Exploring a European Civic Tech Hub to Tackle Barriers to Civic Tech Impact
The European Commission, under its Democracy Shield initiative, is committing to create a European Civic Tech Hub to strengthen societal resilience, citizen engagement, and digital sovereignty. A joint effort between TICTeC and Finland’s innovation fund Sitra is mapping the hub’s practical design and identifying barriers to civic‑tech adoption across the EU. Between mid‑March and late‑April 2026, the team will interview civic participation and deliberative democracy practitioners, with findings slated for a public report in June 2026. The aim is to embed practitioner insights into EU policy and boost democratic participation continent‑wide.
The Digital Omnibus: A Step Back From the Brink, but the Risks Remain
The European Council’s first compromise on the Digital Omnibus has stripped out the most controversial GDPR amendments, including changes to personal data definitions, scientific research scope, and Article 22 safeguards. However, the draft still contains provisions that could dilute transparency obligations,...
OpenAI Expands Government Footprint with AWS Deal, Report Says
OpenAI has signed a partnership with Amazon Web Services to sell its generative‑AI models to U.S. government agencies, covering both classified and unclassified workloads via AWS GovCloud and Classified Regions. The deal follows a Pentagon contract that lets the military...
Digital IDs Edge Closer to Practical Reality for UK Businesses
The Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT) has moved its Digital Company ID blueprint from concept to a live, interoperable prototype, showcasing practical deployments for UK businesses. Over 18 months, a coalition of industry leaders—including UK Finance, Mastercard, Monzo...
Norwich Evening News – Facial Recognition to Be Used in Norwich for the First Time
Norfolk Constabulary will deploy live facial‑recognition cameras in Norwich, marking the first UK city‑wide rollout of the technology. Police argue the system will help identify suspects quickly and improve public safety. Civil‑rights group Big Brother Watch has condemned the move...
HB 2320 Advances in Washington While Broader 3D Printer Control Bill Stalls
Washington’s legislature has cleared HB 2320, an intent‑based bill targeting the illegal manufacture of 3D‑printed weapons, and it now awaits the governor’s signature. A companion proposal, HB 2321, which would have mandated online database checks and firmware controls on all printers, stalled...
Why the Digital Euro Needs Worker Input
The European Central Bank’s digital euro proposal aims to cement Europe’s digital sovereignty and foster fair competition ahead of a potential 2029 launch. Advocates argue that the CBDC must be sovereign, public, and inclusive to win trust from citizens and...
From Phones, to School-Issued Laptops and AI, Here’s How Utah Schools Are Changing Their Rules
Utah lawmakers have passed a suite of education technology bills that would make a bell‑to‑bell ban on personal smartphones the default policy in K‑12 schools, introduce parent‑approved whitelist filtering for school‑issued Chromebooks, fund Wi‑Fi installations on rural school buses, and...
Qualcomm Targets Critical Communications in 5G Sidelink Push
Qualcomm announced it will focus its 5G sidelink efforts on the critical‑communications sector, letting public‑safety stakeholders drive development rather than the commercial market. At IWCE 2026, Brittany Haile detailed performance standards agreed with U.S. and European groups and stressed that successful...
SecurityInfoWatch and SecureXperts Launch CSfC Certification Program
SecurityInfoWatch and SecureXperts have unveiled Cybersecure, a training initiative that launches with an NSA‑backed Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Trusted Integrator Workshop at ISC West. The program targets the chronic shortage of qualified integrators capable of designing CSfC‑compliant architectures for federal...
EU Digital ID Wallet Will Prove Over-18 Status Without Showing Birthdate
The European Commission released a manual detailing how the forthcoming EU Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet will perform age verification through selective disclosure. Users can prove they meet age thresholds—such as over‑18 for social media—without revealing birthdate or name, using a...
