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AI agents are shaping how decisions are made & humans navigate the digital world. To unpack the implications of this shift, IST hosted a closed-door workshop on the potential effects of AI on human agency. For the #NatSpecs blog, Jennifer Tang & Tiffany Saade summarize the discussion.
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Autonomous Agents, Human Consequences: Key Insights from IST’s Workshop on AI Agents & Agency in the Internet Ecosystem
AI agents are shaping how decisions are made, how systems behave, and how humans navigate the digital world. To better understand the implications of this shift, IST recently hosted a closed-door work...
securityandtechnology.org
December 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
istorg.bsky.social
IST's Brandon Cortino spent the last year as a fellow in the @csis.org FACE cohort, which aims to train the next generation of arms control negotiators. For the #NatSpecs blog, Brandon shares lessons learned from his study of the 2002 Moscow Treaty signed by Presidents Bush and Putin.
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Negotiating Stability: Reflections on CSIS’ Future Arms Control Experts (FACE) Program
IST Senior Associate for Nuclear Policy Brandon Cortino spent the last year as a fellow in the Center for Strategic and International Studies FACE cohort, which aims to train the next generation of ar...
securityandtechnology.org
November 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM
istorg.bsky.social
IST hosted international security expert & author Ankit Panda for a fireside chat with IST CEO Philip Reiner to discuss his latest book on the nuclear age and the need for political & technical solutions for emerging tech. IST’s Catherine Murphy recaps the event for the #NatSpecs blog.
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The New Nuclear Age: At the Precipice of Armageddon – IST Hosts Book Talk with Author Ankit Panda
IST’s Nuclear Policy team hosted international security expert and author Ankit Panda in Palo Alto to learn more about his latest book unpacking the trilateral nuclear competition between the United S...
securityandtechnology.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:15 PM
istorg.bsky.social
For #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth, our social channels featured practical resources, novel research, and critical insights from IST’s cadre of experts. Compiled for the #NatSpecs blog, these resources showcase IST’s work in the fields of #ransomware, #AI, #cyber & more.
🛡️ Learn more: bit.ly/4i12g6C
November 17, 2025 at 5:18 PM
istorg.bsky.social
For the #NatSpecs blog, IST’s Mariami Tkeshelashvili and Tiffany Saade analyze Iran’s use of AI in information operations and domestic surveillance to identify risks for the malicious use of the technology.
🛡️ Read their conclusions:
Decrypting Iran’s AI-Enhanced Operations in Cyberspace
Iran has long used unconventional tactics and weapons to wage asymmetric warfare. Now, amid recent uprisings, Iran has begun to incorporate AI into its domestic surveillance efforts. What does this me...
securityandtechnology.org
October 28, 2025 at 6:58 PM
istorg.bsky.social
IST Senior Director for International Cyber Engagement Elizabeth Vish and Future for Digital Security Associate Gigi Flores Bustamante attended the event, held on the margins of the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICTs, and reflected on their experience for the #NatSpecs blog.
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What Does Ransomware Have to Do with War and Peace: IST’s Contributions to the Final UN OEWG Negotiation Session
IST joined the eleventh and final substantive session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies this week at the UN. While there, we ...
securityandtechnology.org
October 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
istorg.bsky.social
For the #NatSpecs blog, IST Senior VP for Policy Nicholas Leiserson examines the latest breach of the U.S. federal court systems: “as a nation founded on the rule of law, this incident (or series of incidents) presents a host of challenges for policymakers & the broader public.”
🛡️ Read his analysis:
What to Make of the U.S. Federal Court Breach(es)
IST Senior VP for Policy Nicholas Leiserson examines the latest breach of the U.S. federal court systems. “As a nation founded on the rule of law, this incident (or series of incidents) presents a hos...
securityandtechnology.org
August 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
istorg.bsky.social
The FCC’s pilot program to bring cybersecurity resources to K-12 schools received over $3.7 billion in requests for assistance, more than 15 times the budget. Last week, IST hosted a virtual event to check in on the pilot’s progress & discuss options for updating the USF.
🖋️ Read the #NatSpecs recap:
Accessible and Secure: Exploring Options to Improve K-12 Cybersecurity through the Universal Service Fund
The Federal Communication Commission’s pilot program to bring cybersecurity resources to K-12 schools received over $3.7 billion in requests for assistance, more than fifteen times the program budget....
securityandtechnology.org
July 14, 2025 at 8:36 PM
istorg.bsky.social
When a single data breach can affect 60M students & 10M teachers, what can states and districts do to protect their communities? IST's @michaelfklein.bsky.social hosted an event on rethinking 3rd-party vendor risk post-PowerSchool.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog: securityandtechnology.org/blog/60-mill...
