Emerging Tech

A Robot Buoy That Can Save Whales From Boat Strikes

A new surveillance system off the coast of New York aims to help keep the creatures out of harm’s way.

Digital Government

The Startup That Watches Corn Grow, From Orbit

Descartes Labs is estimating the health of the American corn crop every week this harvest season.

Modernization

How USAID Thinks About Mobile Apps

If apps don't communicate with each other, the data they collect isn't useful to aid workers.

Modernization

IaaS Growth Drives Federal Cloud Market

Infrastructure-as-a-service offerings lead federal cloud purchases, but other categories show growth.

Emerging Tech

Can Encryption Protect Government Files Forever?

Suddenly, just like athletes who might initially be able to hide their doping only to later get caught by improved testing standards, the government found itself relying on a protection scheme that could no longer keep hidden its secrets.

Digital Government

OMB Stresses Security in Info Management Update

This is the first time since 2000 the "Circular A-130: Managing Information as a Strategic Resource" has been updated.

Cybersecurity

House Committee Chair Opens Inquiry Into Foreigners’ Access to OPM Data

Some OPM contractors may have handed "foreign governments direct access to data long before the recent reported breaches," according to Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas.

Ideas

It's Time to Update the 30-Year-Old Electronic Communications Privacy Act

The Law Enforcement Access to Data Stored Abroad Act would improve international data sharing among law enforcement while protecting the privacy of individuals.

Digital Government

Defense Intelligence Agency Is Scoping Out Social Media Background Checkers

The effort is part of a shift away from screening intelligence and military staff every five years, as is current practice.

Digital Government

The Many Ways to Map the Brain

It takes both science and art to make sense of the organ’s complexities.

Modernization

Will the Government Go for Pokemon Go?

The new augmented reality app is a feat of data-mapping technology.

Cybersecurity

When Should Hacking Be Legal?

A group of academics and journalists say a federal computer-fraud law criminalizes their work.

Digital Government

Can the Freedom of Information Act Be Fixed?

President Obama signs into law a much-needed update. But will it change anything?

Digital Government

A Tesla Fatality and the Future of Self-Driving Cars

The Model S’s Autopilot isn’t technically a driverless feature, but the federal investigation into why a driver using it was killed will still influence the future of driverless vehicles.

Emerging Tech

The Intelligence Community Will Monitor Wearables to Find the Perfect Spy

The new program will measure each volunteer's biometric signals during their daily activities, according the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Digital Government

Should Border Agents Scroll Through Foreigners’ Facebook Profiles?

A proposed change to a common U.S. customs form would allow the government to vet travelers’ social media accounts.

Emerging Tech

What the Military Is Learning From a Chameleon Sandbox

Made up of kinetic sand, a toy that feels like the stuff on the beach but has the consistency of Silly Putty, the system's miniature bridges, lakes and other structures morph -- or disappear -- when a finger crushes critical infrastructure.