Emerging Tech
Internet of Things Should be Part of Congressional Debate on Encryption, Lawmaker Says
Legislators have been debating whether encrypted communication could allow terrorists to skirt surveillance.
Cybersecurity
$1.1 Trillion Spending Package Extends ID Protection for Hacked Feds to a Decade
Right now, OPM is only providing a year of financial safeguards to 4.2 million current and former federal employees whose Social Security numbers were compromised
Emerging Tech
Video: How Do Astronauts Watch the Super Bowl in Space?
Cheering every touchdown from orbit.
Digital Government
New Playbook Examines Dos and Don’ts for Federal Innovation
Agencies should navigate the innovation process like an hourglass: start big with plenty of people pitching various ideas.
Digital Government
FITARA: Progress at the 1-Year Mark
Barely a year old, the Federal Information Technology and Acquisition Reform Act is changing how agencies and their chief information officers procure, manage and operate technology.
Digital Government
US Considers Using Portable DNA Labs, Iris Scans to Vet Syrian Refugees
The U.S. government is considering a handful of new technologies to strengthen and potentially hasten the screening of Syrian refugees.
People
Ashkan Soltani to join White House tech team
The former Federal Trade Commission chief technologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist will be advising federal CTO Megan Smith.
Emerging Tech
18F Is Using a Chatbot Named After Mrs. Landingham from 'The West Wing'
The Slack bot is designed to send messages and reminders to new hires with information about forms, discussions, and the ever-present government jargon.
Digital Government
If You Can’t Stay Off Your Phone Before Bed, These Gadgets Will Make Sure Your Sleep Isn’t Ruined
With growing awareness of blue light’s ill effects, more companies are now catering to health-conscious consumers with products that reduce their exposure to these wavelengths.
Digital Government
What Everybody Googled in 2015
Not all of the weird stuff in your browser history is unique.
Digital Government
Ted Cruz Is Right: NSA Reform Bill Allows More Spying
With terrorism fears running high, Cruz and Rubio traded shots over government surveillance.
Digital Government
Congress grants the National Labs a FITARA exemption in omnibus
The $1.1 trillion spending bill includes a FITARA carve-out for the National Labs, some key appropriations for IT improvements and cybersecurity, and lumps of coal for a few problematic programs.
Acquisition
Embracing failing grades and moving forward
After an abysmal performance on the FITARA scorecard, some CIOs are owning their terrible grades and focusing on how to make improvements.
Ideas
6 Steps to Improve an Agency’s Cyber Defenses
Here are several security actions agency and command leadership can take to harden their cyber defensive posture.
Acquisition
How DHS is laying the groundwork for its move to OASIS
Chief Procurement Officer Soraya Correa is urging longtime DHS contractors to help firms on GSA's integrated services vehicle understand what her department needs.
Digital Government
Johnson introduces updates to terror watch system
A new bulletin marks an effort to refine the way the government alerts the public about terrorism threats.
Cybersecurity
Rogers pushes NSA to lead on ICITE, previews agency reorg
The National Security Agency's technological prowess means the agency must lead on an intelligence community-wide IT architecture, Director Adm. Michael Rogers said Dec. 15.
People
The big freeze at DOT
Department of Transportation CIO Richard McKinney is using his FITARA hammer to halt purchasing until he gets spending plans that show him what the heck is going on.
Modernization
BlackBerry boss strikes conciliatory tone on encryption
Like his Apple counterpart, BlackBerry CEO John Chen is opposed to weakening encryption but says the debate between law enforcement and tech firms has gotten too acrimonious.
People