Cybersecurity
Lawmakers seek standardized national encryption policy
A push on Capitol Hill looks to preempt a possible patchwork of data encryption policies varying from state to state.
Cybersecurity
Civil Liberties Groups Urge IG Investigation Into Faulty FBI Encryption Stats
The FBI says the inflated figures were due to a methodology error.
Digital Government
How a Tiny Website Became the Police's Go-To Genealogy Database
“I never expected anything like this.”
Cybersecurity
FBI Stands Firm on ‘Going Dark’ Problem While Acknowledging Inflated Data
The bureau may have overstated by three times or more the number of encrypted devices it couldn’t access last year.
Artificial Intelligence
A County Using Amazon’s Facial Recognition Worried About Giving Off “A Big Brother Vibe”
The county has reportedly used the facial recognition tools about 20 times per day.
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Bar Government Encryption Backdoors
The move comes as Attorney General Jeff Sessions is pushing for legislation to allow access to encrypted communications.
Cybersecurity
How to beat the cost of crime-solving tech
Complex and expensive crime-solving needs are driving local law enforcement entities to the FBI and other deep-pocketed federal agencies for solutions.
Cybersecurity
DHS seeks drones to patrol the border
The DHS technology directorate wants to test small drones and their onboard sensors in a variety of security scenarios.
Modernization
CBP officers test body cams
The short-term cost is the camera, a former agency chief said. The big expense is with data storage and retrieval.
Digital Government
Interior Wants Wi-Fi for Burning Man
Even temporary cities/arts festivals need networks for government and law enforcement operations.
Modernization
Implementation plans for new cross-border data law remain cloudy
A month after its passage, we still don’t know which foreign countries would be able to access U.S.-based communications data under the CLOUD Act or when companies can reject their requests. Neither does Congress.
Cybersecurity
How tech supports CBP priorities
Customs and Border Protection is working on many fronts to field new technology, the agency head tells Congress.
Modernization
ZTE banned from buying from U.S. firms
The Commerce Department hit Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE with denial of export privileges, preventing the company from accessing the U.S. supply chain.
Cybersecurity
FBI elevates three cyber cops to top leadership positions
Paul Abbate, who ran the bureau’s cybercrime division, will ascend to the No. 3 spot in the bureau’s leadership.
Modernization
How will the CLOUD Act work?
The U.S. recently updated how it handles federal law enforcement data requests for foreign info stored by U.S. companies, but the full impact remains unclear.
Cybersecurity
How a terrorist's iPhone became the 'poster child' for the FBI's encryption challenge
According to an oversight report, a senior FBI official became concerned that techies in the bureau were slow-walking a plan to crack the iPhone of the San Bernardino shooter in the hope of obtaining a favorable court verdict.
Cybersecurity
U.S. indicts Iranian hackers
The Departments of Justice and Treasury announced indictments and sanctions for an Iranian company and 10 individuals for stealing billions of dollars in research and intellectual property from universities in the United States and around the world.
Modernization
CLOUD Act set to pass in omnibus
Congress is poised to pass legislation that will have big implications for cross-border data sharing, law enforcement investigations and data privacy.
Cybersecurity
U.S. hits back at Russian spies, cyber groups
The U.S. imposed sanctions on Russian hacking groups and related officials, while publicly attributing an ongoing critical infrastructure attack by a group dubbed "Dragonfly" to Russia.
Artificial Intelligence