Emerging Tech

NIST Aims to Tap Twitter API Data to Boost Public Emergency Response

Tweets hold valuable insights amid natural disasters, which the agency aims to leverage.

Digital Government

NOAA Aligns Cloud and Data Strategies With Administration Priorities

The new strategies meld with three existing science and technology-focused documents, as well as incorporating priorities from the White House’s cloud and data policies.

Ideas

Facial Recognition Is Here But We Have No Laws

Without legal safeguards, this technology will undermine democratic values and fundamental rights.

Cybersecurity

Administration Asks Energy Companies to Report on Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Industry leader has yet to take action promised in congressional testimony last year.

Digital Government

Coronavirus Fraudsters Keep Prosecutors Busy

State AGs track millions in false loan and unemployment claims.

Digital Government

Agencies Can Fire Employees Who Improperly Burrow In, Court Rules

Decision upholds OPM's push to oust Obama political appointee holdover.

Ideas

Dashboard Displays COVID-19 Disparities by County

Although COVID-19 has swept across the entire country, its burden has not been spread equally.

Cybersecurity

Senate Defense Authorization Amendment Looks to Advance More Secure Software Procurement

Defense officials would outline requirements and procedures with implications for all the federal government.

Artificial Intelligence

GSA’s Centers of Excellence Program Would be Codified in Senate Bill

The bill follows a bipartisan counterpart in the House.

Cybersecurity

CISA Stands to Gain Powers Under Both Versions of the Defense Authorization Bill

An amendment on the Senate-side bill would grant the agency subpoena power over internet service providers.

Artificial Intelligence

Congress Inches Closer to Creating a National Cloud for AI Research

Legislation launched in early June received new attention and support this week.

Digital Government

House Committee Investigates Whether Officials Misled Congress on OPM-GSA Merger

A recent watchdog group report cited notes from a phone call indicating the Trump administration was advised that the merger plan was illegal, an account that is at odds with what OPM officials testified before Congress last year.

Emerging Tech

House Subcommittee Again Takes Aim at Amazon over Ring Surveillance

The subcommittee wants assurances from Amazon that its Ring doorbell camera isn’t being misused by law enforcement.

Digital Government

New Legislation Would Increase Oversight Over Agency Relocations

Measure would require federal officials to conduct detailed cost-benefit analyses and provide them to inspectors general and the public for review before undertaking any effort to move federal agencies.

Artificial Intelligence

DHS Looks to Expand Tracking of Election Interference Through Social Media

The request comes four months before Americans head to the polls.

Policy

Senate Passes Bill to End Payments to Dead People

The bill follows an audit that found the IRS sent $1.4 billion in stimulus checks to deceased individuals.

Digital Government

House Committee Leader Wants Oversight of Pentagon’s Handling of Banned Chinese Gear

One observer says prospects look dim for contractors requesting an extension on compliance with provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act.

Digital Government

What the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Revealing to Federal Chief Data Officers

While some agencies have yet to reveal a chief data officer, others are spinning up new teams, tools and projects to address the global health crisis.

Emerging Tech

Senators Introduce Deepfake-Focused Amendment to Defense Authorization Act

The Deepfake Report Act would require the Homeland Security Department to study the threats posed by manipulated and synthetic media—including text. 

Cybersecurity

NASA Watchdog Reports on Why the Agency Still Struggles with Cybersecurity

Almost half of the controls in an overarching shared system were assessed as deficient.