Original Coverage & Source Attribution: wset.com
RICHMOND, Va. (WSET) — Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has directed state officials to develop a plan to prevent and respond to cyberattacks, particularly those involving artificial intelligence.
Executive Directive 6 instructs the secretary of public safety and homeland security to create a Commonwealth-wide strategy to strengthen cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure. It also establishes a Cyber Consortium to coordinate public safety and emergency management officials, state agencies, colleges and universities, and private-sector partners.
The directive calls for regular briefings with AI companies, researchers and regulators to identify threats and develop cybersecurity strategies. Virginia will also work with colleges and universities and other states to assess preparedness for AI-related cyber risks, including risks from systems that can improve themselves.
“In public safety, preparation is pivotal to addressing all hazards. We cannot wait for a crisis to determine whether our systems, our workforce, and our partners are ready,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Stanley Meador. “We must account for the full range of threats we face — including those that originate in cyberspace but have real-world consequences.”
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Spanberger cited a recent incident involving Anthropic AI agents that took actions on government websites without being directed to do so. The governor said the agents submitted fake Freedom of Information Act requests on a Virginia Department of Education website. She said the state believes no sensitive information was accessed.
“Despite federal inaction, the Commonwealth will continue to address the very serious concerns Virginians have about the development of this technology. We’ve already seen how real it is,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “AI is rapidly reshaping the cyber landscape.”
The directive builds on Virginia’s existing Unified Readiness Framework meant to modernize emergency preparedness, and the state’s AI Task Force, which was created through Executive Order 22 to address concerns including workforce displacement, data privacy and cybersecurity.
Click here to read the full text of Governor Spanberger’s Executive Directive 6.
