government technology

News

Green calls for increased regulation with government use of algorithms

Sep 22, 2021

Do algorithms help or hinder human decision-making? In a recent op-ed for The Hill, Ben Green, an assistant professor and postdoctoral scholar, argues that policymakers need to consider how humans interact with AI when regulating the use of AI in...

Using algorithms in government: Opportunities, challenges, and paths forward

Alumni spotlight

Esha Mathew (PhD, STPP '15) combines science and technology with diplomacy

Aug 18, 2021

Esha Mathew (PhD '15 - Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology) is a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation at the U.S. State Department. Previously she was a Science and Technology Fellow with the American...

Policy Brief

Robot Dogs for Surveillance and Policing: Overview and Policy Recommendations

June 24, 2024

Mara Pusic, Jonathan Garon

Long a focus of dystopian science fiction lore, the development, deployment, and utilization of robotic dogs has recently entered the mainstream, with a number of U.S. law enforcement agencies purchasing the technology and announcing early phase...

Photo of a Boston Dynamics robot dog standing

Policy Brief

Regulating Drone Surveillance in Michigan

June 24, 2024

Terry Nguyen

Law enforcement agencies in Michigan are increasingly using drones as a common tool for purposes including surveillance, crime prevention, and search and rescue operations. Privacy concerns loom large as drones capture images and videos of...

Photo of firefighting drones over a forest fire

Policy Brief

Development of and Concerns Regarding Predictive Policing Practices

June 24, 2024

Madison Cutler

Predictive policing is the application of analytical software to identify likely targets for police intervention and prevent crime. The last 8–10 years has brought the application of analytical tools and artificial intelligence to enable such...

Photo of agent looking at security cameras on a screen