hurting the industry's efficiency.
  3. More Democrats are starting to support nuclear power as a cleaner energy source. This shift is important for addressing climate change and meeting energy demands, as even major tech companies back nuclear projects.

What's a half-trillion between friends?

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Infrastructure Investment Technology Policy
  1. There is a big investment in AI happening, totaling $500 billion, which will help the U.S. stay ahead in technology. This money will be used to build infrastructure and create jobs.
  2. SoftBank's financial status is unclear, but it is involved in this major investment deal. The real challenge is making sure they can actually fund their part of the investment.
  3. While OpenAI is leading the project, there are other AI companies like Anthropic and Mistral that are doing well and can compete for market share. The AI market seems to have room for multiple big players.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #20

Faster, Please! • 456 implied HN points • 12 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Trade policy Nuclear Energy Economic Growth Populism Technology Policy
  1. Free trade is good for the economy because it helps increase productivity and wages. Even if it disrupts some jobs, the overall benefits are greater.
  2. Tech companies are starting to embrace nuclear energy to power their data centers. This move aims to cut carbon emissions and manage rising energy demands.
  3. Despite economic challenges, the American system has shown resilience. The economy has adapted and grown stronger after tough times like the financial crises.

Links to Consider, 12/6/2024

In My Tribe • 273 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Economic Policy Technology Policy Education & Policy Public Opinion
  1. Many single young women now believe they are happier being single than married. Furthermore, fewer of them want to become parents, which could change family dynamics in the future.
  2. There are misleading charts about labor compensation and productivity that mix up different measures, which can confuse people about economic realities. It's important to understand the context behind statistics.
  3. Age verification for social media users is a challenge that could potentially be addressed with better technology. However, it's essential to balance the benefits and dangers of social media while enforcing age limits.

TikTok, Congress Takes a Massive L on S&T Funding, AI Hardware Controls

ChinaTalk • 177 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Technology Policy Artificial Intelligence
  1. Chinese tech founders, like Zhang Yiming, are more focused on global competition than spreading political ideology. They face challenges in a government-controlled environment but are driven by personal ambitions and past experiences.
  2. The U.S. Congress has made significant budget cuts to science and technology funding, jeopardizing the country's ability to compete with nations like China in emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing.
  3. Implementing AI hardware controls offers enhanced security but may face challenges like vulnerability to circumvention, prolonged lead times in rollout, and broader considerations for governing compute power.

The Wild Wild West: Space Law

Space Ambition • 259 implied HN points • 27 Jan 23
🔬 Science Space Exploration Technology Policy
  1. Space law is still developing and is based on treaties and agreements, which are often unclear about ownership and use of space. This makes it hard for businesses to understand the rules they need to follow.
  2. Countries struggle with issues like remote sensing, space debris, and the use of weapons in space. It's important for governments to create clear, binding laws to ensure space can be used safely and peacefully.
  3. There's a race for resources in space, like minerals from asteroids. Different countries are making their own laws, but a consistent international agreement is needed to avoid conflicts and ensure fair sharing of benefits.

TechLetters #157 Data Protection of Privacy Sandbox PAA; Fake security reviews using ChatGPT; Satellite internet access cut in Ukraine during military operations; China criticises U.S. tech sanctions

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 39 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy
  1. Security bug reports gone awry, leading to nonsensical content created with ChatGPT.
  2. Satellite internet access cut in Ukraine during military operations.
  3. Google phasing out 3rd-party cookies for data protection in Chrome browser.

TechLetters #129 Russians training defence from cyberattacks on industrial systems. Russian Kaspersky employees iPhone's hacked. Quantum computing recommendations, AI-drone U.S. Air Force drama.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 58 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy AI Quantum Computing
  1. Russian red teaming exercises target industrial systems for cyberattacks
  2. Malware campaign targets iPhones, including employees at cybersecurity company Kaspersky
  3. US government advised to expedite migration to post-quantum cryptography

TechLetters #125 - My book, Philosophy of Cybersecurity. Data center under water. MS EDGE leaking data. AI. Phishing parrot risk increases.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 58 implied HN points • 01 May 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. Google's data center faced challenges like being underwater, showing importance of risk management.
  2. OpenAI is enhancing privacy controls to address GDPR concerns and maintain user trust.
  3. Microsoft Edge has a privacy issue - leaking data to Microsoft, reminiscent of older privacy concerns.

