IMC Newsdesk

Americas: Security & Public Policy Archive

  • January 20, 2026
  • William Payne

White House Announces “GOLD EAGLE” Cybersecurity Initiative

July 14, 2026

The White House together with the Department of War has operationalised “GOLD EAGLE”, a clearing house to coordinate rapid vulnerability identification and threat-sharing across critical infrastructure sectors. Developed under Executive Order 14409, the platform employs frontier AI capabilities to automate scanning, validation, and remediation of software vulnerabilities. The initiative supports local utilities, financial institutions, and healthcare networks to ensure potential exploits are patched before cyber adversaries can exploit them.

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New York State Hyperscale Moratorium & Grid Policy

July 14, 2026

The Governor of New York State, Kathy Hochul, has enacted an executive order imposing a statewide one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centre construction across New York State. The pause is designed to protect local ratepayers from rising energy costs while state authorities modernize transmission grid infrastructure to handle massive power demands from AI computing. The measure establishes the DIGIT Office and a community investment framework to harmonise private technology expansion with regional environmental and energy goals.

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Canada Publishes National AI Strategy

June 4, 2026

Canada has published AI for All, a multi-billion-dollar framework to position the country as a global technology leader across six pillars. The strategy prioritises sovereign AI compute infrastructure, the commercialisation of domestic tech firms, and targeted AI sector missions, including an initial £115m ($200m CAD) allocation dedicated to AI integration in healthcare diagnostics. The policy pivots away from broad stand-alone legislation in favour of an incremental, sector-specific regulatory approach alongside a mandate for federal procurement to act as an anchor buyer for domestic AI solutions.

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Brazil Details New Cybersecurity Strategy

5 July 2026

The Brazilian Institute of Cybersecurity (IBSEC) has published an operational review of how the Plano Brasileiro de Inteligência Artificial (PBIA) handles structural vulnerabilities. The official directives dictate that digital data security is not merely a technical addendum but acts as a foundational, legally binding requirement for any state-backed AI implementation. The new strategy has a direct application to Brazil’s Smart Cities programme.

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Brazil Presents Smart City Framework to ITU

June 1, 2026

Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações and the University of Brasília have formally contributed new research papers on AI and Smart Cities to the ITU Study Group 20 in Geneva. Brazil is working on aligning its local public governance models with international standardisation rules, ensuring urban data processing is handled securely.

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Mexico Accelerates AI Framework Amidst USMCA Uncertainty

July 13, 2026

Mexico is accelerating moves to develop its own structured framework for AI among rising uncertainty over the future of North American free trade. Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies has moved forward with legislation to align technical guidelines with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to keep industrial regional trade seamless. The resulting policies intend to offer clearer transparency, corporate responsibility, and processing guidelines for businesses deploying automated algorithms.

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US Executive Order on AI Innovation and Security

June 2, 2026

Signed by President Trump, the order outlines a voluntary framework allowing frontier AI developers to share models with security agencies 30 days before public release. It establishes an AI-cybersecurity clearinghouse, enhances federal defence systems, and prioritizes criminal prosecution for AI-enabled intrusions.

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US CISA & G7 Joint Guidance on AI Software Bills of Materials

May 12, 2026

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, alongside G7 international partners, published unified guidance on minimum elements for AI SBOMs. The document provides recommendations to improve transparency, track dependencies, and protect critical software supply chains.

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US DOE SPARK Transmission and Advanced Grid Technology Funding

May 20, 2026 (Full Apps)

The Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity progressed applications for a $1.9 billion funding opportunity under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The SPARK program prioritizes accelerated reconductoring and smart grid software for real-time grid monitoring and optimisation.

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Canada Chatbot child-safety legislation under Digital Safety Act

June 2026

The Government of Canada introduced legislation to regulate social media platforms and certain AI chatbot services. The proposed law establishes a strict “Duty to Protect Children” during product design, and creates an independent Digital Safety Commission for enforcement.

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Canada PacifiCan AI & Quantum Funding in British Columbia

May 11, 2026

Canada’s federal government has announced targeted investments in innovative British Columbia firms to support global scaling and resilience. Funding will help anchor domestic artificial intelligence commercialization and quantum photonic hardware development in Canada.

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Canada PrairiesCan Regional AI Funding in Alberta

May 19, 2026

Prairies Economic Development Canada announced financial investments under the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative. The funding is directed to five Alberta-based organizations to improve industrial productivity and commercialize ethical AI systems.

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Canada sovereign compute infrastructure TELUS Engagement

May 11, 2026

The Government of Canada commenced formal engagement with TELUS to build large-scale sovereign compute and data centre networks. The strategy leverages Canada’s climate and clean energy resources to attract secure AI infrastructure investments.

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New York DFS Frontier AI Model Threat Advisory

May 21, 2026

The NY Department of Financial Services issued an advisory alerting regulated entities to the severe threat of advanced models exploiting system vulnerabilities. It urges institutions to update risk assessments and accelerate vulnerability remediation timelines.

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Mexico: Formal Insertion of IoT Curriculums in National Upper Education

June 8, 2026

The Board of Directors of the Colegio de Bachilleres has approved the integration of “Creating Smart Solutions using the Internet of Things” into the national core curriculum under Agreement SO/II-26/07. This institutional update establishes a state-backed educational framework focused on equipping upcoming labour sectors with skills to engineer interconnected IoT structures for public utility and community transformation.

