NIST publishes a high-level road map for moving to post-quantum cryptography
Generic image of server racks in a data centre room, with a mobile monitor cart in front of them. It is not a picture of NIST, its campus or the report..Photo: Brett Sayles / Pexels, Pexels License
From 2 November 2026, Swiss citizens can apply, if they wish, for a new identity card with a chip holding a facial image and two fingerprints, a federal announcement of 19 October 2026 says. The federal release says the fee for the biometric card is the same as for the chipless card, and recommends the biometric card for people travelling within the EU who want an ID that can also be read and checked electronically. It says the card is to be distinguished from the electronic proof of identity (e-ID). Südostschweiz reported on 31 October 2026 an adult fee of 65 francs plus 5 francs for delivery.
The General Services Administration (GSA) has signed a OneGov agreement with US AI. Nextgov reports that US AI is a North Bethesda, Maryland, company and that it is GSA's first direct-to-government OneGov deal with an 8(a) certified small business. GSA's listing offers federal agencies up to 30 per cent off eligible software licences, plus two-week proof-of-value pilots for $1, on a FedRAMP High-authorised platform. GSA describes the offer as a limited-time offering that expires on 30 September 2028. The entry shows no signing date. GSA lists these terms under the US AI entry.
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Directive 6 on 23 October. It tells the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to set up a Cyber Consortium, which must adopt a statewide cyberattack prevention and response plan and an infrastructure-hardening plan that address AI-related risks. AI companies are to be asked to share with the Cyber Consortium the confidential briefings and reports they give other government bodies, including New York's Department of Financial Services under the RAISE Act and the European AI Office. The secretary is to aim for briefings on AI risks at least quarterly, and a tabletop exercise at least yearly. Other states will be invited to join.
Japan's Digital Agency said on 22 October that data may have leaked after a third party accessed the cloud environment of Studio, whose service ran part of its website. The agency lists five categories of potentially affected contact-form submissions, each a maximum, together at most 13,323, including up to 3,661 enquiries about its vaccination certificate app, plus 35 staff or contractor accounts. The agency says the scope is being examined and no misuse has been confirmed. Aomori Prefecture said on 21 October that data on 206 event applicants, collected by its contractor on Studio, may have leaked.
