Digital Government

Quick Hits

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Digital Government

FCW Insider: Oct. 4

The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.

Cybersecurity

Attorney General, DHS Secretary Call on Facebook to Build Encryption Backdoors

“Security enhancements to the virtual world should not make us more vulnerable in the physical world,” they said in a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Emerging Tech

Agencies Offer Sneak Peeks into Their 5G Plans

From fixing planes before they break to doctors performing surgery in real time from two continents, agency officials are already looking at how faster connections could change their missions.

Cybersecurity

DOJ: Nigerian Hacker Targeted Federal Employees in $1M Scheme

A Nigerian national appeared in court Thursday facing charges over a $1 million phishing scheme that targeted vendors under the General Services Administration.

Modernization

Legacy Systems Held DHS' Biometrics Programs Back. Not Anymore.

The cloud-based HART system, which will house data on hundreds of millions of people, promises to significantly expand the department’s use of facial recognition and other biometric software, as well as its partnerships with external agencies.

People

USMC commandant nixes prospect of zero-based budget review

Gen. David Berger, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, said it's unlikely the service will adopt a programmatic review like the Army’s "night court" process.

Modernization

5G emerges with some asterisks

Agencies and suppliers working to address emerging issues for the next-generation wireless technology.

Digital Government

Former officials flag disinformation as top threat to U.S. elections

Three years after Russia waged a covert propaganda campaign against U.S. voters, the federal government has done little to address the problem through legislation or executive action.

Emerging Tech

A Federal Privacy Board Is Reviewing DHS’ Airport Facial Recognition Programs

An agency shared new details around its recent observations of one TSA biometrics pilot—and what it aims to assess in a comprehensive report it’s generating over the course of the next year.

Digital Government

'Power Poses' Are Bunk, But Maybe Don't Slouch?

Striking power poses won’t boost your confidence or make you feel more powerful, a review of past studies indicates.

Emerging Tech

Local Law Enforcement Should Be Able to Protect Airports From Drones, Report Says

To address security risks, a task force recommends that Congress authorize local law enforcement to take down drones flown too close to airports.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: Oct. 3

The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.

Digital Government

Quick Hits

None

Emerging Tech

Wi-Fi System Identifies People Through Walls By Their Walk

A new system uses video of a person walking to identify that person through walls using two WiFi transceivers.

Artificial Intelligence

Lawmakers Press Social Media Giants to Confront Deepfake Threats

Sens. Marco Rubio and Mark Warner want Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and others to create industry standards for handling synthetic content.

Modernization

GSA Opens Bids on Commercial e-Marketplace

The project—which has been called “Amazon for government”—will start with a proof-of-concept with two or more vendors.

Cybersecurity

Fighting Cyber Crime is Critical for National Security, Says Secret Service Chief

While election interference, espionage and power grid threats get all the attention, nation-states also lean on cyber criminals to conduct operations on their behalf, according to Director James Murray.

Emerging Tech

NASA Hands Elon Musk a Reality Check

A shared effort to deliver NASA astronauts to space recently got a little awkward.

Digital Government

GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Announces Departure

Alan Thomas, GSA’s top acquisition executive, is leaving the agency for a private-sector position.