Cybersecurity

Senators Question FBI’s Response to 2016 Russian Hack of Florida Election Tech

The lawmakers also want to know how the agency is working to ensure election officials can adequately report cyber threats in 2020.

Modernization

Agencies Leaning on Citizens to Drive Innovation, Research

The government is increasingly investing in prize competitions, crowdsourcing and other “citizen science” efforts to advance its research, according to the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Modernization

Airline IT Failures Happening With Alarming Frequency, Little Government Oversight

Airline IT failures cause problems "on par or worse" than severe weather outages, and they're happening a lot.

Emerging Tech

Feds Snooping in Travelers' Social Media Feeds is Not the Answer

New State Department rules give the government increased authority to review travelers' social feeds. Will it actually make us safer?

Acquisition

Agencies ramp up use of challenge competitions

White House and General Services Administration are tracking crowdsourcing along with technology challenges as paths to innovation.

Acquisition

More scrutiny of OTAs in defense bill

Lawmakers seek annual reporting requirements to get insight into how the Defense Department uses other transaction agreements.

Modernization

NDAA pushes DOD-VA cooperation on health record modernization

The $20 billion health record modernization efforts at the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are going to be joined a little more closely under an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

Artificial Intelligence

Experts Propose Feds Use Sanctions and Cyberweapons to Fight Deepfakes

Both social media companies and the government must play a role in fighting back against hyper-realistic misinformation, experts told the House Intelligence Committee.

Ideas

How Federal Agencies Can Move Innovation Forward

There’s hard work ahead to truly capture the full potential of artificial intelligence.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: June 14

Top stories, quick hits and other updates from FCW's reporters and editors.

Digital Government

Quick Hits

None

Emerging Tech

The ‘Platform’ Excuse Is Dying

For years, tech companies have relied on a rhetorical sleight of hand. It’s not working anymore.

Policy

House Appropriations Package Now Includes Contractor Back Pay

There is still a chance federal contractors unpaid during the 35-day shutdown could get back pay.

Modernization

Deepfakes are coming and lawmakers are looking for answers

Experts worry false video and audio created by deep learning algorithms can wreak havoc during the next election, but finding those responsible and punishing them is no easy task.

Cybersecurity

OIG: USPS Must Better Manage Its Cyber Funds

Day-to-day expenses shouldn't count as cyber investments, the IG said.

Acquisition

As GSA consolidates buying schedules, special item numbers are due for cuts

The General Services Administration's plan to unify procurement schedules includes a plan to rein in sprawl in special item numbers.

Ideas

To Fight Online Disinformation, Reinvigorate Media Policy

Disinformation, toxic speech, and polarization online are a result opaque digital information systems. The fix? We can start by updating the approach of media policy for the new environment.

Emerging Tech

House Oversight Votes to Secure Connected Devices in Government

The committee approved legislation that would enforce basic security standards for the numerous internet-connected devices used at federal agencies.

Modernization

Show Cloud Impact Early and Often to Boost Adoption

Find early wins and share them often, Veterans Affairs and Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency officials said.

Modernization

In Kansas, Using an App to Streamline DMV Registrations

The state launched the iKan app as a way to make it easier for residents to renew driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations. A state official said it also ended up generating new revenue.