Ideas
NASA Soups Up Mars 2020 Robot with Hi-Def Ears and Its Own Drone
The drone's helicopter rotors must spin 10 times faster than on Earth.
Digital Government
Two U.S. Senators Are Calling For an Investigation Into Google’s Tracking of Android Phones
The location history feature is being called into question.
Podcasts
Critical Update: Federal CIO Suzette Kent on Leading Governmentwide Transformation
She joins the podcast to talk about the whole-of-government IT modernization effort and what success will look like.
Cybersecurity
Agency That Vets Pentagon Contractors’ Security Isn’t Keeping Up With the Threat, Audit Finds
The Defense Security Service plans to shift to a risk-based approach, but needs to reach out to stakeholders, GAO says.
Emerging Tech
Pentagon Wants Cloud Secure Enough to Hold Nuke Secrets
The Pentagon’s JEDI cloud will be designed to store the government’s most sensitive classified information, including nuclear secrets.
Cybersecurity
Qualcomm and Other Pawns of the U.S.-China Tech Spat See Hope After a Weird Trump Tweet
Policymakers on both sides appear to be on their way to making tit-for-tat concessions in the computer-chip industry.
Emerging Tech
Boston Dynamics Is Going to Start Selling its Creepy Robots in 2019
The company will build about 100 robots over the next year.
Digital Government
Google Updates Its Privacy Policy So It's Easier to Understand
The tech giant has a lot of explaining to do when it comes to their privacy language.
Emerging Tech
The Burnout Crisis in American Medicine
Are electronic medical records and demanding regulations contributing to a historic doctor shortage?
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Bar Government Encryption Backdoors
The move comes as Attorney General Jeff Sessions is pushing for legislation to allow access to encrypted communications.
Policy
Congress Is Quietly Nudging NASA to Look for Aliens
The space agency hasn't funded the search for extraterrestrial intelligence for 25 years. Could that soon change?
Digital Government
If You Want Facebook to Stop Targeting You For Ads, Follow These Instructions
There are 11 steps and one recommendation.
Emerging Tech
DHS Contract Will Help Drones Automatically Spot Border Threats
The end result would be smarter small reconnaissance systems.
Emerging Tech
10 Drone Programs Get Federal OK To Break The Rules
The public-private partnerships will test the use of drones in heretofore forbidden conditions, under the oversight of the Transportation Department and FAA.
Cybersecurity
How Firefox is Moving Beyond Passwords
The browser will now support Web Authentication.
Emerging Tech
The Army Will Help Uber Get Flying Taxis Off the Ground
The joint venture aims for quieter, more efficient propellers for stealth or urban flights.
Cybersecurity
Planned Food Stamp Recipients Database Sparks Hacking Fears
Critics say the database is unnecessarily expansive and would be a major draw for hackers.
Digital Government
U.S. Coast Guard Is Putting Cubesats Over the Arctic
As the icecap melts and activity rises in the high latitudes, the commandant says his force needs better situational awareness.
Cybersecurity