Digital ID Will Help Address ‘Unnecessary Data Security Risks’ and ‘Persistent Exclusion’, Minister Says
The UK government is set to launch a state‑issued digital identity, backed by the Digital Access to Services Bill, after minister James Frith highlighted its role in reducing data‑security risks and tackling persistent exclusion. The ID will serve as a standalone proof of identity, be free to access, and remain optional for citizens. Privacy safeguards, including data minimisation and no centralised personal database, are built into the system. An inclusion programme will support low‑income and digitally‑confident‑limited users, ensuring the service does not become a barrier to public services.
AI Will Write the Government Software. Who Writes the Spec?
Government technology leaders are confronting a new dilemma: spend $4 million on a traditional custom‑software contract or adopt AI that writes code from a plain‑language specification. The AI‑first approach promises faster delivery and lower costs, but it forces agencies to own...
Sustaining Decision Advantage: The Case for Analytic Tradecraft Reform
The opinion piece argues that the U.S. intelligence community must overhaul its analytic tradecraft to keep pace with an information environment flooded by real‑time data and AI‑driven tools. While Cold‑War‑era standards once ensured rigor, they now risk becoming bureaucratic and...
US Army Deploys Drones in Hawaii’s Forests to Cut Wildfire Risk
The U.S. Forest Service deployed unmanned aerial ignition drones for the first time at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, burning 1,707 acres of invasive Guinea grass in the annual prescribed‑fire operation. The burn, conducted on May 12, met federal, state and Army...
How a Canadian Department ‘Insourced’ an IT Fix to Itself — and Saved $50 Million
Alberta’s Ministry of Infrastructure halted a decade‑long, failing overhaul of two legacy IT platforms and chose to build a replacement internally. The new in‑house system consolidates data on roughly 4,000 government‑owned properties—valued at about $8.8 billion USD—and tracks over 500 active...
HMRC to Use AI From British Tech Firm to Spot Fraud and Tax Return Errors
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has struck a 10‑year, £175 million (≈ $210 million) agreement with British AI specialist Quantexa to embed machine‑learning tools across its tax‑administration systems. The platform will merge HMRC’s internal data with external datasets to surface fraudulent schemes, correct...
Inside FDP – Part 3: The Data Architecture that Makes It Work
The third installment of Tom Bartlett’s Inside FDP series explains how Palantir Foundry’s ontology collapses traditional data silos in the NHS Federated Data Platform. By embedding data, its description, applications, and actions in a single operational layer, the platform lets...
Official Optimistic After NTIA Talks on FirstNet Reauthorization
The U.S. Senate is poised to debate a reauthorization bill for the FirstNet Authority, the agency that runs the nation’s public‑safety broadband network. Jeff Johnson of the Western Fire Chiefs Association reported a hopeful meeting with NTIA officials, suggesting both...
The Reality of Implementing Zero Trust for Defense Operational Technology
The Department of Defense issued new guidance in late 2025 that tailors Zero Trust principles specifically for operational technology (OT). The policy separates IT‑focused standards from OT requirements, acknowledging that legacy controllers and diverse process equipment cannot support traditional software‑based...
The Next Phase of Zero Trust: From Recognizing Known Threats to Stopping Threats
The Federal Zero Trust Strategy (M‑22‑09) gave agencies measurable goals such as phishing‑resistant MFA and endpoint detection, reshaping U.S. government cybersecurity. However, the focus on identifying known threats leaves a gap as adversaries employ novel, AI‑driven attacks that evade static...
OMB Memo Forces Agencies to Rethink Procurement Oversight
The Office of Management and Budget issued memo M‑26‑10 on March 31, mandating that federal CIOs approve every IT contract, submit monthly contract logs, and share pricing data across agencies. The directive seeks to curb duplicated software spending, achieve economies of...
Bermuda Mandates AI Confidentiality by Design for Citizen Data
Bermuda is setting a standard for governments’ use of AI for handling citizen data with @near_ai. When a public servant submits their personal data to AI, even the infrastructure provider shouldn't be able to see it. AI systems that handle...
LAUSD Sues Tech Vendor Innive and Former IT Manager over $22 Million Laundering Scheme
The Los Angeles Unified School District has filed a civil lawsuit seeking to recoup $22 million it says was siphoned through fraudulent contracts with Texas‑based tech firm Innive. The suit accuses former IT manager Hong “Grace” Peng and Innive CEO Gautham...
DHS Plans Experiment Running ‘Reconnaissance’ Drones Along the US-Canada Border
The Department of Homeland Security, together with Canada’s Defense Research and Development Canada, announced ACE‑CASPER, a multiday experiment slated for November that will send autonomous drones and ground vehicles along the U.S.–Canada border to stream live video and sensor data...
