Modernization
DISA seeks on-demand communications
The Defense Information Systems Agency wants to build an on-demand communications system.
Ideas
No Smiles at Virginia DMV
<em>The Washington Post</em> has an interesting <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052703627.html?nav=hcmodule">story</a> up today regarding the implementation of facial recognition software by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. For the system to work, the DMV has banned people from smiling in their driver's license photos:
Modernization
Obama directs review of data classifications
President Barack Obama has directed a review of how the government classifies information and how it handles sensitive but unclassified data.
Digital Government
Health IT standards panel creates workgroups
After it gets some policy guidance, the Health IT Standards Committee will ask its three new workgroups to deliver recommendations in 90 days.
Modernization
Q & A: High-tech cutter reaches milestone
Coast Guard Rear Adm. Gary Blore expects the first National Security Cutter to receive certification for classified communications in the near future.
Digital Government
Obama misses key elements in rolling back secrecy practices
Administration should consider policies on how to handle sensitive information when it is created and how it applies to electronic forms, records specialists say.
Ideas
Sotomayor Restricted FBI Gag on ISPs
Just this winter, Supreme Court pick Sonia Sotomayor was part of a unanimous court <a href="http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/safefree/doevmukasey_decision.pdf">decision</a> that limited the use of the 2001 Patriot Act to silence Internet service providers who are contacted by federal authorities for customer phone and Internet records.
Digital Government
Bio-Labs Cyber Threats Ignored?
Laboratories that conduct research on dangerous biological agents such as anthrax have not paid much attention to the potential of cyber threats or cyber intrusions, the Defense Science Board <a href=http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2009-05-Bio_Safety.pdf>said in a report</a> released this week.
Ideas
Not Quite Social Networking
The Social Security Administration, for the most part, has been on the cutting edge of government's online technology. It was one of the first federal agencies to launch a Web site (in 1994). And SSA.gov routinely places at the top of the <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/bestpractices.php>most popular government Web sites</a> as measured by the American Customer Satisfaction Index compiled by the University of Michigan.
People
FCW’s Twitter contest: Let the competition begin
The challenge is to rewrite your job description as a “tweet” -- that is, with no more than 140 characters, with extra points given for humor.
Cybersecurity
US-VISIT tests new approaches to exit system
The Homeland Security Department will begin testing two methods for collecting biometric data electronically from non-citizens as they leave through U.S. airports.
Modernization