EU Age Verification App Announced To Protect Children Online
The European Commission announced that a new age‑verification app is technically ready for rollout, allowing users to prove they are over a required age without disclosing personal identity. The app will be downloaded from standard app stores and set up using a passport or national ID, then generate an anonymous token similar to COVID‑19 vaccination certificates. It is designed to help enforce the Digital Services Act by restricting access to pornographic, gambling and alcohol‑related content. Built on open‑source technology, the solution could be adopted by platforms outside the EU as well.
NYC Launches Concierge-Style Service, Enhanced Web Tools to Aid Local Law 97 Compliance
New York City unveiled Momentum, a free concierge‑style accelerator that helps building owners navigate Local Law 97’s strict emissions targets. The service bundles a call center, an online portal with decarbonization planning tools, case‑study library, and financing guidance, and expands into...
How Much Power Do Cities Have over Data Centers?
Communities across the United States are increasingly challenging data‑center expansion, highlighted by a two‑to‑one vote in Port Washington, Wisconsin, that forces voter approval for tax incentives on projects over $10 million. Maine has enacted the nation’s first statewide moratorium on new data‑center...
ANDRITZ Lands Contract to Modernize NYPA’s Niagara Hydropower Plant
The New York Power Authority awarded ANDRITZ a contract to design, build and deliver five new 215 MVA generator stators for the Robert Moses Power Plant, part of the Niagara Power Project. The stators will replace several of the plant’s 13...
Fiber Optic Rails Detect Faulty Wheels and Intrusions Instantly
What if optical fiber buried next to rail lines quietly flagged bad wheels, broken barriers, and intrusions in real time? https://spectrum.ieee.org/distributed-acoustic-sensing-trains-railways?share_id=9372974
Optical Fiber Networks Can Keep Rail Networks Safe
Chinese researchers demonstrated that distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) on existing underground fiber‑optic cables can continuously monitor railway safety. AI models achieved 98.75% accuracy detecting faulty train wheels, 99.6% for broken sound barriers, and 97% for intrusions or debris. The approach...
Corsight Revealed as Facial Recognition Supplier for Canadian Police Bodycam Trial
Corsight AI was selected to supply facial‑recognition algorithms for a body‑camera trial by the Edmonton Police Service, using Axon‑manufactured devices. The proof‑of‑concept, which began in December, matched live footage against a watch list of high‑risk offenders whenever officers activated recording....
Agencies Report over 3,000 AI Use Cases in 2025
The Office of Management and Budget released the 2025 Federal Agency Artificial Intelligence Use Case Inventory, documenting 3,611 AI applications across 56 agencies—a 105% increase from 2024’s 1,757 cases. Health and Human Services leads with 447 use cases, followed by...
MAV Launches BayiQ ANPR Camera for EV Charging-Bay Management
MAV Systems has introduced BayiQ, an ANPR camera that can monitor several electric‑vehicle charging bays from a single unit. The solution tackles chronic EV‑infrastructure issues such as overstaying, ICEing (non‑EVs occupying EV bays) and low turnover. By processing vehicle data...
SecuGen’s MOSIP-Certified Fingerprint Devices Ready for Commercial Deployments
SecuGen announced that its Unity 20 fingerprint scanner has achieved MOSIP certification and is now commercially available for large‑scale digital identity projects. The device complies with MOSIP SBI 2.0 L1 specifications, delivering interoperable authentication in humid or dusty conditions. SecuGen highlights the scanner’s...
Facial Recognition Errors Demand Ethical Deployment Standards
As facial recognition technology expands, understanding its propensity to give false results is crucial for ethical deployment in high-stakes environments. https://spectrum.ieee.org/facial-recognition-gone-wrong
Intercede Now Supports Idemia PS Devices for Unified FIDO, PKI Credential Management
Intercede has integrated Idemia Public Security’s newest authentication hardware into its MyID CMS 12.18 platform, enabling unified management of both FIDO and PKI credentials. The Idemia devices, built on the COSMO X platform, meet the FIPS 201 PIV standard required for...
