Ideas
IG: DHS Intel folks need cyber education
The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general released a <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_08-87_Aug08.pdf">report</a> Friday on the security program for DHS' Intelligence systems. Since it relates to weaknesses in top secret and sensitive systems, the report is predictably short in length and vague in its recommendations.
Ideas
No Tweets in Iranian Election
A twitter outage in Iran on Friday reportedly foiled some supporters of a leading reformist candidate in the country's presidential election.
Ideas
Has Hathaway's Star Fallen?
A lot of names are being floated around as possible picks for the position of cyber czar, and interestingly enough, none seem to be Melissa Hathaway.
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Recovery RFQ Only for Alliant Vendors
As my colleague Robert Brodsky <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090602_5138.php?oref=search">reported last week</a>, the Recovery Board <a href="https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=1b3ec144c7c80e70622d6600cf519697&tab=core&_cview=0">issued an RFQ this morning</a> for the redesign of the <a href="http://www.recovery.gov">Recovery.gov</a> Web site.
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FAA Launches Safety Site
The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday remodeled its <a href="http://www.faa.gov/">Web site</a> partly to direct users to its safety-related content.
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A Retreat (Sorta) on Blocking Social Media
Wired's Danger Room blog has <a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/06/army-orders-bases-stop-blocking-twitter-facebook-flickr/">obtained a copy</a> of a May 18 operations order from the Army's 93rd Signal Brigade directing information managers on domestic military bases to allow personnel to access Facebook, Vimeo, Delicious, Flickr and Twitter. From the order:
Ideas
Committee Approves Johnson to GSA
On Monday, the Senate Committee for Homeland Security and Government Affairs approved by unanimous voice vote the nomination of Martha Johnson to be GSA administrator. Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., praised Johnson for her experience and firsthand knowledge of GSA:
Ideas
Looking for Leap-Ahead Tech
The Homeland Security Department's Directorate for Science & Technology, which is the primary research and development arm of the Homeland Security Department, requested an increase of $5.4 million for cybersecurity in President Obama's fiscal 2010 budget.
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Still Learning Online Politics
Have politicians learned from President Obama about the value of the Internet for campaigning? Larry Sabato argued that they haven't learned enough during a speech he gave at the University of Virginia on Sunday.
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CDC Shows Off Its Stats
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has become the star of the Government 2.0 movement recently, as the agency has been wildly successful in deploying social media to raise awareness of recent public health crises, including the <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090209_7840.php">peanut butter/salmonella outbreak</a> and the recent <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090427_5864.php">swine flu scare</a>.
Ideas
Task Force: Good or Bad News for SBINet?
Since her days as Arizona governor, Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has not been the biggest advocate of the Secure Border Initiative -- a multi-year plan for reducing illegal immigration and protecting U.S. borders through a combination of physical fencing and monitoring technology.
Ideas
OGov on Track, But to Where?
President Obama's open government initiative is on track with part two of a process intended to involve the public in policymaking. Late Tuesday night, White House officials released a <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Wrap-Up-of-the-Open-Government-Brainstorming-Transparency/">summary</a> of part one -- a week-long brainstorming session -- and a bit more information on round two.
Ideas
Twitter Attack
One of the social media applications widely used by citizens and federal employees alike -- Twitter -- is the latest to be infected by a virus, which raises the question: How is the Obama administration going to leverage Web 2.0 technologies, as promised, while locking down sensitive and private information?
Ideas
Opposing Obama's Deputy CTO Pick
Two consumer groups have lined up to oppose President Obama's pending <a href="http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/06/google_government.php">appointment</a> of Google's Andrew McLaughlin as deputy chief technology officer in the White House.
Ideas
The End of Twitter?
The problem with technology is that once something has been deemed "hot," it's most likely not (anymore). Could that be happening to Twitter?
Ideas
DHS Names More Cyber Players
Homeland Security Department Secretary Janet Napolitano rounded out her cybersecurity team today, announcing the appointment of two key posts that will report to Phillip Reitinger, the cyber chief at the department.
Ideas
Google Government
The blogosphere is buzzing over last week's <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/googles-top-policy-exec-to-join-obama-administration/?hp">report</a> that Google head of global public policy Andrew McLaughlin will join the Obama administration as deputy chief technology officer under Aneesh Chopra.
Ideas
The Cybersecurity Barn Door
President Obama's <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090529_1893.php">speech today</a> and the release of Melissa Hathaway's <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Cyberspace_Policy_Review_final.pdf">60-day cybersecurity review</a> are clear signals that cybersecurity is finally getting the attention it deserves, especially given its strategic importance to national security.
Ideas
White House Cyber Review
The White House has posted its <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Cyberspace_Policy_Review_final.pdf">60-day cybersecurity review</a>.
Ideas