Ideas
DATA Act at Year 1: In Need of a Growth Hormone
For the first time, the DATA Act has made it someone's job to define, and later enforce, common standards that will allow users to match and search across financial, budget and award reports.
Emerging Tech
Can Analytics Save US Soldiers from Suicide?
The Army is in the midst of a five-year effort that aims to identify factors that protect or put at risk a soldier’s mental health.
Modernization
How to Use Mobile Phone Data for Good Without Invading Anyone’s Privacy
Call-data records show the true nature of social networks and human movement.
Digital Government
How the Pentagon Could Soon Share Americans’ Data With Foreign Militaries
The new cyber strategy could provide allies with Americans’ information gathered under proposed legislation.
Digital Government
With Patriot Act Deadline Closing In, House Advances Bill to Limit NSA Spying
Nearly two years after the Snowden revelations began, lawmakers are scrambling to rein in government surveillance—before it’s too late.
Emerging Tech
Could Big Data Fix Government’s Cyber Problem?
A majority of federal, local and state cybersecurity professionals polled in a new study believe their organizations are “overwhelmed” by the volume of security data.
Digital Government
Senate and House Bills Would Effectively End NSA Mass Surveillance
The effort would stop the spy agency’s bulk collection of U.S. phone records, the first and one of the most controversial programs exposed by Edward Snowden nearly two years ago.
Digital Government
GSA to Host Data-Infused Hackathon
Participants will be tasked with designing innovative tools to improve data collection at GSA and other agencies.
Digital Government
Germans Are Paranoid that the US Is Spying on Their Data
Germany deeply distrusts how the U.S. handles digital data.
Digital Government
Why Rand Paul is Suddenly Silent about NSA Surveillance
Rand Paul hates the Patriot Act and NSA mass surveillance. Just don't ask him what he thinks of fellow Kentuckian Mitch McConnell's plan to keep both alive.
Digital Government
House Lawmakers Float Bill to End NSA Mass Surveillance
A bipartisan group is launching a final push to reform the government’s spying apparatus.
Digital Government
McConnell Introduces Bill to Authorize NSA Surveillance Until 2020
The move may thwart any attempt to reform the NSA’s mass-surveillance authorities.
Digital Government
Key Republican Is Not on Board With NSA Reform
Despite weeks of negotiations involving his staff, Sen. Chuck Grassley said Tuesday he still has concerns about the USA Freedom Act.
Emerging Tech
Tech Giants Team Up to Unleash NOAA’s Data
NOAA will partner with major cloud computing providers to explore ways the agency might better unleash its vast environmental data stores for the public good.
Digital Government
Feds Heighten Scrutiny of TSA Screeners and Aviation Staff to Thwart Insider Threat
The prospective measures stem from a report the Department of Homeland Security requested after a former baggage handler last December allegedly helped smuggle loaded guns aboard a plane bound for New York City.
Digital Government
Congress to Introduce Last-Ditch Bill to Reform NSA Spying
With the clock winding down, lawmakers in both chambers are staging one last attempt to rein in the government’s surveillance powers.
Digital Government
SEC Reveals It Doesn’t Use Email Snooping Power It Defends
Chairwoman Mary Jo White said the commission isn’t using subpoenas to acquire emails from ISPs, despite a long-running defense of the practice.
Emerging Tech
A New Satellite for One of the Great U.S. Space Programs
Landsat 9 will launch in 2023, and promises the continuity of a critical, long-running database for imagery of the Earth's surface.
Artificial Intelligence
Google Has Patented Ability to Control Robot Army
The patent suggests the robots could be controlled by a smartphone
Artificial Intelligence