Electronic Submission of Adverse Event Reports to FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Using International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) E2B(R3)...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration held two public meetings on April 4 and November 7, 2023 to outline upgrades to electronic adverse event reporting using the ICH E2B(R3) standard. The sessions targeted both pre‑market and post‑market safety surveillance programs managed by CDER and...
Why Reforming Rooftop Solar and Battery Permitting Belongs on Every State Affordability Agenda
American families face soaring electricity bills, yet state permitting rules for rooftop solar and home batteries remain a costly bottleneck. A new Environment America scorecard shows 48 states receive D or F grades, with only California and Texas earning B...
Don't Wait for the Clock to Run Out on Digital Accessibility
Public universities with over 50,000 students must meet the new ADA Title II digital accessibility standards by April 24, 2026, while smaller institutions have until April 2027. The Department of Justice’s rule mandates WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance across portals, mobile apps, LMS and any system...
Connecting Learners and Employers Requires More than Just Good Technology. It Needs Real Leadership.
In late 2025 the U.S. Department of Education launched a $15 million challenge urging states to create talent marketplaces that enable skills‑based hiring, coinciding with a National Governors Association initiative across nearly 20 states. These marketplaces aim to align education systems...
Philippines Plans ID Verification for Healthcare with PhilSys Integration
The Philippines will embed its national ID system, PhilSys, into the PhilHealth Check Utility to verify patients in real time, aiming to curb fraudulent claims and streamline benefit delivery. A memorandum of understanding between PhilHealth and the Philippine Statistics Authority...
Two ePA Routes for Same Drug Create Workflow Chaos
A rheumatologist prescribes Humira for a patient with Crohn's. The patient might self-inject at home with a prefilled pen or come into the infusion center for IV administration. Same drug, doctor and patient, so must be straightforward, right? Under CMS-0062, two...
CMS-0062-P Deep Dive: What the 2026 Interoperability and Prior Authorization for Drugs Proposed Rule Actually Means for Health Tech Investors...
CMS released the proposed rule CMS-0062-P on April 10, 2026, extending prior‑authorization interoperability to prescription drugs and mandating FHIR‑based API endpoint reporting across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP and qualified health plans. The rule sets a comment deadline of June 15,...
IDen2 Teams with Carahsoft to Deploy Decentralized Digital Identity Across U.S. Agencies
iDen2 has signed a strategic distribution agreement with Carahsoft Technology Corp., giving U.S. federal and state agencies access to its decentralized, password‑less digital‑identity platform through contracts such as SEWP V and ITES‑SW2. The deal aims to modernize authentication for citizens,...
Federal Prosecutors Conduct Surprise Inspection of $2.5 B Fed Renovation Project
Two federal prosecutors and an investigator from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office attempted an unannounced tour of the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation site. The visit, rebuffed by the contractor and redirected to Fed attorneys, underscores a politically charged investigation...
Making AI Operational in Constrained Public Sector Environments
Public sector agencies are accelerating AI adoption but face strict security, governance, and operational constraints that differ from the private sector. A Capgemini study shows 79% of executives worry about data security, while 65% struggle to use data in real...
Congress Turns Up Pressure on DHS Over Palantir’s Role in Immigration Crackdown
Congressional leaders sent a letter to DHS and ICE demanding detailed disclosures about Palantir’s surveillance tools, including the ELITE app and ImmigrationOS, used in the current immigration enforcement push. The inquiry also targets facial‑recognition and cell‑tower‑simulation technologies from Clearview AI,...
Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Shares Digital Plans as IT Becomes “Largest Single Expenditure of Capital” For First Time in...
RDaSH NHS Foundation Trust announced that IT will be its largest capital expenditure for 2026/27, with more than £11 million (≈$13.8 million) earmarked through 2029/30. The plan covers firewall, server, telephony, backup hardware, anti‑virus and endpoint upgrades, alongside a move to a...
