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Cybersecurity
FBI to Alert States About Local Election System Hacks
The FBI changed its policy to allow agents to inform both state and local election officials when election systems are breached.
Data
How California’s Consumer Privacy Act Will Become the Digital Law of the Land
Under the law, the onus is on consumers to request that companies disclose or delete their personal data. But more states and the federal government could still jump into the privacy debate.
Cybersecurity
Local Election Officials Can Get Free Election Auditing Software from the Feds
The open-source software is already being piloted in at least six states and officials say it can help authenticate results in 2020.
Emerging Tech
Artificial Intelligence Could Have Biggest Impact on White-Collar Jobs
New research suggests that white collar jobs are more likely to feel the impacts of artificial intelligence in the workplace than blue-collar positions.
IT Modernization
A State Agency Scraps Its Paper-Based Licensing System
In adopting a digital licensing system, officials at the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission say they moved away not just from stacks and stacks of paper, but also an old mindset.
Cybersecurity
Senator Urges Cybersecurity Review of Mobile Voting App
West Virginia and local governments in Colorado, Utah and Oregon have all piloted mobile voting applications developed by Voatz.
Cybersecurity
A Plan to Engage Hackers in Election Security
The Information Technology-Information Sharing and Analysis Center wants to create a coordinated vulnerability disclosure program that could alert vendors about security flaws in their voting systems.
Cybersecurity
Ohio Establishes ‘Cyber Reserve’ to Combat Ransomware
The civilian unit of the National Guard will be on call to assist local governments that come under cyberattack.
Emerging Tech
Use of Artificial Intelligence Poised to Grow in State Government, Survey Finds
Experimentation is key to the Utah chief information officer’s expanded use of artificial intelligence.
Cybersecurity
Texas Chief Information Officer Shares Lessons Learned from Ransomware Attack
The 23 municipalities hit in a July ransomware attack put themselves at risk by failing “to follow good cyber hygiene,” the state’s CIO said.
Cybersecurity
Protection from Ransomware Attacks Isn’t as Simple as Insurance
In the wake of high-profile ransomware attacks, local governments are looking to cyber insurance to mitigate risk. But not all policies are equal and merit close scrutiny, experts say.
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Emerging Tech
Local Law Enforcement Should Be Able to Protect Airports From Drones, Report Says
To address security risks, a task force recommends that Congress authorize local law enforcement to take down drones flown too close to airports.
Policy
States Can Craft Own Net Neutrality Rules, Appeals Court Rules
A federal appeals court upheld much of the FCC’s rollback of net neutrality rules but found that the commission overstepped its authority when it blocked states from enacting their own internet regulations.
CIO Briefing
State Attorneys General Launch Google Antitrust Probe
The investigation of Google’s advertising practices is the latest to target tech companies.
IT Modernization
Facebook Expands Tool That Lets Local Governments Send Alerts
The system will offer authorities a way to send targeted notifications about emergencies and other issues to residents.
Policy
Phone Companies Make Pact with State Attorneys General to Combat Robocalls
As part of the agreement, 12 phone carriers pledged to implement call-blocking technology and to monitor their networks for illegal robocalls.
Cybersecurity
Coordinated Ransomware Attack in Texas Seen as Escalation From Prior Hacks
Twenty-three local governments were attacked over the weekend. The willingness of city governments to pay ransoms may be emboldening opportunistic hackers, security experts warn.
Cybersecurity
Fewer Than Half of States Take These Two Election Security Precautions
The Brennan Center for Justice found only 24 states will both have voting systems that create a paper trail and require audits of the 2020 election results.
Cybersecurity
Three Steps Governments Can Take to Guard Against Ransomware Attacks
A federal cybersecurity agency and state government associations issued guidance Monday on protecting city, county and state governments from the growing threat of a ransomware attack.
Emerging Tech