Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law

Tarun Chhabra, Andre Douglas, Edward W. Felten, and Laurie N. Hobart discuss the challenge of avoiding bias and discriminationand of protecting civil liberties and privacywhen designing, modeling, deploying, and "teaching" AI systems, at the Oct. 28 "National Security Law and the Coming AI Revolution" symposium.

John Cherry, Margarita Konaev, Jason Stack, and Iben Yde anaylze how AI is transforming the laws of armed conflict, humanitarian law, defense policy, and military operations at the Oct. 28 "National Security Law and the Coming AI Revolution" symposium.

The symposium "National Security Law and the Coming AI Revolution" kicked off at 2p.m. on October 28, with Matt Mittelsteadt, Artificial Intelligence Research Fellow in the Institute for Security Policy and Law (SPL), providing a "plain English" introduction to AI for attendees wishing to get up to speed on this emerging technology. Mittelsteadt covered such concepts as deep learning, machine speed, algorithms, ASCII code, neural networks, and discreet decision-making.... The Hon. James E. Baker, SPL Director, then introduced the rest of the days program, featuring panels on AI and the Law of Armed Conflict; Bias, Data, and Principles; and National Security Decision-Making. Of AI, Judge Baker told attendees, "It is here, and it will transform national security practice. National security lawyers are particularly suited to address matters of ethics and process that it raises." The virtual symposium is a collaboration between the SPL and the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.

To Syracuse, and beyond! Professor Mark Nevitt's Law of the Global Commons class welcomed former NASA Administrator and University Professor Sean O’Keefe on Oct. 28, 2020. O'Keefe discussed the future of space law and policy, with an emphasis on space privatization and the challenges that lawyers, policymakers, and leaders will need to wrestle with in the coming decades. "For me, this was truly the highlight of my semester and reflected the strength of Syracuse’s inter-disciplinary approach to education," says Nevitt. "It also showcases the great teamwork between the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the College of Law."

Professor Mark Nevitt on Pentagon Labyrinth: What’s the Military’s Role in a Contested Election? "We are on the eve of what could be a contentious and disputed election, and a turbulent transition. Given the possibility that we will not know who the winner is for some time after November 3, there are increased concerns about domestic disturbances and violence." https://www.pogo.org//whats-the-militarys-role-in-a-conte/

Professor William C. Banks Helps Military Times Explain Martial Law "... martial law isn’t described or confined or limited, proscribed in any way by the Constitution or laws ... If someone has declared martial law, they’re essentially saying that they are the law ..." https://www.militarytimes.com//how-the-president-could-in/

Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law and the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service present a one-day virtual symposium on: National Security Law and the Coming AI Revolution Oct. 29, 2020 | 2 6 p.m.... AI & the Law of Armed Conflict AI & National Security Ethics: Bias, Data, & Principles AI & National Security Decision-Making Where Are We Headed? More information and to register: https://securitypolicylaw.syr.edu/symposium-national-secur/

Professor Mark Nevitt in Just SecurityDomestic Military Operations Part 2 (on the National Guard, Posse Comitatus, and more): "The Trump Administration’s threatened and actual use of the military showcase the need to rely less on historical norms and more on legal authority" ... https://www.justsecurity.org//good-governance-paper-no-6-/

Institute for Security Policy and Law Experts Featured in JNSLP COVID-19 Special Issue ... Among the articles, Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law Director the Hon. James. E. Baker discusses "Leadership in a Time of Pandemic" in the journal's lead article, as well as the importance of using the Defense Production Act to its fullest extent during a health crisis. In his article, Professor Mark P. Nevitt evaluates the responses of different branches of the... military and argues that the current public health crisis could be an opportunity to reevaluate the governance of domestic military operations ... https://jnslp.com/topics/read/vol-11-no-1/

Professor Mark Nevitt in Just Security: Reforming the Insurrection Act "The governance stakes are simply too high to rely upon now-violated norms. Congress should reinvigorate its constitutional role in governing domestic military operations and provide bright legal lines addressing the president’s authority to deploy the military domestically." https://www.justsecurity.org//good-governance-paper-no-6-/

SPL alum Mark Temnycky MPA'17 offers his thoughts on the ongoing protests in Belarus and if Russia would intervene in Belarus ... https://cepa.org/will-russia-invade-belarus/

Professor Corri Zoli Joins HDIAC Podcast to Discuss Culture and Civil-Military Relations This podcast is a multi-part series discussing the impact of culture in the context of civil-military relations. In the first episode, Dr. Corri Zoli and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs' Dr. Robert Rubinstein explore definitions of culture and discuss how different organizational cultures have led the U.S. military and humanitarian groups to pursue divergent on-the-ground security strategies in conflict zones ... https://www.hdiac.org/person/dr-corri-zoli-phd/

Professor Mark Nevitt in Newsweek: "it is too early to tell whether 2020 will see the rise of the 'climate change voter' [but] there is certainly more energy around climate change during a presidential election than at any time in my lifetime" ... https://www.newsweek.com/paris-agreement-trump-biden-electi