Policy

Privacy and Child Endangerment are Major Congressional Motivators for Regulating Big Tech

The House Energy and Commerce Committee heard witness testimony on the need for better transparency and government coordination in the tech industry.

Digital Government

Your Sense of Privacy Evolved Over Millennia – That Puts You at Risk Today but Could Improve Technology Tomorrow

You have a finely honed sense of privacy in the physical world. But the sights and sounds you encounter online don’t help you detect risks and can even lull you into a false sense of security.

Digital Government

CBP Revitalizes Biometric Data Collection At Border

Customs and Border Protection jumpstarted a DNA collection program in fall of 2021 to verify family relations, but will not store data it in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System.

Artificial Intelligence

Lawmakers Call for End to Government’s Use of Facial Recognition Tech

The request specifically calls out “dangers” in multiple federal agencies operating Clearview AI’s facial recognition technology.

Policy

Controversial Section 230 Reform Finds More Opposition in Senate

A previous version of the bill was criticized by human rights groups and privacy advocates.

Emerging Tech

Privacy Advocates Connect Capitol Attack to Need for Data Protection Legislation

Sen. Ron Wyden joined citizen groups calling for limits on data collection as a way around an impasse over regulating free speech. 

Cybersecurity

Report: Legacy Equipment Puts Telehealth Consumers’ Data At Risk

Telehealth services have expanded exponentially over the course of the pandemic due in part to the Trump administration’s decision to relax enforcement of the industry’s privacy regulations.

Policy

Data Broker Sales To Law Enforcement Violate Fourth Amendment, Senator Argues

A Democratic senator promoted his pending privacy legislation as he spoke about the sales of American data to law enforcement agencies.

Emerging Tech

Senator Doubles Down On Data Privacy, Sends Letter to CFPB

Sen. Ron Wyden asked the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to tighten its rules regarding data broker sales.

Ideas

School Surveillance of Students Via Laptops May Do More Harm than Good

School laptop surveillance systems monitor students even when they’re not in school.

Artificial Intelligence

DHS Researching Public Perception of Facial Recognition and AI Use 

The Department of Homeland Security is collecting privacy concerns as critics fight to ban facial recognition outright. 

Digital Government

Republican Senators Question the Security of Collecting Health Information from Airline Passengers

A group of Republican senators raised concerns over the CDC’s new order requesting select data from airline passengers to track the spread of COVID-19.

Ideas

How a National Health Care Database Could Address Mission-Critical Health Data Gaps

It’s time to consider a cloud-based national health care database to make better public health decisions and prepare for any future health crises.

Ideas

Can Facebook’s Smart Glasses Be Smart about Security and Privacy?

How can someone know if the wearer is looking at you or looking at personal information about you?

Artificial Intelligence

Bill Would Block Contractors from Selling Data Harvested with AI Tools to Third Parties

A bipartisan proposal would also clarify that the government ultimately owns the data collected by federal contractors and their artificial intelligence systems. 

Emerging Tech

CBP Testing Thermal Body Scans at Pedestrian Border Crossings

The agency is piloting a new Pedestrian Detection-at-Range system to identify illegal or dangerous items being smuggled through ports of entry.

Digital Government

VA Officials and Lawmakers Have (Different) Issues With Push to Collect More Veteran Data

Republicans worried collection of religious, sexual and gender information would violate veterans’ privacy; agency officials said they already collect that data. 

Cybersecurity

Audit: IRS Needs to Improve How It Wipes Taxpayer Data  from Devices

Computer and laptop hard drives that aren’t properly scrubbed could allow exposure of private taxpayer data.

Ideas

Apple’s Plan to Scan Your Phone Raises the Stakes on a Key Question: Can You Trust Big Tech?

Other large tech companies also have considerable control over customers’ devices and insight into their data.