Pros and Cons of the Behavioral Health Information Technology Coordination Act
Despite an unprecedented demand for mental health and substance use services in the U.S., psychiatric hospitals utilize electronic health records (EHRs) at significantly lower rates than general medical practices. EHRs are electronic versions of patient health profiles, and include information such as relevant demographics, past diagnoses and treatments, lab report data, and vaccination history. EHRs […]
Understanding AI in Intelligence Gathering and Analysis
What is AI? Artificial Intelligence (AI) involves the use of machine learning algorithms and predictive models to process and analyze large datasets. Intelligence gathering, a critical component of national security and defense systems, refers to the collection and analysis of information to identify potential threats. Recently, AI has taken on a bigger role in U.S. […]
Understanding the Investigatory Encryption Backdoors Debate
Background: Encryption Backdoors in Law Enforcement Investigations Encryption is the process of encoding messages so that only authorized individuals can decode and access the content. Organizations rely on encryption to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. However, an encryption backdoor is any method that allows someone, regardless of authorization, to bypass encryption and access data. […]
The TikTok Ban: Overview and New Developments
An Overview of TikTok Security Concerns In 2016, the Chinese company ByteDance launched Douyin, a social media app focused on short-form content in China. Following the app’s success, ByteDance expanded the app overseas, launching TikTok to the international market in late 2017. TikTok was a major success internationally, amassing two million downloads and 800 about […]
Understanding the Debate on Fair Access to Mental Augmentation in Neurotechnology
Neurotechnology is an area of technology that specifically applies to the monitoring, regulation, or enhancement of brain activity. As neurotechnologies advance, the once far-fetched idea that humans might leverage technology to augment their nervous system has become closer to fact than fiction. Mental augmentation encompasses any means by which people enhance their mental functions beyond […]
Pros and Cons of the Kids Online Safety Act
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) responds to the escalating youth mental health crisis and its ties to harmful online content and addictive social media algorithms. Given the rising rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among children in the U.S., KOSA aims to establish a legal framework that promotes a healthier online ecosystem for youth. […]
Pros and Cons of New York’s Regulation of Financial Institutions and Chatboxes
Chatbots, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), have become increasingly prevalent in the banking industry. The implementation of chatbots in banking increases customer satisfaction and loyalty through offering instant and round-the-clock support to handle a large volume of customer queries and address customer inquiries promptly. Around 37% of the U.S. population engaged with a bank’s chatbot […]
American Privacy Rights Act: Pros, Cons, and Impact on Consumer Data Protection
Introduction The American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) is a new bill introduced in Spring 2024 that seeks to implement a nationwide set of consumer privacy laws. Currently, no national framework exists. A previous bill with similar goals, the American Data Privacy Protection Act, failed to pass in 2022. The APRA would, among other things: Support […]
Understanding PADFA: The Pros and Cons of the Federal Government’s Approach to American Data Privacy
A new law addressing the national security risks of the data brokerage industry took effect on June 23, 2024, following bipartisan approval in January. The bill, known as the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act or PADFAA, seeks to limit the transfer of sensitive American data to firms owned or controlled by Russia, China, […]
Understanding the Debate on Neurorights and Personal Identity in Neurotechnology
In recent years, significant advancements in neurotechnology promise to profoundly impact healthcare and human capabilities. As technologies such as Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation (tDCS), and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) evolve, they can potentially blur the boundary between a person’s consciousness and external technological influences. Examples of Neurotechnologies Conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and […]