Ideas
What Facebook Could Have Been
A shareable online diary was an obvious idea in the early 2000s. What if a college student’s version hadn’t won out?
Cybersecurity
IRS’ Outdated App Security Leaves Taxpayers at Risk of Identity Theft, Watchdog Says
The agency is updating identity verification controls for its suite of web applications, but the effort won’t be wrapped up until 2023.
Emerging Tech
Inside One Lawmaker's Proposal for a Privacy Bill of Rights
Sen. Ed Markey’s, D-Mass., sweeping privacy framework would limit the amount of data companies collect on users and require more transparency about how it’s being used.
Digital Government
House Republicans Want FEMA to Answer for Leaking 2.3 Million Americans' Data
Members of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology want a full briefing from FEMA brass no later than April 18.
Digital Government
Survey: Four in Five Industry Tech Execs Favor Federal Privacy Law
Corporate America’s top tech officials favor a privacy law even if they aren’t sure how to adhere to it.
Emerging Tech
A DNA Company Wants You to Help Catch Criminals
Family Tree DNA was criticized for secretly working with the FBI. Now it’s explicitly asking potential customers to help law enforcement.
Digital Government
DEA Never Checked If Its Massive Surveillance Operations Are Legal, Watchdog Says
The administration “failed to conduct a comprehensive legal analysis” of three NSA-style bulk data collection programs, according to the Justice Department Inspector General.
Cybersecurity
CBP announces social media tracking program
Under a new initiative, certain Customs and Border Protection personnel are trolling public-facing social media for threats against agency facilities and officials.
Digital Government
Empowering Regulators Could Stop the Next Equifax Breach, Watchdog Says
Giving the regulatory agencies more power to punish companies after breaches could make industry invest more in cybersecurity, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Digital Government
Senators Question DOJ’s Surveillance of Americans’ Cell Phone Location Records
Lawmakers want the attorney general to explain how the collection of cellular location data has changed following a recent SCOTUS decision.
Emerging Tech
Facial Recognition Bill Would Ban Companies From Sharing Your Face Without Consent
A bipartisan bill introduced this week would strengthen consumer protections around facial recognition technology.
Digital Government
Your Health Data Are a Gold Mine for Advertisers
In the hospital and at home, illness data can be lucrative.
Emerging Tech
Government Needs An ‘Ethical Framework’ to Tackle Emerging Technology
At SXSW, a beacon of technology idealism, mayors discuss how to deal with the difficult problems that can come with new tech.
Cybersecurity
Phone Scammers Are Impersonating the Social Security Administration, Too
The Federal Trade Commission warns that even if a call doesn’t seem like a scam, it probably is.
Digital Government
Big Tech Claps Back at Warren’s Proposal to Break Up Amazon, Google, Facebook
The tech industry doesn’t think Sen. Warren’s idea to break up big tech companies is a good idea.
Digital Government
What Mark Zuckerberg Thinks People Want
The Facebook CEO had a change of heart that could recast the future of the internet.
Digital Government
Congress Moves to Ban Discriminatory Advertising on Social Media
Lawmakers also introduced bills to help both vets and the larger U.S. workforce navigate an increasingly tech-centric job market.
Modernization
New York's Online Voter Registration Will Become Accessible to Blind Voters
Websites for the board of elections and DMV must be accessible by the end of the year under the terms of a lawsuit settlement.
Emerging Tech
Las Vegas Gambles on a 'Smart City' Technology Makeover
The casino mecca is piloting countless new technologies in public spaces in a bid to boost its smart-city brand. Worrying about the risks will come later.
Ideas
White House’s Race to Maintain AI Dominance Misses Opportunity
The administration supported a race for AI when it could have supported a race for ethical innovation.
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