Bhutan’s National ID App Now Handles Your Passport Application
Bhutan’s National Digital Identity (NDI) wallet is now integrated into the passport application process, allowing citizens to log in, scan a QR code, and have their photo, e‑signature, and security‑clearance data auto‑populated. The automation replaces manual document collection and form...
DOGE Canceled Museum Grant for HVAC Systems After ChatGPT Flagged It As DEI
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) canceled a $349,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant intended for HVAC replacement at North Carolina's High Point Museum after feeding the proposal into ChatGPT, which flagged the project as DEI‑related. Plaintiffs allege that...
A Modern Clerk’s Office: Lessons From Dallas County
In this episode, Dallas County Clerk John Warren discusses the county’s journey from paper‑based record keeping to a fully digital, AI‑enhanced clerk’s office. He explains how early resistance was overcome by demonstrating efficiency gains, such as simultaneous access to documents,...
Wanted: Europe’s Missing Cloud Provider
European policymakers have launched the EURO-3C project, a pan‑European sovereign cloud backed by Telefónica, other firms and the European Commission. The initiative seeks to reduce the EU’s reliance on U.S. hyperscalers, which currently deliver about 70 % of cloud services in...
Gecko Robotics Lands the Largest US Navy Robotics Deal Yet
The U.S. Navy has signed a five‑year IDIQ contract with Pittsburgh‑based Gecko Robotics, starting with a $54 million award and a $71 million ceiling. Gecko’s autonomous inspection robots will crawl inside 18 Pacific Fleet vessels to generate detailed digital twins and feed...
Shoppers Stop and Scan: How a Simple QR Code Will Help Fight Overcharging at Retail Outlets
The Indian government will mandate QR‑code‑based digital certification for every retail shop, linking each outlet to a central compliance database. Shoppers can scan the code with a smartphone to see real‑time status on pricing, weights, and past violations. The scheme,...
Backbone Connectivity for Digital Global Gateways - Studies
The EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has launched a call to fund the deployment or major upgrade of backbone networks, including submarine cables, terrestrial routes, and satellite links. Projects must connect at least two Member States, islands, outermost regions, or...
What Was Doge? How Elon Musk Tried to Gamify Government
Elon Musk created the "Doge" initiative in early 2025, positioning himself as head of a new "department of government efficiency" to overhaul federal technology and budgeting. The project framed government reform as a video‑game challenge, using speed‑run language, leaderboards, and...
West Yorkshire Police Deploys Live AI Analysis of 999 Calls
West Yorkshire Police has launched a live AI system that records, transcribes and categorises more than 20,000 emergency calls each week. The Post‑Call Analysis tool, built on a model trained solely on police data, creates instant summaries and flags hidden...
Singapore: Energy Security to Power the Digital Era
Singapore is bolstering its energy security by pairing advanced digital technologies with a diversified supply mix. The city‑state is expanding natural‑gas infrastructure, adding a second LNG terminal and creating GasCo to source fuel globally. Solar capacity is set to reach...
Australia: Building the Future of Care Through Digital Health
A University of Queensland review of 230 international studies found telehealth consultations clinically effective and operationally robust, even for sensitive care such as voluntary assisted dying (VAD). Australian federal law still classifies certain remote counselling as unlawful, creating legal uncertainty...
Hong Kong to Launch World’s First Governed AI Agent Network Amid OpenClaw Frenzy
Hong Kong’s government‑backed HKGAI is set to launch ClawNet, the world’s first open‑source human‑AI agent collaboration network, alongside consumer‑focused AI tools for school selection, horse‑racing analysis, and public‑service assistants. The platform assigns each AI agent a distinct social identity and...
Trump Cyber Plan Leaves Identity Gap Unresolved
The White House released a seven‑page cyber strategy that prioritizes offensive capabilities, zero‑trust architecture, AI security, blockchain protection, and deregulation, but it stops short of outlining a national digital identity framework. The plan frames cyberspace as a geopolitical battleground and...
Which FDA Division Has the Most Stability As AI Tools Get Adopted Across the Agency?
