Digital Government

Electronic health records open patient privacy questions

An HHS advisory committee that will set rules for privacy of patients' health records considers consent rules.

Cybersecurity

DOD opens some classified information to non-federal officials

Some officials working at state and local intelligence fusion centers will have limited access to data on the Defense Department's classified network.

Digital Government

Aides defend presidential powers in cybersecurity bill

Senate aides familiar with proposed comprehensive cybersecurity legislation say the bill would clarify the president’s authority for dealing with a cyberattack, not give the government sweeping new powers.

Cybersecurity

Trust, but let Google verify: Companies join government in identity authentication experiment

The OpenID and Information Card foundations today announced pilot identity management projects with federal agencies and vendors.

Cybersecurity

Report: Government secrecy down slightly in 2008

An annual report says government secrecy decreased slightly in the last year of the Bush administration.

People

Listen up

Here's our list of reasons for doing our annual Federal List issue.

Cybersecurity

Top 5 challenges for the cyber coordinator

President Barack Obama's pledge to appoint a cybersecurity policy coordinator at the White House has drawn cheers, a few jeers and a long to-do list.

Cybersecurity

Who is sending mysterious laptops to governors?

The FBI is investigating unsolicited laptop computers sent to several governors’ offices.

Cybersecurity

Bill would give president power to disconnect private networks

A Senate bill proposes giving the president the power to shut down and disconnect any government or private computer network or system that is compromised by a cyberattack.

Cybersecurity

DHS sets new policy on computer searches at border

DHS issued two new directives that deal with searches of laptop computers and other devices at U.S. borders.

People

VA blames coding error for fatal disease scare

The VA now blames computer coding error for wrongly informing about 620 veterans that they have the fatal Lou Gehrig's disease.

Digital Government

Personal health records rule cracks down on vendors

The FTC published a final rule that will require vendors of personal health records to notify consumers if their security has been breached.

People

HHS walks a tightrope on health information exchange, advisory group says

HHS is walking a tightrope in trying to craft the right balance for health information exchanges, according to a federal advisory group's report.

Cybersecurity

Passenger screening program to collect more data

U.S. airlines will begin collecting passengers' dates of birth and gender when they make reservations under the Transportation Security Administration’s Secure Flight program.

Modernization

DHS starts social network about Southwestern border

The Homeland Security Department is using a site called Ning.com to host a new social network that focuses on topics related to the Southwest border.

Cybersecurity

DOD wrestles with Web 2.0

Policy review to tackle security, privacy concerns.

Cybersecurity

Government rethinks ban on tracking Web site visitors

The government could adopt consumer technology, but it would require policy changes.

Cybersecurity

Peer pressure: Congress plans file-sharing ban

Peer-to-peer software, used to easily share computer files, poses a security risk and has no place on government or contractor networks, according to some members of Congress who held a hearing about the technology recently.

Cybersecurity

DOD wrestles with Web 2.0

Policy review to tackle security, privacy concerns.

Modernization

DOD rethinking social-media access

Security, other concerns worry officials.