Emerging Tech
Army Partners with UFO Researchers to Study Active Camouflage and Other Sci-Fi Tech
The partnership will explore metamaterials, quantum communications, beamed energy propulsion and other futuristic tech for use on the military’s ground vehicles.
Modernization
Esper Recuses Himself from JEDI Cloud Contract Review
The Pentagon’s acquisition team will continue its review of bids submitted by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, as the department’s deputy secretary of defense takes over the process.
Artificial Intelligence
Trump Reestablishes Science and Tech Advisory Council
After lying dormant for almost three years, the president signed an executive order reestablishing the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and naming seven of 16 potential members.
Ideas
Data Lakes: Where Big Businesses Dump Their Excess Data, and Hackers Have a Field Day
These valuable repositories are a tempting target.
Modernization
OMB Focused on Trust and Agility in Tech Improvements
Increased agility will help tech officials maximize their IT modernization efforts—and perhaps build more trust in government among the public.
Emerging Tech
Marines Try Using Drones to Bring Blood to Battle
The light unmanned aircraft made hundreds of supply drops during recent Australian live-fire wargames.
Cybersecurity
Russian Hackers Co-Opt Iranian Cyber Tools to Attack 35 Countries, NSA Warns
In a joint advisory, U.S. and British authorities said the Turla group is piggy-backing off the work of Iranian rivals to advance its own agenda.
Emerging Tech
Justice to Require DNA Sampling of Nearly All Detained Migrants
Once collected, the samples will be moved into the FBI’s massive DNA database.
Modernization
FedBizOpps Will Be Retired After Veterans Day Weekend
The public repository of federal contracting opportunities will be migrated to a central procurement website following a weekend-long “data freeze.”
Modernization
FCC Wants Public Feedback on Plans to Fully Digitize Its Largest Licensing System
The agency filed approximately 5,000 applications manually last year.
Modernization
Federal CIO Outlines the Administration's 2020 Tech Priorities
Suzette Kent flagged priority data sets and a focus on supply chain security.
Cybersecurity
Silicon Valley Lawmaker Proposes Cyber Training for Every Federal Employee
Rep. Ro Khanna plans to introduce a bill that would require feds to learn basic cyber hygiene, including how to securely navigate the internet of things.
Policy
Privacy Bill Could Put Dishonest Tech Execs Behind Bars
The Mind Your Own Business Act would expand FTC authorities and introduce comprehensive new protections for consumers’ personal data.
Ideas
Get Proactive to Better Arm Yourself Against Cyberattacks
Agencies must move to an integrated data-driven approach aimed at predicting and preventing cyber threats.
Artificial Intelligence
Argonne Team Looks to Insect Brains as Models for Computer Chip Innovation
It’s the latest buzz in artificial intelligence.
Emerging Tech
More Wrong Answers Get Quantum Computers to Find the Right One
In quantum computers, generating more errors in a given operation may help reveal the right answer, according to new research.
Cybersecurity
VA Exposes Sensitive Veteran Data to Thousands of Unauthorized Employees
The files included medical records, internal communications and other sensitive information dating back to 2016, the inspector general found.
Emerging Tech
Lawmaker: TSA Should Halt Facial Recognition Programs Absent Formal Policies
The agency said it is working on those policies while the technology is tested through pilot programs.
Cybersecurity
Industry Wants More Legal Cover for Sharing Supply Chain Threats
Sharing potential threats are critical for ensuring companies avoid shady vendors, but under current laws, firms that do so could wind up in court.
Ideas