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Department of Technology
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- 1Flock warned Connecticut police of breach months after learning of itβI-Team: Flock warns CT police about a security breach, but records reveal the company knew about it months ago
An investigation by WFSB's I-Team reports that Flock, the license plate and surveillance technology company, notified Connecticut police departments about a security breach, but company records show it knew about the breach months before alerting its law enforcement customers. The delayed disclosure is drawing scrutiny over how the company handles security incidents and its transparency obligations to the agencies that depend on its systems.
- 2Illinois State University Holds Technology Awards CeremonyβΌDepartment of Technology Awards Ceremony
Illinois State University's Department of Technology held its awards ceremony, recognizing students and faculty for achievements across technology programs. The event highlighted academic excellence and contributions within the department. Details about individual winners and specific honors have not been widely reported beyond the university's announcement.
- 3Surveillance Firm Pitching Facial Recognition for Flock CamerasβSurveillance Company Tells Cops It Wants to Add Facial Recognition to Flock Cameras
A surveillance company has told police departments it wants to add facial recognition capabilities to Flock Safety's camera network, aiming to 'close the gap' that Flock itself does not fill. The pitch raises privacy concerns, as Flock's license plate readers are already deployed widely across US communities, and critics warn the expansion would dramatically increase mass surveillance of ordinary people without their consent.
- 4Robotics Competition Winners Advance Military Humanoid ResearchβΌRobotics Competition Winners Advance Military Exploration of Humanoid Capabilities
Winners of a robotics competition are advancing military exploration of humanoid capabilities, according to the U.S. Department of War. The competition appears to serve as a sourcing mechanism for the armed forces' work on bipedal and humanoid robotic systems, with winning teams' technologies feeding into further military research and development.
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A grandmother from Tennessee is suing the city of Fargo, North Dakota, for $10 million, claiming she was wrongly arrested after facial recognition technology misidentified her. The lawsuit is drawing attention to the growing use of facial recognition by police and its record of false matches, particularly involving ordinary citizens with no connection to the crimes being investigated.
- 6US Treasury Sanctions 10 Entities Tied to Iran Military ProcurementβΌUS Treasury Sanctions 10 Entities Supporting Iranβs Military Procurement Networks: 10 outlets compared
The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on 10 entities accused of supporting Iran's military procurement networks. The designations target companies allegedly helping Iran obtain materials and technology for its armed forces, in line with Washington's ongoing campaign of economic pressure on Tehran. Coverage across multiple news outlets is focused on which firms were named and what the measures mean for US-Iran tensions.
- 7Asking America.gov about Minecraft produces strange answersβAmerica.gov gets really weird when you ask it about Minecraft, but it's not a glitch https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/29/a
TechCrunch reports that America.gov, the US State Department's official website, gives unusual responses when users ask it about Minecraft, and says this behavior is intentional rather than a technical glitch. The site apparently uses automated AI features that react in unexpected ways to gaming-related questions. The report has drawn attention from technology watchers curious about how government websites handle AI-powered interactions with the public.
- 8US sanctions 10 over Iranian military procurement networksβUS sanctions 10 individuals, entities tied to Iranian military procurement networks
The United States has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and entities accused of ties to Iranian military procurement networks. The action, announced by the Treasury Department, targets people and companies alleged to have helped Iran acquire materials and technology for its military programs. It is part of Washington's ongoing effort to tighten pressure on Iran's defense procurement channels.
- 9Citrus County Sheriff's Office turns to AI for non-emergency callsβΌCitrus County Sheriff's Office launches AI technology to handle non-emergency calls
The Citrus County Sheriff's Office in Florida has launched AI technology to handle non-emergency calls, aiming to free up dispatchers and deputies for urgent matters. The move makes the department one of a growing number of law enforcement agencies experimenting with artificial intelligence in public-facing services, and it is drawing attention to how far AI should reach into policing.
- 10CenterPoint Energy lands $50 million federal grant for grid upgradesβΌCenterPoint Energy receives $50M award from DOE for grid technology upgrades
CenterPoint Energy has been awarded $50 million by the US Department of Energy to fund upgrades to its electricity grid technology. The award is aimed at modernizing infrastructure and improving reliability. The utility serves millions of customers, and the funding is drawing attention as utilities across the country pursue federal support for grid modernization projects.