Cybersecurity
U.S. nuke agency announces new data, physical security controls
Officials at the National Nuclear Security Administration say the policies should balance efficiency and safety.
Cybersecurity
Bill includes porn-blocking technology for federal networks
A House amendment to the supplemental spending bill requires funds spent on computer systems to include anti-pornography filtering software.
Digital Government
White House wants to hear from nanotechnology experts
The administration is looking for input on research, funding and policy related to the practice of controlling matter at the atomic or molecular levels.
Digital Government
White House considers clearer instructions for spending reports
Move comes in the wake of a GAO analysis that found the public finds stimulus-tracking website Recovery.gov hard to understand.
Ideas
Transparency In Space
My colleague <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100629_1659.php">Bob Brewin notes</a> that President Obama has let up on the government's long held belief that America controls outer space in signing a new national space policy that contemplates relying on non-U.S. satellite navigation for backup and support.
Modernization
GSA unveils overhaul of USA.gov, featuring mobile apps
Government's home page also has upgraded search engine, links to key federal services.
Digital Government
Senate nixes data transparency provision in financial overhaul
The House amendment requires regulators to use a standard electronic format for collecting and publishing business information from the financial industry.
Ideas
Fighting Federal Popups
Any federal employee or vendor who regularly visits .gov websites should be familiar with a popup message that reads something like this:
Cybersecurity
Now You See It
From transparency to the cloud, CIOs weigh the costs and consequences of sharing more data.
Digital Government
Privacy advocates give limited approval for new White House Web 2.0 policies
Civil libertarians are pleased the guidelines provide an expansive definition of personally identifiable information, but want stronger and clearer language that would protect citizens' identities and data.
Digital Government
White House to move slowly on inherently governmental IT jobs
But Congress could pass language that contractors worry could foster arbitrary insourcing rather than support strategic cost-analysis.
Ideas
Cookie Opt-Out Conundrum
One civil liberties group that worked closely with the administration to develop privacy guidelines on the use of cookies says it is not satisfied with the final policy on such web-tracking tools that was released <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100625_3838.php">today</a>.
Digital Government
White House abolishes decade-old cookies ban
Agencies will be barred from tracking a visitor's activity on nongovernment sites and from sharing the data it collects without gaining users' permission first.
Modernization
State, Egyptian tech officials meet to improve U.S.-Muslim ties
Delegation is part of a continuing effort to improve Middle East relations following President Obama's call for a new beginning in the tense relationship between Americans and Muslims.
Digital Government
OMB launches website to publicly hold agencies accountable for improper payments
Error rates and amounts publicized on site; Internet users encouraged to report fraud, waste or abuse.
Digital Government
Agencies begin to get the feel of sensor technology
Concerns about the environment and lower prices for smart computer chips are driving a rising interest in remote monitoring.
Digital Government
Presidential committee on innovation hosts first meeting to boost promising tech, jobs
Panelists suggest government agencies should invest in emerging IT, nanotech and biotech fields
Ideas
Navigating the Do-Not-Pay List(s)
White House officials on Friday announced they will begin rolling out governmentwide a mashup device currently used to detect stimulus-spending fraud, but they also noted a technological weakness preventing agencies from quickly spotting potential improper payments.
Modernization
Data.gov's next big thing: Mashing up federal stats with maps
With new tools, anyone will be able to diagram official statistics from across the federal government to discover interesting correlations or suspicious trends.
Modernization