Ideas

What Are Dark Patterns? An Online Media Expert Explains

It’s not you; many e-commerce websites are difficult to use by design.

Cybersecurity

CISA Considering Open-Source Registrar Platform For .Gov Domain

The agency is looking for support services to help manage the .gov registry as it takes control of the top-level domain from GSA.

Modernization

Report: Nearly Half of Popular Federal Websites Fail Accessibility Tests

The report follows legislation and policy efforts undertaken by the government to improve accessibility efforts.

Ideas

Why Getting More People with Disabilities Developing Technology Is Good for Everyone

Accessible technology is better for everyone, and accessible technology benefits when the people who rely on it most help build it.

Modernization

Lawmakers Say It’s Past Time OMB Issued IDEA Act Guidance

After two years in limbo and a pandemic forcing more adoption of digital services, House lawmakers want to see real guidance issued in the next 45 days.

Digital Government

3 Companies Settle Over Millions of Fake Comments on FCC’s Net Neutrality Rollback

Broadband companies funded an effort responsible for 8.5 million fraudulent comments supporting the repeal, according to a New York attorney general report.

Cybersecurity

Feds Eliminate Fee for '.Gov' Web Addresses

Smaller localities in particular have said that the $400 annual cost was a barrier to adopting the government-specific URL.

Digital Government

Design Changes Coming Soon to beta.SAM

While most of the changes will be cosmetic, the design update is the result of years of user feedback and adherence to relatively new digital services standards.

Cybersecurity

Single Sign-in For Government Services Expands to States, Localities

The federal government is looking to partner with state and local governments to grow its Login.gov service, which it says is secure and user friendly.

Digital Government

COVID-19 Drove .Gov Search Traffic in 2020 But Not Always About Health

Data on searches performed on .gov websites shows people wanted information on every aspect of the pandemic, as well as continued interest in NASA and immigration.

Digital Government

Senate Bill Would Force Companies to Safeguard Consumer Data

The bill outlines “reasonable” duties of care, loyalty and confidentiality for companies to follow or face fines.

Cybersecurity

NSA, CISA Promote Domain Name System Incorporating Threat Information

The agencies’ guide on selecting a provider of protective DNS services is based on a pilot with the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Agency Takes Over Management of .Gov Domain

The official domain for .gov websites shifted from the government’s landlord to the government’s central cybersecurity shop.

Ideas

Common App Announces Changes to Create More Inclusive College Application Process for LGBTQ+ Students

The Common App board announced it will reframe its sex and gender questions, barriers to higher education LGBTQ+ people face.

Ideas

How to Really Fix COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Scheduling

The traditional vaccine sign-up model does not work when the demand for vaccines far exceeds supply.

Digital Government

GSA to Verify Identities of Some SAM Users After Transition

The agency will require identity proofing for SAM registrants after the big migration to beta.SAM.gov in May.

Digital Government

Two GSA Contract Management Sites Will Be Down For Two Days

Contractor portals eOffer and eMod will be offline for two days in March as the General Services Administration switches to a new log-in method with added security.