Policy
Bill Would Reform NSA Surveillance Program
Bipartisan legislation could curtail long-running National Security Agency data collection efforts.
Digital Government
Unclear NSA CIO Role Puts the Agency’s IT at Risk, IG Says
Auditors report the position is not even in the agency’s organizational chart.
Artificial Intelligence
Senator Demands Answers on Facial Recognition Tool that Could Pose ‘Chilling’ Privacy Risks
Sen. Ed Markey said he’s particularly troubled about law enforcement officials’ access to the app.
Modernization
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Map Correlation Between Maternal Mortality and the Digital Divide
The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would add a maternal mortality overlay to connectivity maps produced by the FCC.
Cybersecurity
White House Seeks to Revise Federal Grants Process to Reflect New Priorities
The changes would reduce the reporting burden on grant recipients, among other things.
Cybersecurity
Security Clearance Backlog Hits Long-Awaited ‘Steady State’
The backlog of background investigations has leveled off at a sustainable 200,000, according to lawmakers.
Modernization
GSA Publishes Web Standards for Year-Old Digital Services Law
The website design standards pull together existing guidance for complying with the 21st Century IDEA Act, which requires all digital services to have a base level of quality and accessibility.
Digital Government
Merit Board Offers Advice to Fix Reskilling Program That Hasn't Translated to Any New Job Placements
A pilot program to train some non-IT workers with technology skills has not resulted in anyone switching jobs, largely because participants would have needed to take a pay cut.
Cybersecurity
Presidential Advisers Expected to Push Software-Defined Networking for Secure Comms
Senate Commerce Committee is stockpiling legislation for coordinated investments in the tech.
Ideas
Saudi Arabia’s Phone Hacking Shows We Need Better Encryption — Not Backdoors
End-to-end encryption isn’t good enough. Files and cloud backups need strong crypto as well.
Cybersecurity
Weakening Encryption Could Impact Election Security, Coalition Says
An election security group said the Justice Department’s renewed calls for access to encrypted data could impact more than privacy.
Emerging Tech
One State May Become the First to Ban Law Enforcement Use of Genealogy Databases
A Utah state representative said he believes lawmakers are prepared to continue their “strong record of protecting individual privacy.”
Cybersecurity
Survey: Financial-Sector Agencies’ Policies for Sharing Cyber Threats Inconsistent
Respondents describe barriers ranging from a lack of resources to intelligence agencies’ classification decisions.
Emerging Tech
Inside the CBP-Built ‘Backbone’ of Atlanta’s Biometric Terminal
An executive agency conducting a comprehensive assessment of the technology’s use in aviation security detailed its recent review of America’s first fully biometric terminal—and the service it runs on.
Digital Government
Defense Pledges to Do a Better Job of Sharing Security Information With Overseas Contractors
The State Department has yet to respond to an industry association letter expressing concern over contractor safety.
Cybersecurity
DOD CIO Is Prepping Guidance on Endpoint Management
The department aims to clarify what beyond desktops qualifies as an endpoint.
Digital Government
Do Roundabouts Make Drivers Better or Worse? Transportation Wants to See the Data.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants help sorting data on how drivers behave in certain traffic patterns.
Cybersecurity
Pentagon Must Focus on Reliability When Buying Weapons Systems, Auditor Says
The Government Accountability Office report holds implications for cybersecurity considerations in procurement processes.
Policy
As Putin Schemes to Extend His Reign, Expect New Forms of Internet Repression
Russia under a president-for-life will likely grow more insular and less open to Western influence.
Artificial Intelligence