Author Archive

Chris Teale

Managing Editor, Route Fifty

Chris Teale
Chris Teale is the managing editor for Route Fifty, where he covers state and local government technology.
Artificial Intelligence

Partnership for Public Service launches AI Center for Government

The good-government nonprofit said the center will focus on developing AI leaders, building talent and allowing agencies at all levels of government to share information and best practices.

Cybersecurity

What’s next for cybersecurity, election info sharing?

Federal funding has been slashed by $10 million for two information sharing centers, which both have tens of thousands of members. A more fragmented and expensive future could follow as states and others go it alone.

Acquisition

StateRAMP to rebrand later this year

The voluntary program will be rebranded as “GovRAMP” to better reflect that its offerings can be used by local governments, educational institutions and others, the organization’s executive director told Route Fifty.

Digital Government

Federal tech grant recipients sweat future amid ongoing uncertainty

The federal Office of Management and Budget’s memo pausing grants caused massive uncertainty, including for technology efforts reliant on the money. Recipients say their work will continue, but be harder, without federal help.

Digital Government

Feds move to make gov websites more accessible to people with disabilities

It’s the first time the federal government has ever issued rules clarifying how the more than 30-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act applies online. But the new rules come with a hefty price tag for state and local governments.

Digital Government

Supreme Court clarifies when public officials can block citizens on social media

The Supreme Court unanimously found in a pair of cases that whether a government official can block a constituent on their personal social media account hinges on if a post is a state action or is private conduct.

Artificial Intelligence

AI could help clear food stamp backlogs plaguing some states

States are increasingly seeing it as a way to better process public benefit programs amid workforce shortages and outdated technology issues. But change can be incremental amid policy and money concerns.

Artificial Intelligence

Capturing AI’s potential needs a ‘two-way street’ between the feds and states, cities

A senior White House official said all levels of government need to work together on artificial intelligence to “move faster” to tackle big problems.

Digital Government

Federal judge temporarily blocks Montana’s TikTok ban

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said in his preliminary injunction that the first-of-its-kind state law “likely” violates the First Amendment. A trial to review its legal authority could still reinstate the ban.

Cybersecurity

FCC wants to improve cyber protections for schools, libraries

Faced with a growing number of cyberattacks on school districts nationwide, the agency announced a three-year pilot program to gather data on the best cyberdefenses.

Modernization

State CIOs look ahead to a collaborative, automated future

A survey of state technology leaders found that the CIO role has evolved from one concerned with building a state’s own tech infrastructure to one focused on acting as a broker of services. The change comes amid increasing automation, use of AI and cybersecurity challenges.

Emerging Tech

Innovation Thrives When Governments Embrace Next-Gen Public-Private Partnerships

By rethinking how sectors collaborate and encouraging long-term institutional relationships, communities can get the most out of technology projects, one expert said.

Emerging Tech

More States Move to Ban TikTok from Government Devices

Maryland joined South Dakota in announcing a ban on state employees or agencies from using the app on government-issued devices, while South Carolina asked for it to be blocked.

Cybersecurity

Almost half of phishing attacks target gov employees, research says

Traditionally aimed at stealing credentials, phishing attacks are growing increasingly sophisticated.

Artificial Intelligence

Make AI Accountable by Adding Redress Tools, Researchers Say

The white paper from the University of California, Berkeley also called for regulators to appoint an ombudsman to investigate complaints and monitor issues with the technology.

Emerging Tech

Mobile Threats Prompt Operational Changes for Government Staff

More than 80% of public sector respondents to a recent survey said they have been forced to re-evaluate workplace practices as attacks on mobile devices grow.