TechLetters #121 - Cyberwar in Ukraine. 0day exploits to smartphones via apps. AI-automation coming to address cybersecurity industry. Cookie blocking standardisation. VULKAN cyberwar services.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 39 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. Smartphone app exploited 0day vulnerability affecting millions of devices
  2. Microsoft integrating ChatGPT for automating cybersecurity tasks
  3. Web security proposal aims to standardize cross-browser cookie blocking

TechLetters #126 - Banning multi-sim devices. Russian stealthy espionage combine harvester analysed and made public. Putting AI-generated labels on AI-generated content.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 39 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. UK is considering banning multi-sim devices to prevent fraud
  2. US reveals Russian cyber espionage tool used by FSB for information theft
  3. Google to label AI-generated images to comply with EU regulations

TechLetters #161 - Death indirectly following ransomware; Drones and cyber during wars are changing military strategy; Factorisation of number 247 on a quantum computer

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Security Technology Policy Other
  1. A 32 year old security bug in Linux's qsort algorithm poses a threat.
  2. Ransomware incidents are causing serious consequences, including job loss and health issues like suicide.
  3. The factoring of number 247 on a quantum computer breaks RSA-8 cryptosystem in 35 seconds.

TechLetters #160 Resurrection of dead dictators using generative AI, for political gain; AI cyber operations; Last warning about quantum cryptography; Privacy Sandbox coming to iOS/iPhones

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy
  1. AI can resurrect dead politicians, prompting the need for laws against misleading content.
  2. iOS introduces Stolen Device Protection and warns about AI's impact on cyber operations.
  3. Caution advised on quantum cryptography and factors influencing ransom payments.

TechLetters #116 - cyberwar in Ukraine; TikTok gets a hit in Europe; 2-year-old backdoor activated in cyberwar in Ukraine; #GDPR reform imminent; Privacy Sandbox field-tested; geopolitical censorship

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. Analysis of cyberwar in Ukraine with details of satellite internet provider KA-SAT compromise
  2. EU institutions prohibit TikTok use by employees for cybersecurity reasons
  3. European Commission proposes GDPR reform for more coherent enforcement rules

TechLetters #136 Reviewing for security and privacy. ChatGPT for cybercrime. Privacy Sandbox, AI, sending e-mails a problem in 2023.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. Sending military emails requires caution to avoid leaking personal data.
  2. ChatGPT is used for illegal activities like phishing, with no ethical restrictions.
  3. The launch of the Privacy Sandbox by Google/Chrome aims to improve privacy in ad infrastructure.

TechLetters #127 - Russian citizen sentenced for participation in IT Army of Ukraine. Google to identify A used in election disinformation. China bans US-made chips (Micron). Cookies out in 2024.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy
  1. Russian citizen sentenced to 3 years for participating in IT Army of Ukraine
  2. Google aims to identify and block election disinformation campaigns using AI
  3. China bans the use of US-made Micron chips citing security risks

TechLetters #134 cyberattack on WATER TREATMENT. GDPR reform. Competition authorities enforcement GDPR. France considers social network shutdown during unrest. Avast collects/sells customer data, and?

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Generative AI
  1. Cybersecurity incidents on critical infrastructure are a major concern globally
  2. Proposed GDPR reforms aim to enhance enforcement mechanisms and transparency
  3. Countries are implementing stricter regulations to protect data privacy and crack down on unethical data practices

TechLetters #137 - AMD, TETRA bugs. USB stick of DOOM strikes again. China's cyberoperations. Another confirmation: filter bubbles/echo chambers DO NOT EXIST. LK99?

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Security Technology Policy Other
  1. Security issues with AMD processors and TETRA radio systems were highlighted.
  2. Beware of USB devices that can potentially hack systems and lead to data theft.
  3. Research suggests that filter bubbles and echo chambers may not have the profound impact on opinions as previously believed.

TechLetters #132 GDPR fine for Criteo. Artificial Intelligence Act lobbying. In-game malware. processors leaking private data.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy
  1. Malware was found in a Mario Bros game installer, which steals user data.
  2. Privacy leaks are occurring via processors, allowing websites to steal browsing history.
  3. Criteo received a €40M GDPR fine for not verifying if people had given consent for their data processing.

TechLetters #138 Enhancing existing products with AI/LLM as a business strategy. Senegal cut off TikTok access. Smartphone minor mode to promote socialist core values

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 0 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. Building products with privacy-preserving AI/LLM is valuable
  2. Senegal blocked access to TikTok due to threats to stability
  3. China proposed 'minor mode' for smartphones to promote socialist core values

TechLetters #135 - Cyberwarfare in Ukraine. "Diplomat car advert" cyber tactic strikes again. Russia wants to prohibit cyber-attribution. Neural privacy not in scope of #GDPR. Aspartame carcinogenic.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. Cyberwarfare tactics in Ukraine involve exploiting Western media coverage for psychological effects
  2. Russia used a hijacked BMW advert of a diplomat to spread malware to other embassies
  3. Neurotechnology advancements pose threats to human rights but are not regulated by GDPR or other standards