60 Million Reasons to Rethink Vendor Management: IST hosts experts on PowerSchool data breach
When a single data breach can affect 60 million students and 10 million teachers, what can states and districts do to protect their communities? IST Senior Director Michael Klein hosted a virtual even...
securityandtechnology.org
July 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
istorg.bsky.social
In June, IST's @michaelfklein.bsky.social spoke on a @cltcberkeley.bsky.social #CyberCivilDefense Summit panel addressing regional cyber resilience. @tgrossman.bsky.social reflects on the conversation, which highlighted pathways for improving state & local cybersecurity.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog:
Without Washington? IST’s Michael Klein joins Panel at CLTC’s Cyber Civil Defense Summit to highlight mechanisms for bolstering state and local cyber resilience
In June, IST Senior Director Michael Klein spoke on a panel at UC Berkeley’s Center for Long Term Cybersecurity #CyberCivilDefense Summit addressing shared responsibility of regional cyber resilience....
securityandtechnology.org
July 2, 2025 at 7:44 PM
istorg.bsky.social
In April, @ec.europa.eu released a public consultation process for feedback on the #ENISA and the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act. Drawing on our FDS portfolio, IST’s comments focus on harmonizing legislation and streamlining incident reporting requirements.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog:
IST Submits Comments to the EU Cybersecurity Act Review Consultation
In April, the European Commission opened a public consultation process for feedback on the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act. Drawing on e...
securityandtechnology.org
June 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM
istorg.bsky.social
Last week, the Trump White House issued its first major executive action on #cybersecurity, making changes to orders released by both the Obama and Biden administrations. IST Senior VP for Policy Nicholas Leiserson takes a closer look at the new EO.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog:
Rapid Reaction: Trump 47’s First Cybersecurity Executive Order
IST Senior Vice President for Policy Nicholas Leiserson reviews the new Trump White House Executive Order on cybersecurity, offering three key takeaways.
securityandtechnology.org
June 11, 2025 at 3:09 PM
istorg.bsky.social
In April, Mariami Tkeshelashvili & Jennifer Tang hosted an #AI crisis simulation exercise at the SAIS Emerging Tech Symposium. Participants responded to challenges at the nexus of AI & national security, drawing on IST research.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog: securityandtechnology.org/blog/respond...
Responding to the Unknown: Simulating AI-Driven Crises
In April, Mariami Tkeshelashvili and Jennifer Tang hosted an AI crisis simulation exercise at theJohns Hopkins SAIS Emerging Technologies Symposium. The hands-on exercise asked participants to explore...
securityandtechnology.org
May 13, 2025 at 2:02 PM
istorg.bsky.social
IST has submitted comments on the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s RFI on AI Action Plan development. Informed by years of engagements, our response proposes 6 strategic objectives to build the foundation of a new national AI strategy.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog: bit.ly/4kFbRkD
Setting the Foundation of a New National Strategy on AI: IST Submits Comments on an AI Action Plan
Institute for Security and Technology (IST) last week submitted comments to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in response to its request for information on the development...
securityandtechnology.org
March 20, 2025 at 7:22 PM
istorg.bsky.social
Last week, IST submitted a response to NIST’s Request for Comments on its draft guidelines for improving the safety, security, and trustworthiness of dual-use foundation models. IST draws on our multi-year research effort into AI risk reduction to make recs.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog: bit.ly/4huR5BC
Managing Misuse Risk for Dual-Use Foundation Models: IST Submits Comments to a NIST Request for Information
Last week, Institute for Security and Technology (IST) submitted a response to NIST's Request for Comments on the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute's draft guidelines for identifying and m...
securityandtechnology.org
March 19, 2025 at 10:15 PM
istorg.bsky.social
Since April 2021, IST’s #RansomwareTaskForce has investigated how to disrupt the infrastructure that ransomware groups rely on to receive payments. Trevaughn Smith presents new strategies for targeting the resourcing phase of the #ransomware ecosystem.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog: bit.ly/4ilbMRx
March 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
istorg.bsky.social
In January, international law enforcement announced the successful disruption of Cracked and Nulled, 2 of the largest cybercrime forums. IST’s Gigi Flores Bustamante breaks down key actions and the operation’s strategic approach to disrupting #ransomware.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog: bit.ly/3XF8tME
March 10, 2025 at 9:55 PM
istorg.bsky.social
From policymakers to journalists to developers, the second annual Cyber Policy Awards™ nominees reflect the dedication, ingenuity, and acumen of the cyber policy community. At Thursday’s ceremony, cross-sector leaders announced recipients to a packed house.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog: bit.ly/42KQ58q
February 7, 2025 at 10:26 PM
istorg.bsky.social
IST is pleased to announce the generous political and financial support from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Foreign Office Germany to continue the #CATALINK Initiative through 2027.
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog:
securityandtechnology.org/blog/announc...
January 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
rgburwood.bsky.social
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natspec.org.uk
December 5, 2024 at 5:01 PM
istorg.bsky.social
In September, IST’s Elizabeth Vish & Gigi Flores Bustamante attended the first convening of the Brazil
#RansomwareTaskForce, co-organized by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the OAS & IST. Gigi shares her reflections on launching the Brazil RTF 🇧🇷
🖋️ From the #NatSpecs blog: bit.ly/4907jQi
November 21, 2024 at 12:15 AM