Articles Posted in Cybersecurity

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms industries, from healthcare and finance to law enforcement and education, questions of risk, responsibility, and trust loom large. To address these concerns, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released the AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) in January 2023 — a voluntary but powerful tool designed to help organizations develop and deploy trustworthy AI systems. While the AI RMF is not a regulatory mandate, its adoption signals a growing consensus around best practices in AI governance. It provides a flexible and principle-based structure that can be used by companies, government agencies, and developers to identify and mitigate the unique risks associated with AI technologies.

What Is the NIST AI RMF?

The AI RMF is a risk-based, socio-technical framework that guides organizations in managing the many facets of AI risk — not just technical errors or security issues, but also fairness, transparency, privacy, and societal impact. It is a voluntary guidance framework developed by the NIST to help organizations identify, assess, manage, and minimize risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The AI RMF helps organizations (1) understand and manage AI-related risks across the lifecycle; (2) build transparency, accountability, fairness, and security into AI systems; and (3) align with global AI governance trends (e.g., EU AI Act, OECD AI Principles). It is sector-agnostic and technology-neutral, meaning it can be applied to any organization building or using AI, whether in healthcare, finance, education, defense, or consumer technologies.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly transformed from a niche area of computer science into a foundational technology influencing nearly every sector of society. From predictive algorithms in healthcare and finance to autonomous vehicles and generative AI tools like ChatGPT, AI systems are reshaping how we live, work, and interact with technology. Yet with this explosive growth comes a critical challenge: how do we govern AI technologies in a way that fosters innovation while protecting human rights, privacy, and safety?

This question has sparked global efforts to create legal frameworks for AI. However, the pace of AI development often outstrips the speed of regulation, leaving governments scrambling to catch up. As AI systems become more powerful and pervasive, robust and thoughtful legal frameworks are essential to ensure that these technologies serve the public interest.

Understanding AI Technologies

Introduction

In the digital age, the way we perceive, transfer, and assign value to assets is undergoing a dramatic transformation. One of the most significant innovations driving this shift is the Non-Fungible Token (NFT) — a type of cryptographic asset that represents ownership of a unique item or piece of content on a blockchain. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, which are fungible (interchangeable and uniform in value), NFTs are non-fungible, meaning each token is unique and cannot be exchanged on a one-to-one basis with another NFT. While NFTs initially gained attention for digital art and collectibles, their potential are more expansive. This article explores the underlying technology behind NFTs and how they can enhance various types of transactions.

What is an NFT?

Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated cybercrime that targets businesses and individuals performing legitimate transfer-of-funds requests. Attackers employ tactics such as email spoofing, phishing, and social engineering to impersonate trusted entities—like executives, vendors, or legal representatives—to deceive victims into transferring money or sensitive information.

Common BEC Techniques

• Email Spoofing: Crafting emails that appear to originate from trusted sources

Hackers use a variety of methods to compromise computers, email accounts, and bank accounts, typically exploiting vulnerabilities in systems, weak security practices, or human error. Below are some of the most common techniques hackers use to gain unauthorized access:

1. Phishing

– Method: Hackers send fraudulent emails, text messages, or websites that appear to be from legitimate sources (such as banks, email providers, or well-known companies). These messages trick users into providing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, or credit card details.

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology becomes increasingly integral to various industries, companies face a growing number of legal obligations at the state, federal, and international levels. These obligations address a range of issues, from data privacy and bias to intellectual property and transparency. This article explores the key legal frameworks that govern the use of AI technology and the compliance challenges that companies must navigate.

State Laws

At the state level, the regulation of AI is still in its early stages, but some states have begun to implement laws and guidelines addressing specific aspects of AI, particularly in the areas of data privacy and bias:

Virtual Reality (VR) technology is rapidly transforming various sectors, including entertainment, healthcare, education, and business. As VR becomes more integrated into daily life, it raises complex legal questions that intersect with state, federal, and international law. This article explores the current legal landscape governing VR, focusing on key issues such as privacy, intellectual property, data security, and user safety.

State Laws and Virtual Reality

State laws play a crucial role in regulating the aspects of VR particularly regarding privacy and data protection. Although no state has yet enacted laws specific to VR, several existing statutes are highly relevant:

The landscape of internet technology and cybersecurity has been significantly shaped by a series of high-profile class action lawsuits. These lawsuits typically arise from data breaches, where large amounts of personal information are compromised due to insufficient cybersecurity measures by companies. Below, we explore some notable cases and their implications for consumers and corporations.

AT&T Data Breach (2024)

One of the most significant cybersecurity class action lawsuits in 2024 involves AT&T. In March 2024, AT&T announced a data breach that exposed the personal information of approximately 73 million current and former customers. The compromised data included full names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and account details.