Ideas
Digital Contact Tracing's Mixed Record Abroad Spells Trouble for US Efforts to Rein in COVID-19
Initial enthusiasm for digital contact tracing was sparked by early successes in countries such as South Korea.
Cybersecurity
EARN IT Act sails through Senate Judiciary Committee
The controversial bill now heads to the Senate floor, setting up a high-stakes vote that could impact liability protections for encryption and third-party content posted online.
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.
Ideas
Balancing Public Health, Privacy and Security: A Guide to Contact Tracing
In reality, it is unlikely that people will elect to give up bits of their privacy.
Ideas
Contact-Tracing Apps: Apple Dictating Policies to Nations Won't Help Its EU Anti-trust Probe
Apple’s approach arguably fits a wider narrative about the company being heavy-handed in determining what apps are allowed on iPhones.
Digital Government
Wyden disparages purge at Open Technology Fund
The Oregon Democrat is demanding answers about the circumstances behind a series of abrupt firings at the non-profit Open Technology Fund carried out by a Trump administration official.
Emerging Tech
Bill Calls for Federally Funded Research on Police Use of Force and Facial Recognition
The legislation would authorize millions to underpin the efforts it mandates.
Cybersecurity
DHS Insider Threat Program Expanding to Anyone Who Accesses Agency Info
The Homeland Security Department will begin tracking all personnel—federal employees and contractors, with or without a security clearance—in the hunt for insider threats.
Emerging Tech
NIH Partners with Israeli Startup to Generate Synthetic COVID-19 Data
The ultimate aim is to garner new, evidence-based insights to support the fight against the novel coronavirus.
Ideas
Pandemic, Privacy Rules Add to Worries over 2020 Census Accuracy
People who work with statistics know that there needs to be “good data in” in order to get “good data out.”
Emerging Tech
Police Ties to Ring Home Surveillance Come Under Scrutiny
Many law enforcement agencies have been adopting a less sophisticated system of camera registries based on information volunteered by residents.
Digital Government
Census Established a Governance Group on Data Quality Amid COVID-19 Worries
A new GAO report shows the bureau continuing to struggle with privacy and data security issues.
Emerging Tech
Senator Questions How Clearview AI’s Facial Recognition Tech is Put to Use on Protesters
Sen. Ed Markey sent his latest letter to the company this week.
Ideas
Smart Cities Can Help Us Manage Post-COVID Life, but They'll Need Trust as Well as Tech
But as we prepare to move beyond this crisis, cities need to design systems that are prepared to handle the next pandemic.
Emerging Tech
ICE Outlines How Investigators Rely on Third-Party Facial Recognition Services
In a newly released impact assessment, the immigration enforcement agency details its use of facial biometrics and the privacy implications involved.
Ideas
The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Boosting the Big Tech Transformation to Warp Speed
Big tech companies have not hesitated to make the most of the crisis.
Cybersecurity
Government’s Annual Cyber Report Shows Improvements Across the Board
Agencies received lower scores for not holding contractors responsible for privacy requirements.
Digital Government
Survey: Americans Trust Big Tech Over Government in Contact Tracing
More than 75% of Americans feel their privacy is at risk due to measures being taken to combat COVID-19.
Ideas
Are Thermal Cameras a Magic Bullet for COVID-19 Fever Detection? There's Not Enough Evidence to Know.
Thermal cameras offer limited accuracy if set up incorrectly.
Digital Government