Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft Wants to Nudge Us To Be More Productive. Do We Want Its Help?
Clippy gets an AI makeover.
Cybersecurity
Court case puts PRISM back in the spotlight
An appeals court heard arguments Aug. 22 on a case that has broad implications for digital privacy and the constitutionality of government surveillance authorities.
Digital Government
Welcome to the Age of Privacy Nihilism
Google and Facebook are easy scapegoats, but companies have been collecting, selling, and reusing your personal data for decades, and now that the public has finally noticed, it’s too late. The personal-data privacy war is long over, and you lost.
Digital Government
Working in an Open Office? Set Rules About Noise With Your Neighbors
Setting boundaries is important.
Digital Government
DISA approves newest Samsung phones for unclassified use
DOD employees can now use government-purchased Galaxy S9 smartphones with the Defense Information Systems Agency's DOD Mobility Unclassified Capability.
Digital Government
Senators Stuck in Washington Focus on Elections
The Senate also passed an $860 million “minibus” funding bill.
People
Federal court upends Trump's workforce orders
A federal district court ruled that key provisions in three executive orders were invalid because of conflict with existing law.
Cybersecurity
VA Stopped Publishing Breach Reports About Vets’ Data for Nine Months
The department posted the intervening reports after a Nextgov query.
Modernization
Pentagon Amends JEDI Contract, Moves Forward Despite Protest
The Defense Department will continue taking industry questions until Aug. 28.
Artificial Intelligence
The Pentagon Wants AI to Take Over the Scientific Process
The project is part of DARPA’s newly launched Artificial Intelligence Exploration program, which aims to develop next-generation artificial intelligence applications.
Emerging Tech
Forest Service Public-Private Partnership Explores Using Drones for Precision Pesticide Application
The group plans to award a sole-source contract to research whether unmanned aerial systems can spray in hard-to-reach places without disrupting nearby sensitive ecosystems.
Modernization
GSA elevates Mr. FedRAMP
The program management office within the General Services Administration handling cloud security is undergoing a leadership shuffle.
Cybersecurity
The IRS can do more with its fraud detection system
A GAO audit found that the tax agency's Return Review Program has made strides in recent years that can be applied to number of other enforcement activities.
Modernization
DOD updates JEDI cloud solicitation
The Defense Department submitted several changed documents to its mega cloud program proposal, including changes to requirements in security, points of presence, pricing and small business information.
Cybersecurity
CBP's airport facial recognition system nabs first imposter
A new biometric ID entry system that just finished testing has winnowed out its first alleged imposter at Dulles International Airport.
Emerging Tech
Waymo’s Robot Cars, and the Humans Who Tend to Them
People are always the hack that make automated systems work.
People
HUD names new CIO
In a week filled with high-level IT comings and goings, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has picked a new top tech official.
Emerging Tech
Windows 95 Is Now an App You Can Download on Any Computer
The entire operating system file is only 129 MB.
Cybersecurity
Cyber Firm Defends DNC Hacking Alert That Turned Out to be a False Alarm
Fast responses to cyber threats and perfect accuracy don’t always go hand in hand, a cyber pro who worked on the alleged DNC hacking attempt says.
Modernization