DOE investing in machine learning tools for data analysis The Department of Energy is dedicating $29 million to develop new tools and advanced algorithms that will benefit multiple scientific fields and inform cutting-edge solutions for a variety of complex problems. INDUSTRY INSIGHT How an advanced architecture can dramatically mitigate massive data breaches A labeled gateway running on a trustworthy operating system enforces mandatory access control policies to protect the entire system from modification and prevents unauthorized data flows, such as massive data breaches. NGA taps 4 states for cybersecurity policy academy Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Washington will participate in the National Governors Association's 2021 Policy Academy where they will refine and share best practices in cybersecurity governance, workforce development, critical infrastructure security and local engagement and partnership. Dems push modular UI tech for state modernizations Congressional Democrats are asking the Labor Department to develop and maintain a set of modular functions states can use to modernize their unemployment compensation programs. Data, AI to power medical support on the battlefield The Army wants to give warfighters access to an artificial intelligence-enhanced medical database they can use to care for fellow service members incapacitated by injury or disease in the field.

More than two weeks after Facebook revealed a massive data breach, we still don't know who was using the flaw in its site to access information on tens of millions of users. Now the Wall Street Journal reports, based on anonymous sources, that the company believes spammers perpetrated the hack in an attempt to make money via deceptive advertising. Facebook eventually said that about 30 million people actually had their login tokens stolen (you can see if your account was among them by checking this page), and said that the attackers took account details and contact information. Still, the paper said "internal researchers" believe the people behind it are existing Facebook and Instagram spammers who claim to run a "digital marketing company." The lines between misinformation spread by nation-state sponsored trolls, shady analytics companies and spammers chasing trendy topics to make a buck have become increasingly blurred in recent years, so it's difficult to know if this adds up or if we'll ever know who exactly stole the information and where it ended up.

The Irish Data Protection Commission has opened a formal investigation into a data breach that affected nearly 50m Facebook accounts, which could result in a fine of up to $1.63bn. The breach, which was discovered by Facebook engineers on Tuesday 24 September, gave hackers the ability to take over users' accounts. It was patched on Thursday, the company said. "The investigation will examine Facebook's compliance with its obligation under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure the security and safeguarding of the personal data it processes," the commission said in a statement on Wednesday. The commission regulates Facebook's adherence to GDPR, a European law that strengthens the privacy protections of individuals and introduces harsh penalties for companies that fail to protect user data.

Consumers and companies are all-too familiar with the consequences of financial fraud, having been victims of massive data breaches and orchestrated campaigns of payment fraud across all channels. What's less clear is how financial institutions and merchants can stay one step ahead of the risk and fraud, while reducing their regulatory burden. In the most recent episode of the Real Machine Podcast, Feedzai's Ajit Ghuman hosts a fascinating exploration of the potential of AI and machine learning with one of the risk management profession's foremost practitioners, Peter Mockenheim, prior Chief Operational Risk Officer for Santander Consumer. Peter has had a storied career leading the risk and compliance departments of a variety of financial institutions. Peter was a founding member of Nationwide Bank, and then went on to become Chief Control Officer for the operations of Chase's Consumer And Community Bank, where he achieved the highest possible internal audit rating, firm-wide.