When U.S. intelligence community agencies were asked what long-term threats the country faces in the next decade and beyond, “dual-use technologies” was one of four categories on top, according to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office. Those technologies include artificial intelligence, quantum computing, autonomous and unmanned systems, biotechnology and encryption. These are all in the IC’s “worry list,” fears that stand next to nuclear weapons, terrorism and climate change. And aside from the societal advancements these technologies bring, agencies worry that they could instead be used to cause harm by an adversary. For example, an adversary could gain access to AI through a design used in the commercial industry, and use that AI as a weapon, or use quantum communications to develop secure communications that the U.S. can’t decrypt. And some of these fears, like information operations used to impact U.S. elections, may become even more advanced. Tech Crunch
Amazon’s Database of Suspicious Persons
From the looks of a patent application Amazon filed last month with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the company may be creating a doorbell camera equipped with new facial-recognition tech capable of gathering data that can later be used to identify people as “suspicious.” The tech would piece together a composite image of someone’s face so that law enforcement can easily identify someone engaging in criminal activity. These faces can be compared to a “database of suspicious persons,” so if someone showed up on a doorstep, the tech would be able to get information about that person from the database. After analyzing facial features and contacting the homeowner, the person on the doorstep can be added to an “authorized list,” or that database of suspicious persons. Neighbors would be able to share this info, too. The Washington Post
3D-Printed Human Body to be Used for Radiation Treatment Research
The first 3D-printed purple, five-foot-one life-sized human body was made from bioplastic and weighs 15 pounds, has a detachable head and a 36-gallon water storage capacity. Its name is Marie, and it was developed by Louisiana State University engineering student Meagan Moore to test radiation exposure in real-time. Moore wants to find out optimal radiation therapy dosing for treating cancer. Marie is the result of combining five full-body scans of women. The printer created Marie in 136 hours in four chunks, and Moore had to use soldering, welding and sandblasting to put Marie together. The hope is that Marie helps to create personalized treatments for cancer patients. Motherboard
The Proposed Data Care Act
A group of 15 democratic senators proposed the new Data Care Act, intended to protect personal information online. The bill would create new rules for how companies collecting user data can handle that information. Plus these companies, and third parties to whom the companies are sharing or selling that data, would be required to secure identifying information, to not use that information in a harmful way and to alert consumers of breaches. The bill would also allow the Federal Trade Commission to fine companies that misbehave. So far, some privacy activists approve. The Verge
Another Day, Another Facebook Breach of Privacy Notice
Facebook said Dec. 14 it found a bug that allowed people to access potentially 6.8 million users' private photos. 1,500 third-party apps had access to Facebook users’ uploaded photos, even if they weren’t posted publicly, from Sept. 13 to Sept. 25. But don’t worry, Facebook said it’s reaching out to the more than 800 developers who built those apps and is asking them to delete any photos they wrongly received. Though the bug has been fixed, some third-party apps could still be in possession of those photos.
This isn’t the first stint Facebook has had with consumer data. Earlier this year, Cambridge Analytica gathered Facebook user data without user consent. Another breach gave hackers access to millions of users’ accounts. The New York Times
