Module 20 Lesson 4: AI in Government Security
Protecting the public trust. Learn the unique requirements for AI security in the public sector, from FedRAMP compliance to securing citizen data.
Module 20 Lesson 4: AI security in Government and the Public Sector
In Government, AI is used for Citizen Services, Policy Analysis, and National Security. The focus is on Sovereignty, Accountability, and Transparency.
1. The "Sovereign AI" Requirement
Governments cannot use public cloud APIs for sensitive data because of the Extraterritoriality risk (a foreign government could subpoena the provider for the data).
- The Fix: On-Premise / Private Region Deployment.
- Example: US Gov uses "GovCloud" regions where only US citizens manage the servers.
- Example: Germany uses "Open CoDE" to build their own local AI infrastructure.
2. FedRAMP and Security Clearances
For a government agency to use an AI tool, it must pass FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program).
- This involves an intense audit of the entire stack (Module 11), including the background checks of the developers and the physical security of the GPUs.
3. The "Automated Bureaucracy" Risk
If an AI is used to process "Benfit Applications" or "Tax Audits":
- The Attack: Logic Exploitation. Attacker figures out the secret "Heuristics" the AI uses to approve an application.
- They craft a specific bio or application that triggers the "Auto-Approve" logic, defrauding the state.
- The Defense: Audit Trails. Every AI decision must be traceable to the specific document and rule that caused it.
4. Disinformation and Public Trust
Governments use AI to summarize public sentiment.
- The Attack: Foreign Influence Operations. A foreign actor uses an LLM to generate 100,000 "Local Citizen" emails to a representative, using AI to make each one unique.
- The Result: The government's "AI Sentiment Analyzer" reports a "Massive public demand" for a policy that is actually fake.
Exercise: The Public Sector Auditor
- Why is "Transparency" more important for a government AI than for a private company AI?
- What is the difference between "Region-Locked" data and "Sovereign" data?
- How can a government agency defend against "AI-Generated Astroturfing" (fake public support)?
- Research: What is "Executive Order 14110" on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence?
Summary
Government AI security is about Democratic Integrity. To be successful, you must ensure that AI remains a "Servant of the People" and is protected from both internal bias and external manipulation.
Next Lesson: Protecting the grid: AI in Critical Infrastructure and Industrial Control.