Hong Kong Budget Targets Construction Innovation, Heritage Conservation and Climate Resilience
Hong Kong's Development Bureau announced the 2026‑27 works portfolio, allocating HK$24.47 billion (≈US$3.1 billion) to construction innovation, heritage conservation and climate‑resilience projects. The budget adds HK$1 billion (≈US$128 million) to the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund, bringing total tech support to HK$1.4 billion (≈US$179 million) for...
Brazil Looks to Expand Access to Books with Free Digital Reading Platforms
Brazil's Ministry of Education unveiled two free digital platforms, MEC Books and MEC Languages, to broaden reading and language learning access nationwide. MEC Books launches with a library‑style model, 8,000 titles across 19 categories, allowing 14‑day loans and renewals. Within...
Identity Week Team to Launch Tech in Gov Europe in 2027
The Identity Week team announced that Tech in Gov Europe will debut in 2027, running alongside Identity Week Europe. The new conference will focus on government technology, digital transformation, and public‑sector innovation. By co‑locating the events, organizers aim to provide...
CYBERUK ’26: UK Lagging on Legal Protections for Cyber Pros
The UK’s 1990 Computer Misuse Act (CMA) is increasingly seen as an obstacle for cyber‑security professionals who need to conduct authorised hacking as part of their work. Ahead of the CYBERUK conference, the CyberUp Campaign released a report urging Westminster...
Maine Legislature Passes Nation's First Data Center Moratorium
Maine’s legislature approved LD 307, the nation’s first state‑level moratorium on new data centers consuming 20 megawatts or more, effective until November 1, 2027. The bill creates a Data Center Coordination Council to evaluate grid reliability, environmental impact, and ratepayer protection while...
IOM Organises International Gathering to Discuss Digital ID for Migrants
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) hosted a conference in Turkey to explore digital identity solutions for migrants. Government officials, international bodies and private‑sector representatives discussed how biometric and mobile‑based IDs can grant legal recognition and streamline migration processes. The...
Border Control Remains an Obstacle to Seamless Travel
The aviation sector’s push for seamless travel is being throttled by outdated border control processes, despite the availability of mature biometric technologies. Valour Consultancy reports that the global biometric market for airports is projected to reach $15.8 billion over the next...
Motorola Solutions Unveils R&D and Customer Experience Center in Florida
Motorola Solutions opened a modern R&D and Customer Experience Center in Plantation, Florida, dedicated to designing, developing, and testing its land mobile radio (LMR) portfolio. The facility expands the company's five‑decade presence in Broward County and includes design, engineering and...
DC3 Making Better Sense of Its Cyber Data
In this episode of Ask the CIO, Defense Cybercrime Center (DC3) Architecture Management of Data and Enterprise Division Chief Kajal Pal explains how DC3 protects the defense industrial base through digital forensics, threat intelligence sharing, and supply‑chain security. She details...
Colombia Approves Guidelines for Integrating Energy Storage Into Electricity System
Colombia issued Decree 0393 to establish public‑policy guidelines for integrating energy‑storage systems (ESS) into both the National Interconnected System and isolated zones. The decree sets deployment criteria, market participation rules, and a remuneration framework, recognizing storage for frequency regulation, voltage...
Government ‘Information Gateway’ Will Share Public-Held Data with Digital Verification Services
The UK Office for Digital Identities and Attributes has introduced an "information gateway" that permits private sector verification providers to access public‑held identity data. The capability is authorised by Section 45 of the Data Use and Access Act 2025 and...
The Digital Accessibility Deadline Is Here. Schools Aren’t Ready.
The federal Title II ADA rule requiring K‑12 schools and districts to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards takes effect on April 24, 2026, with smaller districts facing a 2026 deadline and larger ones 2027. A recent NSPRA survey shows only 14% of districts have...
InfraXmedia Launches AI Cities Summit Series to Support Governments Navigating AI Infrastructure Growth
InfraXmedia has launched the AI Cities Summit Series, a global platform that helps national, regional and city governments plan, attract and scale AI infrastructure. The inaugural European edition will be held in Zaragoza on February 16‑17, 2027, backed by the...
