Emerging Tech

The ‘Platform’ Excuse Is Dying

For years, tech companies have relied on a rhetorical sleight of hand. It’s not working anymore.

Emerging Tech

Survey: U.S. Air Travelers Approve of Biometric Identification

A large majority of respondents said they are willing to give up their biometric data—when they perceive a security benefit.

Cybersecurity

Senators Want to Know If CMS Paid China-Linked Companies for Genetic Testing

Sens. Marco Rubio and Chuck Grassley want more information on how the agency is protecting Americans’ genomic data from foreign entities.

Cybersecurity

CBP Says Thousands of Traveler Photos Stolen in ‘Malicious Cyber-Attack’

The breach happened at one of the agency’s subcontractors and didn’t involve any data collected under its facial recognition program, officials said.

Digital Government

GSA Seeks Industry Feedback in Schedules Consolidation Effort

The agency wants buyers and sellers to weigh in as it works to modernize the Schedules process.

Emerging Tech

Report: White House Should Promote Blockchain with the Federal Data Strategy

By promoting trust and transparency, the tech could encourage agencies to share more information with one another, according to the Data Foundation and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Ideas

Federal Data is Exploding at the Edge. Is It Secure?

Mobility means the government needs to be able to lock down information, retrieve it back, encrypt it—even after it’s already been sent.

Cybersecurity

Census’ Cybersecurity Plan is Full of Holes, Watchdog Says

The 2020 Census will be a prime target for digital adversaries, but the plans for fighting those threats are incomplete and outdated, the Government Accountability Office found.

Emerging Tech

CBP’s Airport Facial Recognition ‘Is Not a Surveillance Program’

As the public grows wary of facial recognition, the head of CBP’s biometric entry and exit initiative says the agency is using the tech responsibly.

Podcasts

Critical Update: At Your Digital Service, Part 2

We talk with U.S. Digital Service project managers for a ground-level view of what it really takes to make innovation happen in government.

Artificial Intelligence

How the Bureau of Labor Statistics is Ditching Hand-coding Data

Using some DIY-attitude and machine learning tools, BLS figured out how to automate 85% of its survey workload.

Cybersecurity

The Pentagon is Trying to Secure Its Networks Against Quantum Codebreakers

The Defense Information Systems Agency is exploring new encryption strategies that could withstand an attack from quantum computers.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers Want to Ban Warrantless Device Searches at the Border

Sens. Ron Wyden and Rand Paul introduced a bill that would curb law enforcement’s extensive authority over personal data at the border.

Emerging Tech

Democrats, Republicans Both Want to Regulate Facial Recognition

If left unchecked, lawmakers worry the tech will infringe on Americans’ privacy and civil liberties, and perpetuate racial and gender discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Digital Government

Defense Digital Service Awards ‘Civilian Hiring as a Service’ Contract

The Pentagon’s nerd squad is rethinking how it hires talent in fields like cybersecurity, computer science and user experience design.

Cybersecurity

NASA Official Credits DHS’ Cyber Tools with Transforming Its Cyber Stance

The space agency has a much better grip on its vast data since it has deployed Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation tech.