From data breaches to denial of service attacks, the private sector routinely faces a barrage of threats from those seeking to wreak havoc on their digital systems. When faced with an attack, companies can take steps to secure their own systems, but they are not authorized to retaliate against any system that they do not own. What are the domestic and international implications of authorizing private entities to engage in offensive cybersecurity operations?
Event Archive
March 22, 2019
ITIF and an expert panel discussed the consequences of various reforms to the U.S. Postal Service.
March 7, 2019
America’s ascendance as the world’s leader in life-sciences innovation has been the result of thoughtful, intentional public policies, including robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
March 5, 2019
ITIF released a comprehensive report on DOD’s energy innovation effort and hosted an expert panel discussion on its relevance to the fight to reduce carbon emissions, including ways civilian agencies might better leverage DOD’s investments.
February 20, 2019
ITIF's Center for Data Innovation hosted a conversation about how the public and private sectors can work together to accelerate the use of Artificial Intelligence to combat fake news as the European Union prepares for its 2019 elections.
February 12, 2019
From Silicon Valley to Detroit, a well-publicized race is on to develop self-driving passenger cars. But properly supervising rapidly developing technology also presents regulators with significant challenges to effectively ensure both safety and robust innovation; especially given the fact that each freight industry answers to a different authority, lawmakers and regulators should carefully consider the knock-on effects of any rules they draft.
February 7, 2019
President Trump signed the OPEN Government Data Act (H.R. 4174) on January 14, 2019. The law is a major milestone for open data. Now that the law has been enacted, what should Congress and the administration do next to ensure the benefits of open data are fully realized?
January 28, 2019
Significant advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the past decade have led to many debates about the potential social, economic, and security impact of AI. However, little sustained attention has been paid to the impact of AI on international relations or how the technology impacts the work of diplomats and policy makers.
December 12, 2018
While the technology industry was once seen as being committed to building a better and smarter world, shifting public perceptions towards the tech industry have caused it to go on the defensive when it comes to issues ranging from data privacy to income equity, workplace diversity, and antitrust enforcement. Has the technology industry become worthy of the same scrutiny as the oil, banking, or airline industry? Join ITIF for an in-depth discussion of these critical issues, including an assessment of the validity of commonly voiced concerns and what the industry needs to do to avoid becoming the next Big Oil.
December 11, 2018
What should we make of large corporations today? Of all that can be said about large corporations—statistics, anecdotes, trend lines, and historical comparisons—which are the facts that matter most, and how should policymakers respond? Join ITIF for a spirited debate moderated by CNN's Lydia DePillis between ITIF President Robert Atkinson and Columbia University Law Professor Tim Wu on the role and influence of big business in today’s economy and society.