A gunman attempted to breach the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last weekend, where notable attendees included President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of California, was arrested at the scene and has since faced three federal charges: attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm across state lines, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
In technology news, the FIDO Alliance announced collaborative efforts with Google and Mastercard to create technical standards aimed at securing transactions made through artificial intelligence (AI) agents. Additionally, OpenAI has introduced an advanced security mode for its ChatGPT and Codex accounts to protect against increased phishing risks.
Recent research highlights a severe data breach involving 90,000 screenshots from a European celebrity’s phone, showcasing the dangers of commercially available spyware to privacy and the risk of extensive data leaks. In a related context, WIRED also reported on arrests in the United Arab Emirates for sharing sensitive online content.
Disneyland Implements Face Recognition Tech
Disneyland has unveiled a new option using face recognition technology for visitors entering its parks. This system allows guests to choose an entry lane equipped with this tech meant to simplify access, although Disney assures that opting for this lane is voluntary. However, images captured by the system may still be taken even if guests choose the standard lanes. The captured facial data will be erased after 30 days unless retention is required for legal or fraud-related reasons.
Face recognition technology has become increasingly common across various sectors, including airports and sports venues.
NSA Explores AI for Cybersecurity
The National Security Agency (NSA) is testing Anthropic’s Mythos, an AI tool believed to effectively identify vulnerabilities in software. Mythos, whose access is currently limited to only a select number of organizations, has notably been employed by the NSA to scan Microsoft software for potential bugs. This testing may continue despite the Department of Defense’s (DoD) declaration of a ban on Anthropic following concerns about supply chain risks, which remains unclear regarding the NSA’s future use of the tool.
Scattered Spider Ransomware Arrest
A 19-year-old, Peter Stokes, was arrested at a Finnish airport as he attempted to travel to Japan. Stokes is implicated in the Scattered Spider ransomware group, responsible for numerous high-profile extortion attacks against companies such as MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment. He is accused of stealing millions from several targeted entities, including luxury retailers.
Medicare Database Security Breach
A new report reveals that a Medicare database inadvertently exposed the Social Security numbers and other personal details of healthcare providers across the U.S. The compromised data, part of an online directory managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, was accessible on the internet for weeks before being discovered. This incident is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to compile a national directory of healthcare providers.
Learn more about Disney’s face recognition rollout
Read about NSA’s testing of Anthropic’s Mythos
