FEMA’s Chaotic Summer Has Gone from Bad to Worse | For Hate Groups, It's a Lucrative Era on the Internet | The Winning Economics of Cybersecurity, and more

The Winning Economics of Cybersecurity in an Age of Advanced Artificial Intelligence  (Chad Heitzenrater, RAND)
An ongoing debate in the study of cyber warfare is the relative balance between the attacker and the defender in cyberspace. In this paper, the author advances the hypothesis that, with the right investments in people, process, and technology, proliferated and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) could ultimately advantage cyber defense. He explores how advanced AI is likely to fundamentally reshape the economics of cybersecurity and examines what it will take to realize the promise of a defense-dominant cyber environment. He further hypothesizes that advanced and proliferated AI will disrupt the economics of cyber in a profound way that advantages the defender—but only if action is taken to do so.

Use Cases for Collecting Radiation Measurements with Unmanned Systems  (Angela Putney et al., RAND)
If an emergency or disaster involves or could involve radiation, first responders are in danger from something they cannot see or feel and need tools to measure the levels and types of radiation to ensure their own safety and properly respond to the emergency. Radiation detectors mounted on unmanned systems (UxSs) have the potential to aid first responders in such measurements and reduce the responders’ exposure to radiation. UxSs are relatively new tools that likely will improve responder safety and reduce the amount of time and equipment and the number of responders needed for a given situation.

Federal Judge Rejects Effort to Dismiss Lawsuit Alleging Saudi Arabia Helped 9/11 Hijackers  (CNN)
A federal judge in New York on Thursday rejected an effort from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to dismiss a lawsuit from 9/11 terror attack survivors and victims’ families alleging that the country assisted the hijackers in the lead up to the deadliest attack on US soil in its history.

For Hate Groups, It’s a Lucrative Era on the Internet  (NBC News)
Resurgent hate and extremist groups emboldened by tech companies’ relaxed moderation efforts are raking in cash across the internet, according to reports from research groups and experts. A July report from the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) found “hate not only spreading across the internet but becoming more profitable.” FCAS, a nonprofit organization started by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, said monetization efforts that once existed on the edges of the internet could now be found in more mainstream spaces, including cryptocurrencies, crowdfunding, livestreaming and merchandising.

This Is the Group That’s Been Swatting US Universities  David Gilbert, Wired)
WIRED spoke to a self-proclaimed leader of an online group called Purgatory, which charged as little as $20 to call in fake threats against schools.

FEMA’s Chaotic Summer Has Gone From Bad to Worse  Molly Taft, Wired)
Following a week of strife at the disaster relief agency, Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem told FEMA employees to “be vocal” about their positive experiences with the Trump administration.