Emerging Tech

EEOC says HR software company Workday should face bias claims in lawsuit

The federal agency filed an amicus brief in a case in which a job applicant is alleging algorithmic discrimination.

Digital Government

Supreme Court clarifies when public officials can block citizens on social media

The Supreme Court unanimously found in a pair of cases that whether a government official can block a constituent on their personal social media account hinges on if a post is a state action or is private conduct.

Exclusive Cybersecurity

Flaws in public records management tool could let hackers nab sensitive data linked to requests

The GovQA platform, created by IT company Granicus, contained vulnerabilities that could have let cybercriminals retrieve tranches of sensitive files tied to public records requests, a security researcher revealed to Nextgov/FCW.

Policy

Biden admin to seek surveillance court blessing to renew Section 702 program through next year

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court will receive the White House filing next month.

Artificial Intelligence

Roberts: Legal field will be ‘significantly affected by AI’

Chief Justice John Roberts focused his end-of-year report on the intersection of technology and the legal system.

Digital Government

Federal Judge Declines to Block Vaccine Mandate for Feds

Judge says the challenge is both premature and unlikely to supersede the public interest in ending the pandemic.

Modernization

Supreme Court Ends Oracle’s JEDI Challenge

Oracle first challenged the Pentagon’s Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud contract in 2018.

Modernization

Justice Official Recommends Supreme Court Reject Oracle’s JEDI Petition  

Oracle has not won at any level of court despite numerous bid protests against the Pentagon’s Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract.

Modernization

Court to Explore Whether Trump Administration Interfered in JEDI Cloud Contract

The Defense Department previously said lengthy litigation could bring the contract’s future into question.

Cybersecurity

Bill Would Eliminate Immunity for Foreign Hackers

The Homeland and Cyber Threat Act would amend the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to give Americans legal recourse for damages caused by foreign hackers.

Modernization

Pentagon Hints It Could Abandon the JEDI Cloud Effort

The department still urgently needs an enterprise cloud and indicates it may consider other options.

Ideas

Google Antitrust Case Suggests Apple Should Be in the Department of Justice’s Crosshairs Too

Apple’s role as the gateway to billions of searches is the critical factor here.

Digital Government

Union Sues and Democrats Introduce Bill to Block Trump Order Politicizing Civil Service

As opponents of the president’s effort to convert chunks of the federal workforce into at-will employees kick off their efforts to stop the initiative, the administration has signaled that agencies can push forward ahead of schedule.

Modernization

Court Clarifies Timeline in JEDI Case

Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith issued deadlines through December for the Pentagon’s Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract.

Emerging Tech

After Decision Upholding FCC’s 5G Rules, Cities Now Weighing Appeal

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals largely upheld FCC rules limiting local government’s ability to regulate 5G infrastructure and cap fees. Cities involved in the case have until Sept. 28 to file an appeal, but some experts say the ruling wasn’t all bad.

Digital Government

Trump Administration Appeals Block on Census Immigration Plan

Experts have been skeptical about the feasibility of the plan to identify people living here illegally.

Digital Government

USPS Is Fighting to Block the Release of Data on Mail Delays

The Postal Service is fending off pressures before its regulator and federal courts, but it's already suffered one setback.

Digital Government

110,000 Americans Died Waiting for Social Security Disability Benefits in Last Decade 

Americans waited an average of more than two years for benefits decisions from the government during the past decade.