Global Agreement on AI; Google’s 2nd Antitrust Case; SSA Surprise Shutdown 

Today’s Tech News Roundup:

AI: US, UK, EU agree on AI
Big Tech: Google’s 2nd antitrust case
Cybersecurity: SSA surprise shutdown

Multiple Countries Sign First Legally Binding Global Treaty on AI

An international human rights organization, the Council of Europe, has drafted a treaty to ensure signees implement safeguards against AI threats to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence was signed by the US, UK, EU, Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Moldova, and San Marino. The treaty outlines seven principles for using AI, including respecting human dignity, ensuring transparency and oversight, and maintaining responsibility for adverse impacts.

Why it matters: The treaty has no pre-defined remedies for violating the principles. However, it does include a provision that signatories should “adopt or maintain measures to ensure the availability of accessible and effective remedies for violations.” We’ve got to start somewhere, and agreeing on some ground rules and requiring individual parties to be responsible for their actions is better than just talking about setting ground rules. The existence of the treaty also shows that First World countries are cognizant of the impact AI may have on society and willing to acknowledge that sometimes guardrails may be necessary.

Further Reading: EngadgetOpens a new window ; ReutersOpens a new window ; The VergeOpens a new window ; Full Text of the Framework Convention treatyOpens a new window

Google vs. DOJ, Part Deux: AdTech Antitrust Showdown

Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled that Google’s search dominance constitutes a monopoly. But that wasn’t the US Department of Justice’s only lawsuit against the tech company. Google will be in court on Monday to defend against claims that the company’s advertising business is also a monopoly. 8 states have also joined the case. Under scrutiny is Google’s vertical integration of the ad business: they have a product on the demand side for buying ads, a product on the supply side for selling ads, and a bridge between the two called an ad exchange.

Why it matters: Let’s pretend there’s a farm called Grain that grows corn. It makes sense that it would also sell that corn. But what if Grain owned not only the factory that processed the corn but also turned it into cornflakes, packaged it, and shipped it to store shelves? And the only stores that sold those corn flakes were also owned by Grain? Sure, you could buy cornflakes somewhere else, but they’re challenging to find, more expensive, and less effective at curing your hunger than those from Grain. Now replace cornflakes with “ads,” and you’ve got what prosecutors call a “privileged position as the middleman.”

Further Reading: The DrumOpens a new window ; The VergeOpens a new window ; Fox BusinessOpens a new window ; DOJ’s Complaint against GoogleOpens a new window

US Social Security Administration Offices Forced to Close Last Friday Due to Tech Issue

The US Social Security Administration had a “hardware issue” that forced it to close offices on Friday. Over 1,400 offices, to be exact. The tech problem caused a nationwide outage that impacted in-person services and prevented access to online “My Social Security” accounts. The agency confirmed the problem via a Tweet, stating “SSA is experiencing IT difficulties today providing personalized services.” Approximately four hours later, it posted that the issue had been resolvedOpens a new window and that offices would re-open on Monday.

SSA is experiencing IT difficulties today providing personalized services. For more information, visit: https://t.co/p07PcnWCwY.

— Social Security (@SocialSecurity) September 6, 2024Opens a new window

Why it matters: According to performance.gov, approximately 420,000 people utilize the Social Security Administration’s services each day. The administration hasn’t provided any additional information on the cause of the “hardware issue,” so we cannot confirm whether it was a cyberattack or a physical failure. Regardless, it demonstrates the need for solid backup, recovery, and business continuity plans—especially for essential services.

Further Reading: CBS NewsOpens a new window ; Daily MailOpens a new window ; WTOL ToledoOpens a new window