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

Online forum slow for Regulations.gov

A federal Web site created to collect ideas for improving Regulations.gov is getting off to a relatively slow start.

Digital Government

GSA to make new bid for agency customers

Ed O'Hare, the new leader of GSA's Integrated Technology Services, aims to make GSA's services faster, better and cheaper than what other agencies can offer.

Modernization

Army seeks virtual support groups for amputees

Virtual world-based groups would help people who do not have access to in-person groups.