UK Set to Launch £500m ‘Sovereign AI’ Fund
The UK government is unveiling a £500 million (≈$635 million) Sovereign AI fund, designed to act as an internal venture capital vehicle, provide access to AI supercomputers, and facilitate procurement and regulatory guidance for domestic AI firms. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall framed...
French Minister Says New Measures Are Coming After Crypto Kidnappings
French interior minister delegate Jean‑Didier Berger announced new measures to curb crypto kidnappings, known as wrench attacks, after a recent €400,000 ransom case. Authorities have launched a prevention platform that already has thousands of sign‑ups and are collaborating with Interior...
Young Global Leader Aims to Globalize India's Digital Success
Honoured to be selected for @wef's Young Global Leaders Class of 2026. Excited to learn from leaders from multiple countries across finance, tech, policy, and social impact all solving very different problems in very different contexts. This is the kind of...
Google, Pentagon Negotiate Secret AI Contract, Mending Military Ties
Google and Pentagon Discuss Classified AI Deal as Company Rebuilds Military Ties — The Information https://t.co/hHvbCxnlot
Regulators Confront AI-Driven Cyber Risk After Anthropic Warning
British regulators—including the Bank of England, FCA and NCSC—are urgently assessing Anthropic’s new AI model Claude Mythos Preview after it flagged thousands of serious software vulnerabilities. The model, released as a gated research project called Glasswing, has prompted parallel concern...
Cape Town’s First MyCiTi E-Bus to Arrive in August
Cape Town will receive its first MyCiTi electric bus in August, followed by 13 more before year‑end, as part of a rollout of 30 Volvo BZRLE low‑floor e‑buses slated for delivery through June 2027. The buses feature bodies manufactured locally in...
Federal Agencies Ramp Up AI Deployment Ahead of 2026 Digital Transformation Summit
Federal departments are scaling artificial‑intelligence tools to modernize missions and meet executive AI mandates. The effort will be showcased at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22, where leaders from the Defense, Transportation and State departments...
Maine Legislature Passes First‑In‑Nation Temporary Ban on New Data Centers
The Maine Legislature approved LD 307, a temporary moratorium on new data centers consuming 20 MW or more of electricity until November 2027, and sent the bill to Governor Janet Mills. Proponents say the pause lets the state study power and water impacts,...
Hitachi to Develop Portugal’s Second Translator Tech for ETCS Trains on Legacy Lines
Hitachi Rail has secured a contract from Infraestruturas de Portugal to build the country’s second Specific Transmission Module (STM), a translator that lets ETCS‑equipped trains run on legacy Convel signalling. About 69% of Portugal’s 2,500‑km network still uses Convel, so...
The Mexican Security Company with a $1.27 Billion Surveillance Empire
Grupo Seguritech, founded in 1995 as a modest alarm‑system firm, has evolved into Mexico’s $1.27 billion surveillance powerhouse. The company now runs 52 active projects, employs over 2,200 specialists, and operates a sprawling portfolio of 27 subsidiaries plus three overseas branches....
Things Can't Go on Like This with Online Safety, Starmer Tells Tech Bosses
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer convened senior executives from Meta, Snap, Google, TikTok and X at Downing Street to demand tougher safeguards for children online. The meeting comes amid a government consultation on extending age‑restriction rules, including a possible ban...
CDTA Achieves 90% Arrival Accuracy with Moovit Partnership
Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) rolled out an upgraded real‑time arrival feature in its Navigator app, built with Moovit, delivering 90% prediction accuracy for fixed‑route buses in New York’s Capital Region. The AI‑driven system combines live vehicle data, traffic conditions...
Cyber Essentials Closes the MFA Loophole but Leaves some Organisations Adrift
The UK’s Cyber Essentials scheme has long been a baseline for cyber‑hygiene, especially for firms seeking government contracts. Effective 27 April, version 3.3 upgrades multi‑factor authentication (MFA) from a recommendation to a binary pass‑or‑fail rule. Any cloud service used without enabled MFA...