Welcome to the September 22, 2025 edition of ACM TechNews, providing timely information for computer professionals three times a week.

HEADLINES AT A GLANCE

• U.S. to Impose $100,000 Fee Per Year for H-1B Visas
• Airport Cyberattack Disrupts Flights Across Europe
• U.S. Launches Effort to Speed Power Grid Projects for AI
• Amazon Launches AR Soccer Coverage
• Researchers Re-imagine the Mouse
• Want to Foil an AI Deepfake? Tell It to Draw a Smiley Face
• OSU Requires Students to Study AI
• Has Britain Gone Too Far with Digital Controls?
• Europe Turns to Ukrainian Tech for ‘Drone Wall’ Against Russia
• Hard Drives Are Making a Comeback
• Hackers Target World's Shipping
• San Francisco Billboard Challenges AI Engineers

U.S. to Impose $100,000 Fee Per Year for H-1B Visas

The White House announced Friday that it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas. Government data indicates about two-thirds of jobs secured through the H1-B program are computer-related. India was the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of those approved, while China was second at 11.7%. In the first half of 2025, Amazon had more than 10,000 H-1B visas approved, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms had over 5,000 H-1B visa approvals each.
[ » Read full article ]

Airport Cyberattack Disrupts Flights Across Europe

A cyberattack on Collins Aerospace’s check-in software disrupted operations at major European airports for a second day on Sunday, with Belgium's Brussels Airport hardest hit. The airport asked airlines to cancel nearly 140 Monday departures—about half its scheduled flights—after canceling 75 flights over the weekend. Staff resorted to handwritten boarding passes and backup laptops as manual check-in continued. The attack’s origin remains unclear.
[ » Read full article ]

U.S. Launches Effort to Speed Power Grid Projects for AI

The U.S. launched the “Speed to Power” program to accelerate power generation and grid projects as AI, datacenters, and electric vehicles drive U.S. electricity demand higher. The Department of Energy is seeking input from utilities and grid operators on projects, financing needs, and obstacles to expansion. As part of the effort, several coal and gas plants scheduled for closure have been ordered to remain online. Meanwhile, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission introduced new rules to bolster grid reliability and cybersecurity.
[ » Read full article ]

Amazon Launches AR Soccer Coverage

Amazon has rolled out its Prime Vision feed for live U.K. soccer matches. The feed combines real-time tactical analysis and augmented reality data graphics, with players' names, running speeds, jump heights, and more overlaid on the live video stream. Pop-ups show up for shots on target, displaying goal probability and ball speed. Other features include "tactical maps" indicating each player's live position and a "momentum bar" highlighting the team likely to be the next to score.
[ » Read full article *May Require Paid Registration ]

Researchers Re-imagine the Mouse

Researchers at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan have developed experimental alternatives to the traditional computer mouse, which they argue contributes to rising wrist and forearm disorders due to its rigid design. Their “Fleximouse,” a squeezable pink mesh device, allows users to control the cursor with grip pressure rather than repetitive wrist movements, but showed reduced efficiency compared to standard mice in testing. A vertical “A-frame” prototype mouse aimed to minimize strain but struggled with fit across different hand sizes.
[ » Read full article ]

Want to Foil an AI Deepfake? Tell It to Draw a Smiley Face

As deepfake scams targeting businesses surge, companies are adopting low-tech defenses to outsmart AI-generated impersonators. Instead of relying solely on advanced detection tools, experts recommend analog tactics, such as asking off-topic questions, requesting doodles, or showing physical objects—to expose impostors. Theresa Payton of cyber company Fortalice Solutions said analog tactics work because attackers expect their quarry to behave a certain way, “So when they expect our clients to zig, we give them processes that make our clients zag.”
[ » Read full article *May Require Paid Registration ]

OSU Requires Students to Study AI

Ohio State University (OSU) has rolled out the AI Fluency initiative, under which all freshmen starting this year are required to take a generative AI course and several workshops designed to provide real-world applications of the technology. The goal is for all students in the class of 2029 and beyond to be fluent in both their major and AI when they graduate.
[ » Read full article ]

Has Britain Gone Too Far with Digital Controls?

Britain has expanded digital surveillance and regulation, raising debates over privacy and civil liberties. Police increasingly use live facial recognition, with over 1,000 people cited in London since January 2024. Authorities have also strengthened online safety laws, AI-assisted asylum processing, and encryption oversight. Facial recognition and AI tools are being integrated across policing, immigration, and prisons. The government stresses public safety, but privacy advocates and some politicians argue the policies risk normalizing intrusive monitoring in everyday life.
[ » Read full article ]

Europe Turns to Ukrainian Tech for ‘Drone Wall’ Against Russia

The EU is moving quickly to build a “drone wall” on its eastern border using Ukrainian battle-tested technology, after Russian drones entered NATO airspace in Poland and Romania. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced €6 billion in financing to back a “drone alliance” with Kyiv, aiming to industrialize Ukraine’s innovations. Until the “drone wall” is in place, NATO has launched an air defense mission using fighter jets, ships, and reconnaissance systems along its eastern border.
[ » Read full article ]

Hard Drives Are Making a Comeback

Hard drives are experiencing a resurgence as AI fuels demand for storage. Western Digital and Seagate, the industry’s dominant players, reported roughly 30% revenue growth in their latest quarters, driven by rising sales of high-capacity drives. Gartner forecasts global hard-drive revenue will hit $24 billion in 2026, double what it was in 2023. Said Western Digital's Kris Sennesael, “You don’t have AI without data, you don’t have data without storage.”
[ » Read full article *May Require Paid Registration ]

Hackers Target World's Shipping

Cyberattacks on the global shipping industry are surging, with incidents rising from 10 in 2021 to at least 64 in 2023. Nigerian gangs are behind many “man-in-the-middle” frauds and ransomware attacks, while state-linked hackers from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran also target ships and ports. Costs are soaring, with the average ransom now reaching $3.2 million. Increased digitization, satellite connectivity, GPS jamming, and outdated ship systems have expanded vulnerabilities.
[ » Read full article ]

San Francisco Billboard Challenges AI Engineers

In San Francisco, a billboard featuring five strings of numbers was part of an effort by local start-up Listen Labs to recruit AI engineers. The ad concealed a coding challenge that, once solved, led to a website where participants were challenged to build an algorithm to act as a digital bouncer at Berghain, a Berlin nightclub known for its restrictive entry policy. The puzzle went viral online, attracting thousands of participants; 430 solved it, and 60 advanced to interviews, with some already hired.
[ » Read full article ]