The Center for Privacy and Technology (CPT) at Georgetown Law analyzed Customs and Border Protection data and found that between 2020 and 2024, the Department of Homeland Security captured the DNA of approximately 2,000 US citizens and, in some cases, without stating any reason for doing so. All of the DNA collected, which includes that of non-citizens as well, is uploaded to CODIS, the national policing database. CPT concludes that in addition to this program being a flagrant abuse of power, it also violates federal law. Unlike other forms of mass surveillance, genetic surveillance doesn’t solely affect the surveilled parties; DNA samples can reveal information not just about an individual’s personal details but also those of any of their biological relations that exist today and may exist in the future. CPT urges House and Senate oversight committees to disclose any information related to the development or procurement of new DNA analysis technologies. 

rBio, an AI model trained to reason about cellular biology using virtual simulations, is poised to accelerate biomedical research and drug discovery. rBio addresses a fundamental challenge in applying AI to biological research: a user interface that allows molecular data that can be queried in natural language. The company operates one of the largest repositories of single-cell biological data, which was generated to minimize bias in cell types, ancestry, tissues, and donors. This focus on bias is essential when training AI models that could influence medical decisions. The initiative is open source and available for free to the broader research community.

SpaceX is paying $17 billion for the rights to some of EchoStar’s valuable spectrum for cellphone service. The company is already a growing home broadband provider through Starlink and has a US partnership with T-Mobile. SpaceX says this new deal is a foundation for Starlink’s direct-to-cell business around the globe.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a rival to Musk’s Starlink, now has over 100 satellites in orbit, with more set to launch in the coming months. Amazon’s goal is for Kuiper to have around 3,200 satellites in total. The project just marked a significant milestone on the road to being able to offer continuous internet service from space: delivering a 1,280 Mbps download rate. JetBlue recently became the first airline to use Project Kuiper to provide wi-fi service to a quarter of its fleet, with passengers expected to get access to the service in 2027.

SpaceX’s Starship is currently the most viable hardware for both a lunar and Mars exploration program, but if it continues in its pattern of consecutive failures, it makes it easier for Congress to continue funding NASA’s spacecraft, as it would prefer to do. Ars Technica reports that multiple sources have indicated that US officials are looking for alternatives to SpaceX and have indicated that they will seek to buy rocket launches, satellite internet, and other services from emerging competitors if available.