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California Broadband middle-mile network USDA Telehealth Grants

June 9, 2026

Broadband for All California highlighted the expansion of middle-mile dark fibre installations across Sacramento and Sonoma counties. It also detailed the active application period for USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants, offering rural communities funding up to $750,000.

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Brazil SUS Digital AI & Health Technology proposals selection

May 2026

The Ministry of Health finalized the documentation phase for its SUS Digital Innovation Lab. It selected 398 mature technological solutions, spanning AI diagnostics, telemedicine, and IoT device networks, to begin clinical integration into the public health system.

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Brazil CGU Informa.BR AI Search Portal

May 2026

The Office of the Comptroller General announced the creation of Informa.BR during the Open Government Week. The portal leverages artificial intelligence to help citizens search and access official federal records, authority schedules, and procurement contracts.

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Brazil Piauí launch of Portuguese LLM SoberanIA

May 19, 2026

The Governor of Piauí launched the SoberanIA platform in Brasília, marking the first commercial public-private generative AI ecosystem in Portuguese. The initiative is a key pillar of Brazil’s federal strategy to reduce structural dependencies on foreign AI models.

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Brazil Ministry of Cities preliminary list for “Projeto Cidades Mais Inteligentes”

May 21, 2026

The Ministry of Cities published its preliminary selections for the Project Cidades Mais Inteligentes. Co-developed with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, the program provides technical support for sustainable digital urban planning.

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Brazil Paraná Anjo Inovador 3 Startup funding extension

May 14, 2026

The Secretary of Innovation and Artificial Intelligence of Paraná issued an official decree extending the proposal timeline for the Paraná Anjo Inovador program. The extension supports early-stage start-ups commercialising advanced AI and mechatronic systems.

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CISA Guide to Zero Trust in Operational Technology

CISA, along with the US Departments of Energy, State, War, and the FBI, have published “Adapting Zero Trust Principles to Operational Technology.” The guide helps critical infrastructure owners implement granular identity verification, secure supply chains, and network segmentation to secure OT systems against state-sponsored threat groups like Volt Typhoon.

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US DOE Funding Opportunity for Transmission Technology

The US Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity has announced a funding opportunity under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) “Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades” (SPARK). The programme aims to modernise and expand national transmission grid capacities. This funding directive emphasises the rapid deployment of innovative transmission technologies to enhance grid flexibility and lower domestic utility costs.

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US DOE to strengthen Puerto Rico’s Electric Grid

The US Department of Energy has renewed two emergency orders to further modernise and stabilise Puerto Rico’s electric grid as the island prepares for high seasonal energy demand. The orders authorise the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to run generation units vital for baseline capacity and continue vegetation management to reduce service outages.

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US HHS Virtual Medical Care Topics Refresh

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has comprehensively refreshed its Virtual Medical Care Topic Collection to incorporate modern remote clinical guidelines. The updated repository offers best practices, licensing frameworks, and triage protocols for implementing telehealth and telemedicine systems during public health emergencies or natural disasters. The resource serves as a tool to help health systems leverage virtual platforms for remote specialty consultations and emergency clinical support.

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US Army Industrial IoT & Smart Factory Modernisation

The US Army Materiel Command (AMC) has issued a Partnership Solutions Opening (PSO) via SAM.gov seeking white papers for public-private partnerships to upgrade its Organic Industrial Base (OIB). The core initiative seeks conceptual solutions to modernise existing federal repair/overhaul and electronics manufacturing installations to Industry 4.0 and 5.0 automation frameworks. The technical scope centres on integrating cyber-physical production lines with secure cloud computing frameworks and wide-scale industrial Internet of Things (IoT) sensors.

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NIST Finalizes Foundational Cybersecurity Standards for IoT Manufacturers

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published the final version of IR 8259 Rev. 1. This update provides manufacturers with a refined framework of activities to improve the “securability” of devices before they reach customers, aiming to reduce the frequency and severity of compromises in consumer and enterprise IoT ecosystems.

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Guanajuato Evolves “Entrepreneur Houses” into IoT & AI Tech Hubs

The government of Guanajuato, Mexico, has announced transformed its local entrepreneurship centres into “Puntos CercanIA.” These hubs provide residents with a structured learning path focused on AI, IoT, and cybersecurity to foster a workforce capable of supporting the region’s industrial modernisation.

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New York State Invests $10M to Expand AI Headquarters in NYC

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a performance-based grant of nearly $10 million in tax credits to support the expansion of Clay, an AI-driven market platform, in Manhattan. The initiative is part of a broader state strategy to solidify New York City as a global leader in AI innovation, with the company committing to create 500 high-paying tech jobs and invest $50 million in R&D.

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Washington DC Launches “DC Compass” AI Beta for Open Data

The US District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) has launched DC Compass, a generative AI assistant designed to help residents navigate more than 1,400 datasets. This tool allows users to query city data in natural language to generate maps and summaries, as part of the city’s “AI Values” transparency initiative.

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USSOCOM: RCA 17 Technical Experimentation (IoT & InfoTech)

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has conducted RCA 17, a technical experimentation event designed to evaluate emerging technologies. The procurement process included a dedicated window for Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to review IoT and Information Technology solutions intended for specialized tactical environments.

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