The FDA has shed roughly 20% of its workforce after the DOGE cuts, prompting a rapid rollout of artificial intelligence tools to offset the expertise gap. Among its centers, CDER is beginning to stabilize, CDRH remains relatively insulated, while CBER...
South Korea Urged to Review Biometric Mandate for Mobile Phone Numbers
South Korea’s National Human Rights Commission has asked the Ministry of Science and ICT to reconsider its plan to mandate facial‑recognition authentication for all new mobile phone numbers, set to launch on March 23. The watchdog recommends three fixes: a...
Section 508 Report Eyes Acquisition ‘Lever’
The General Services Administration’s latest Section 508 assessment reveals that fewer than half of federal agencies’ public‑facing ICT—webpages, documents, hardware and software—meet accessibility standards, with only 37% of top‑viewed sites fully compliant. The report highlights a testing bias toward websites and...
Consultation Questions, Companies House Incident Highlight UK IDV Industry’s Fears
The UK government’s consultation on a national digital identity system omits private Digital Verification Service (DVS) providers, prompting the Association of Digital Verification Professionals (ADVP) to warn of data‑ownership and market‑distortion concerns. Simultaneously, a security breach at Companies House exposed...
Calif. Sheriff's Department to Answer Non-Emergency Calls with AI
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office launched an AI‑driven system to field non‑emergency calls, routing callers to the appropriate service without tying up 911 dispatchers. The pilot diverted about 20% of roughly 400,000 annual non‑emergency calls, cutting average hold time...
Winning Hearts and Minds: Ensuring Adoption of OPM’s HR 2.0 Initiative
The Office of Personnel Management’s HR 2.0 platform is the most ambitious federal HR‑IT overhaul in decades, but its success depends on more than technology. OPM must adopt a human‑centered change strategy that tackles agency anxiety, loss of flexibility, and fear...
Leaked Records and Smart Glasses Expose DHS Surveillance Drift
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Industry Partnerships (OIP) has formalized a pipeline that awarded over 1,400 contracts worth $845 million to more than 6,800 firms for AI‑driven biometric and video‑analysis tools. Leaked records show projects ranging from smartphone‑based fingerprint...
CMS Announces Centralized Platform for Managing Independent Dispute Resolution Operations
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a new centralized platform, the IDR Gateway, to manage independent dispute resolution (IDR) operations under the No Surprises Act. The system will replace the current single‑use web forms, allowing users to initiate...
As HHS Looks to Speed up AI in Clinical Care, the Big Questions Are Burden, Trust and What Comes Next
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has closed a major request for information (RFI) to gather public input on speeding AI adoption in clinical care. The initiative follows the OMB’s AI guidance and HHS’s own AI Strategy,...
US Committee Demands Big Tech Share Private Comms with EU Officials
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee sent letters to ten major tech firms, demanding they preserve and produce all communications with European Commission officials related to the EU Digital Services Act, including auto‑deleting messages. The subpoena, issued in February, targets companies...
When Disaster Strikes, Census Data Can Help Show Who Is in Harm’s Way
The U.S. Census Bureau upgraded its OnTheMap for Emergency Management tool (v4.26.1), adding the latest 2020‑2024 American Community Survey five‑year estimates and 2023 LEHD Origin‑Destination data. The platform now overlays disaster‑event boundaries with up‑to‑date population, housing, and workforce information, letting...
How Trump Drove a Wedge Between Florida Republicans Over A.I.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis championed an AI Bill of Rights that would require disclosures and ban AI in mental‑health counseling, but the measure stalled as the Florida House declined to act. President Donald Trump publicly opposed state-level AI regulation, urging...
DOD's New CIO Headlines Our First Power Breakfast of 2026
The Department of Defense introduced its new chief information officer, Kirsten Davies, at the inaugural Power Breakfast of 2026. Davies outlined a roadmap for IT transformation, cyber resilience, and aligning the CIO office with the Pentagon’s “Arsenal of Freedom” strategy,...
