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.

Policy

Big Tech Under Scrutiny as White House Looks to Align Policy Approach with Europe

Lawmakers are also trying to beef up resources for domestic privacy and cybersecurity enforcement at an emboldened Federal Trade Commission.

Emerging Tech

DOJ Seeks Congressional Funding to Implement Policy on Body-Worn Cameras

The announcement follows tensions with some local police departments over the authority to release footage recorded during joint operations.

Podcasts

Critical Update: Cryptocurrencies to Save the Day?

After activists turned out to kill an amendment that would have set back the cryptocurrency industry, Nextgov decided to look at how the volatile technology can be used as a force for good.

Ideas

Data Privacy Laws in the US Protect Profit but Prevent Sharing Data for Public Good – People Want the Opposite

People produce mountains of data every day, but not all data is treated the same under the law.

Emerging Tech

Facial Recognition Tech Use Increasing Among Federal Agencies

Use cases included criminal investigations, building security and access to digital assets like smartphones and security agency websites.

Policy

State Data Privacy Bills Growing More Widespread

Ohio lawmakers have introduced legislation to establish “data rights” for citizens. It follows Colorado, which passed a similar law last week.