In July 2023, Alberta Dental Service Corporation (ADSC), a non-profit organization that administered publicly funded dental benefit programs on behalf of the Government of Alberta, became the victim of a double-extortion ransomware when data regarding 1.47 million individuals and dental service providers was copied to an outside location and data found on the ADSC’s system was encrypted, making it unusable. The leaked data included personal banking .....more

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was responsible for ensuring transportation safety, especially with air travel. Between 2015 and 2019, TSA came under scrutiny for its use of behaviour detection as part of a risk-based process of security screening. Security officers were expected to observe passengers and rate them based on 92 risk indicators, sending passengers who were deemed high risk to secondary screening. False positive screening .....more

Supplement for product W39843.

In January 2025, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) banned the use of wood and charcoal-fuelled ovens in commercial bakeries and eateries as part of the Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan. While the ban was aimed at curbing pollution, it triggered strong opposition from multiple stakeholders, including street vendors, small businesses, and consumers, who feared economic hardship, job losses, and the erosion of Mumbai’s street food culture. .....more

In 2023, the chief innovation officer of the City of Boston, in the US state of Massachusetts, was trying to determine the best approach for the integration of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) into the city’s workflows. Based on his research findings on GAI, he was preparing to advise the City of Boston’s mayor, a progressive leader who was focused on innovation and equity. As part of his presentation to the mayor, the chief innovation officer .....more

Created to foster innovation within public services, NIDO—the innovation lab of the Belgian federal government—aimed to encourage experimentation and the development of innovative solutions. While it had been responsible for notable initiatives such as the Network Innovation program, the Federal Innovation Award, and Gov Buys Innovation, in September 2023, NIDO faced significant challenges, including the lack of a well-defined mission or strategic .....more

This case examines the complexities of using machine learning (ML) in judicial decision-making through the development and application of the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) tool for assessing recidivism risk. It contrasts two perspectives: one highlighting algorithmic efficiency and objectivity, the other raising concerns about bias, fairness, and ethical dilemmas. Students explore the ML development .....more

Akanksha Tiwari served as the chief executive officer of the Varanasi Cantonment Board and faced the challenge of preparing for the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) meetings in Varanasi, India. Recognizing the need to enhance the cantonment’s appeal, Tiwari and her team had initiated several cleanliness and beautification efforts through the Swachh Chhawani, Swasth Chhawani program, which aligned with the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission. These .....more

Dr. Fadia Kiwan, a Lebanese political-science professor at Saint-Joseph University and the director general of the Arab Women Organization, had observed through her work that Lebanon's socio-political landscape presented both opportunities and challenges for women's empowerment. Thus, in February 2022, she faced a significant career dilemma: she could run for Lebanon’s upcoming parliamentary elections or continue her impactful roles in academia .....more

On February 10, 2023, Toronto mayor John Tory stunned the city by holding an evening press conference to announce his resignation. Tory admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with a junior staff member in his office. While Toronto city council scrambled to deal with the fallout of Tory’s abrupt announcement, public opinion about it was deeply divided. From politicians to pundits to the general public, it seemed everyone had something to .....more