Congress Reauthorized the Technology Modernization Fund Through the Fiscal Year. Why that Matters and What’s Next
Congress reauthorized the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) through September 30, 2026, allowing the board to keep selecting high‑impact federal IT projects. The fund operates as a revolving vehicle, requiring agencies to repay investments so the same dollars can finance future...
Florida Lawmakers Target ADS-B Use For Landing Fees
Florida lawmakers approved CS/CS/SB 422, prohibiting airports from using ADS‑B surveillance data to calculate landing fees or related charges for Part 91 aircraft weighing 12,499 pounds or less. The bill, cleared by both chambers, heads to Governor Ron DeSantis and would...
Sonoma Valley Schools Approve Specific Rules for AI Use
The Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board unanimously approved a comprehensive artificial‑intelligence policy that outlines expectations, guardrails, and nine guiding principles for students, staff, vendors and volunteers. The policy emphasizes ethical, transparent use, equitable access, and the need for security,...
DHS Chooses Small Biz for $178M Enterprise IT Contract
The Department of Homeland Security awarded a potential ten‑year, $178.6 million task order to Netizen, a service‑disabled veteran‑owned small business, for enterprise IT delivery and operations support to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers. The contract covers service‑desk functions, Microsoft 365 deployment,...
PHX To Offer Enhanced Passenger Processing
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport announced the rollout of Enhanced Passenger Processing for U.S. citizens arriving on international flights. The system, developed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, uses photo‑matching technology to accelerate the CBP inspection process. Airport officials highlighted...
Fort Bragg Fiber Deployment Sees Delays, Higher Costs
Fort Bragg, California’s municipal fiber project has encountered significant setbacks after the city dismissed its original construction‑management partner, GHD. The budget has ballooned from an initial $14.7 million to $18.9 million, driven by added fiber‑flower‑pot enclosures and street‑restoration costs. Direct city oversight...
Pakistan Upholds Legal Acceptance of Digital ID with Official Guidance
Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has issued official guidance confirming that its digital identity credentials, including the Pak ID, are legally equivalent to physical CNICs. Under the NADRA Digital Identity Regulations 2025, public authorities and service providers are...
Government IT Efficiency Starts With Rethinking Code, Infrastructure and the Edge
State and local governments can boost IT efficiency by overhauling three pillars: legacy code, infrastructure spending, and edge computing. Outdated, siloed applications inflate maintenance budgets, while open‑source and platform consolidation can slash costs and improve citizen services. Flexible cloud governance...
AI Is Causing a Power and Cooling Headache for Agencies
The latest NVIDIA AI processors are forcing federal agencies to confront unprecedented power and cooling requirements. Agencies must secure trusted partners or conduct assessments to size generators, UPS systems, and transfer switches, while private‑sector spenders are willing to invest over...
How to Help Tech Cross the Valley of Death
Leslie Beavers, former Deputy CIO of the Department of Defense, now leads LB Insights to guide firms through the “valley of death” that separates tech innovation from operational deployment. At the Pentagon she helped launch digital modernization programs such as...
New Texas Cyber Command Looks to ‘Bind the State Together’
Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation creating Texas Cyber Command, which officially launched in September 2025 and is housed at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Led by Ret. Admiral TJ White, the command is legally required to build an...
IRS Launches First Open‑source Project, Fully Public Domain
“As a work of the United States government, this project is in the public domain within the United States of America. Additionally, we waive copyright and related rights in the work worldwide through the CC0 1.0 Universal public domain dedication.” The first...
Judges Must Use Social Media to Democratize Courts
My article in the Winter 2026 Issue of The Journal of Appellate Practice and Process—“Democratizing the Judiciary: Why Judges Should Engage ‘We the People’ Through Social-Media Platforms”—is now available at this link. I hope you enjoy reading it as much...