Policy
Semiconductor industry group warns against new limits on chip exports to China
A spokesperson for the National Security Council told Nextgov/FCW that the Biden administration’s export controls “have been carefully tailored to focus on technology with national security implications.”
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Congress must use budget power to move tech firms out of Beijing’s orbit, former lawmaker says
Former congressman and Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy said lawmakers need to be focused “like a bulldog on a bone” when ensuring the U.S. is positioned to compete with China’s tech ambitions.
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House, Senate China hawks concerned White House will let TikTok stay in the US
Key Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate warned that tweaked language in a new Commerce Department rule could lay the groundwork for TikTok’s proposal to store U.S. users’ data in the country.
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Democrats call YouTube ‘extremely irresponsible’ for election misinformation rollback
YouTube’s decision to stop removing false content about previous U.S. elections “threatens to weaken our democracy,” several top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee said in a letter to the platform’s leaders.
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CFPB looks to existing law to regulate workplace surveillance tech
After a high volume of complaints, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offered a response as to how the government can limit the use of sensitive employee information in hiring practices.
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All Veterans Affairs police officers to be issued bodycams, dashcams by end of 2023
The Department of Veterans Affairs said it will begin issuing in-car and body-worn cameras on June 20, starting with officers at the VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network in Long Beach, California.
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Relaunched electric grid caucus plans to highlight security, tech improvements
The bipartisan Grid Innovation Caucus plans to hold educational seminars and a Grid Innovation Expo to highlight emerging technologies and ensure the resiliency of the U.S. power network.
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Bipartisan bill seeks to safeguard US data from foreign exploitation
New legislation would restrict the transfer of Americans’ data to foreign nations, but leaves the door open for TikTok to store U.S. users’ data on domestic servers.
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New report identifies over $100B in potential government services savings
The government’s overlapping, fragmented and duplicative services are costing billions of dollars annually, a Government Accountability Office report claims.
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Government has a policy over people problem, civic tech leader argues
In a new book, Code for America founder Jennifer Pahlka argues that government implementers need more authority to avoid becoming risk-averse compliance agents.
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Government buyers need training to go green, panel says
An advisory group based at the General Services Administration has ideas for putting government operations on a net-zero emissions basis.
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NIST unveils new leadership team to drive semiconductor innovation
The agency’s CHIPS Research and Development Office aims to advance U.S. research and development efforts and "ensure America’s global leadership" in the semiconductor sector, officials said.
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Agencies issue rule to ban TikTok on contractor devices
The interim rule amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation to include a ban on the use of TikTok by government contractors and vendors.
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New bill proposes 'made in China' tags for mobile apps
The legislation would require large online app stores — including Apple’s App Store and Google Play — to disclose the countries where their apps were developed and are currently owned.
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US deploys tech diplomacy to cultivate leadership in emerging fields
The Biden administration’s latest foreign policy pillar prioritizes uniform standards on critical technologies within ally nations.
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Agencies launch initiative to better identify minority-owned contractors
The joint effort between the Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration aims to make it easier for federal procurement officials to connect with small, disadvantaged businesses across sectors.
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Does Congress need a chief data officer?
A new joint resolution would establish a bipartisan commission to look at what legislators need in terms of data, evidence and professional capacity.
Policy
Congress Doesn’t Know How to Count the Number of National Security Professionals and That’s a Problem
Instead of addressing data security or IT policies around protecting classified information, Congress goes after numbers.
Policy
DHS Unveils Departmentwide Body Camera Policy
The new guidance restricts law enforcement agencies under DHS’s authority from using body-worn cameras “for the sole purpose of recording individuals who are engaged in activity protected by the First Amendment.”
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