# policy

OpenAI said Astra crossed a critical threshold in autonomous cyber capability.
The company is pausing internal activities that do not meet new security requirements.
The move reflects wider concern about frontier AI agents escaping containment or acting offensively.

DT Editorial Team·Aug 9, 2026·via theguardian.com

‘Own the Narrative’: Leaked Flock Guide Shows How It Teaches Cops to Promote Its Tech

Culture

Leaked Flock guide shows how police are coached to sell surveillance

A leaked guide reportedly tells police to shape city-council narratives before public opposition forms.
The handbook advises agencies not to argue over whether Flock systems are “mass surveillance.”
The report lands amid wider scrutiny of license plate reader data use, oversight, and abuse risks.

DT Editorial Team·Aug 3, 2026·via 404media.co

EU pools up to €30 billion for AI gigafactories while US tech giants casually spend 20 times more

AI & Robotics

EU opens bidding for AI gigafactories in push to expand compute

The EU opened bidding for up to seven AI gigafactories across Europe.
The plan pairs up to 10 billion euros in public funding with at least 20 billion euros in private investment.
The initiative aims to expand regional access to the compute needed to train and run large AI models.

DT Editorial Team·Aug 1, 2026·via the-decoder.com

NIST Launches AI Testbed for Blind Model Evaluations

NIST launched AITE as a voluntary AI testing platform using blind data in an isolated environment.
Initial evaluations will focus on image-analysis tasks for large vision-language models.
The first domains are quantum science, genomics, and public safety.
The program is part of a broader federal push to improve AI safety evaluation through shared infrastructure.

DT Editorial Team·Jul 29, 2026·via defenseone.com

New York’s Data Center Pause Signals a Tougher Power Era

New York paused state environmental permits for new hyperscale data centers of 50 MW or more for up to one year.
The move follows a surge in large-load proposals, from about 1,045 MW in 2022 to roughly 12 GW by the end of 2025.
A broader state bill could impose renewable power requirements and affect a wider range of facilities.

DT Editorial Team·Jul 28, 2026·via utilitydive.com

New Cars Would Get Even Pricier With Ban on Chinese Tech

Transportation

US push to cut Chinese car tech could raise vehicle prices

US lawmakers are advancing restrictions on Chinese-linked vehicle technology, ownership, and components.
Suppliers outside China currently charge more for comparable hardware, raising the prospect of higher new-car prices.
Automakers may need to redesign sourcing strategies as national-security concerns reshape the connected-vehicle market.

DT Editorial Team·Jul 24, 2026·via thedrive.com

Draft NOPD Drone Manual Briefly Opened Door to Weaponized Drones

A draft NOPD manual allowed drones to carry weapons with written approval from the superintendent.
The department’s current published manual says drones cannot carry weapons or hazardous materials of any kind.
The episode has drawn scrutiny because of broader concerns about police surveillance practices in New Orleans.

DT Editorial Team·Jul 21, 2026·via 404media.co

Two drones, one yellow, one grey, almost identical otherwise.

News

FCC moves toward retroactive ban on suspected DJI front companies

The FCC is considering blocking sales of already-approved devices tied to suspected DJI front companies.
The proposal would target supply and retail channels, not consumers who already bought the products.
The case could become a precedent for retroactive enforcement against politically sensitive hardware brands.

DT Editorial Team·Jul 21, 2026·via theverge.com

2026 Environmental Performance Index shows progress and slippage

The 2026 Environmental Performance Index evaluates 177 countries across 47 indicators.
Estonia ranks first, with Europe occupying all but one of the top 20 spots.
Researchers say few countries are on track to hit net-zero emissions by 2050.
The report highlights AI as a growing tool for tracking environmental change.

DT Editorial Team·Jul 19, 2026·via phys.org

New Statistical Test Validates Benefits of Personalized Interventions

New statistical test evaluates benefits of personalizing interventions.
Test compares personalized policies against best non-personalized alternative.
Applications in medicine, education, and policy.
Published in Science, July 2026.

DT Editorial Team·Jul 11, 2026·via science.org

UK EV sales move ahead of petrol cars over a 12-month period

UK battery-electric vehicle sales exceeded petrol car sales over a 12-month period ending in May 2026.
The milestone intensifies debate over whether the UK should weaken its zero-emission vehicle mandate.
EVs grew 34% year on year in May while petrol sales fell 14%, according to the supplied figures.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 27, 2026·via cleantechnica.com

California to sue Trump administration over offshore wind buybacks

Energy

California Prepares Suit Over Offshore Wind Buybacks

California says it will sue the Interior Department and others over offshore wind lease buybacks.
The state argues the Golden State Wind cancellation violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
Officials say the move harms California’s climate goals, economy and more than $100 million in wind-related state investment.
The dispute follows a $765 million federal agreement with Invenergy to terminate four offshore wind leases.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 26, 2026·via utilitydive.com

Anthropic’s Mythos Finds Flaws in Classified US Systems within Hours (via analyticsinsight.net)

Innovation

Anthropic AI test reportedly found classified system flaws

Fast Company reported that an Anthropic model identified vulnerabilities in classified U.S. systems during a government-linked test.
The key claims rely on an anonymous official and a Senate hearing reference, while the NSA and Anthropic declined to comment.
The episode highlights how frontier AI models are being evaluated as both defensive tools and national security risks.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 25, 2026·via fastcompany.com

Pentagon Turns to Defense Production Act to Coordinate Munitions Supply Chains

A June 11 presidential memo invoked Defense Production Act authority to address munitions bottlenecks.
The Pentagon says voluntary agreements can let suppliers coordinate without violating antitrust rules.
Officials are targeting issues such as production capacity, long-lead items, and supply-chain constraints.
The move fits a broader US push to expand defense manufacturing and rebuild stockpiles.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 17, 2026·via breakingdefense.com

UK prepares changes to EV mandate as industry pressure grows

The UK is preparing to adjust its EV mandate after pressure from automakers and unions.
The 2025 target was 28%, while electric vehicles reached 23.4% of new registrations.
The debate centers on jobs, profitability, and the pace of market-led adoption.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 17, 2026·via cleantechnica.com

News

Florida Sues TikTok Over Child Safety Law

Florida says TikTok still allows 13-year-olds in the state to use the platform.
The lawsuit alleges TikTok fails to require parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds.
HB3 first took effect on January 1, 2025, but has been the subject of court battles.
TikTok says it notified Florida users under 14 that their accounts would be suspended.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 16, 2026·via theverge.com

UK to ban social media for children under 16

The UK says children under 16 will be banned from major social media platforms.
The measures are expected to take effect in spring 2027.
The government is also raising the minimum age for some romantic chatbots to 18.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 15, 2026·via wired.com

New Colorado Law Gets It Right by Requiring Responsible EV Battery Recycling

Transportation

Colorado puts automakers on the hook for EV battery recycling

Colorado enacted a first-of-its-kind U.S. law on end-of-life EV batteries.
Automakers must collect batteries free of charge for reuse or recycling.
The law sets recovery targets for nickel, cobalt, and lithium and requires reporting.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 15, 2026·via thedrive.com

Solar permitting reform in New York could cut rooftop costs

An analysis cited in the source says permitting can add up to $7,000 to rooftop solar costs.
New York lawmakers are backing automated permitting through SolarAPP+.
The platform is already used by hundreds of jurisdictions and has issued more than 150,000 permits.

DT Editorial Team·Jun 15, 2026·via cleantechnica.com

Anthropic shuts down Fable, Mythos models following Trump admin directive

News

Anthropic pulls Fable 5 and Mythos 5 after U.S. directive