Re: King’s Speech: Government Unveils NHS Modernisation Bill Amid Labour Turmoil
The UK government’s NHS Modernisation Bill aims to introduce a single electronic patient record that clinicians can access anywhere. Earlier attempts under the Blair administration faltered due to public privacy fears, but today patients appear more receptive and technology is...
Australia Funds Digital ID Expansion for Online Government Services
Australia’s 2026‑27 Federal Budget allocates AU$654.3 million (≈US$430 million) over four years to broaden the national Digital ID platform. The system remains voluntary, avoids a central personal data store, and underpins a “tell‑us‑once” approach that cuts repeated document submissions. Funding will enhance...
Delhi’s DDA Launches AI‑Driven Single‑Window Building Approval Platform
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has launched an AI‑driven single‑window system for building permits, aiming to slash procedural delays and curb corruption complaints. The platform integrates online plan submission, automated compliance checks and real‑time status tracking for developers, architects and...
EU Eyes Ban on Social Media for Children Amid AI Safety Push
EU President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the bloc may introduce a ban on social‑media use for children under 13, pending a legal proposal this summer. The move targets the “addictive design” of platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook...
OMB Announces $0 Cost‑Saving Refresh of Federal IT Dashboard to Ease Agency Burden
The Office of Management and Budget, led by Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia, unveiled a refresh of the Federal IT Dashboard to reduce reporting costs and administrative burden. The update targets a system that has been largely unchanged for two decades,...
Driverless Cars Get Green Light From NJ Senate Panel
The New Jersey Senate transportation committee unanimously approved a bill to launch a three‑year pilot program for driverless cars, creating a new task force to set safety, cyber‑security and liability protocols. The legislation builds on a 2019 law but narrows...
Hong Kong, UAE Push Digital Business Identity Infrastructure
Hong Kong has appointed eSign.AI to power its Digital Corporate Identity Platform (CorpID), integrating electronic signatures and certificate management with the iAM Smart citizen ID system. CorpID will roll out in phases beginning late 2026, with broader e‑government services for...
Researchers Build Cybersecurity Framework for EUDI Wallets
The European Union’s deadline for member states to launch European Digital Identity (EUDI) wallets is set for the end of 2026, prompting a surge of new digital‑identity apps. A three‑year research project led by the University of Szeged, with partners...
Cook County Board Weighs $1 Million AI Jail Surveillance Contract Amid Privacy Outcry
Sheriff Tom Dart is urging the Cook County Board of Commissioners to approve a roughly $1 million contract with Israeli firm BriefCam for AI‑driven camera monitoring inside the county jail. Civil‑rights groups and privacy advocates warn the deal bypasses normal bidding...
Air Force Taps Salesforce’s Army Contract for Personnel Modernization Work
Salesforce has secured a $72 million enterprise license agreement with the U.S. Air Force to modernize personnel and logistics management using artificial intelligence. The deal taps into the broader $5.6 billion contract the vendor signed with the Army earlier this year, creating...
Australian Budget Looks to Advance Interoperability and Promote Sharing of Health Data
The 2026 Australian Federal Budget earmarks AUD 598.3 million (≈ USD 395 million) over two years to upgrade the My Health Record platform, alongside AUD 79.2 million (≈ USD 52 million) for state‑level digital health reforms. A further AUD 2 billion (≈ USD 1.32 billion) will fund the Thriving Kids programme and a new National...
Medicare Launches AI‑driven ACCESS Payment Model with 150 Pilot Firms
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has selected 150 companies, including Pair Team, for its new ACCESS program that will roll out on July 5. The 10‑year initiative replaces fee‑for‑service rules with AI‑enabled outcome‑based payments, a shift that could...
UAE Licenses Crypto.com for Government Fee Payments, Pioneering Sovereign Crypto Adoption
The United Arab Emirates' central bank granted Crypto.com a Stored Value Facilities license, making it the first platform approved to accept cryptocurrency for government service fees. The move positions the UAE as one of the earliest nations to link public‑sector...
Axios Interview: Reimagining Government + Business + AI
Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, warned that unpopular AI could trigger political backlash and suggested creating a new public‑private hybrid to manage AI regulation and contracts. He argued that AI firms must share the wealth they generate, likening...
South Africa’s Eskom Resorts to Grid-Scale Gravity Energy Storage
South Africa’s state‑owned utility Eskom has signed a strategic development agreement with Energy Vault to pilot a 25 MW/100 MWh grid‑scale gravity energy storage system at the aging Hendrina coal plant. The deal also creates a framework for up to 4 GWh of...
DfE Creates New ‘Digital and Infrastructure’ DG Role
The UK Department for Education (DfE) has announced a senior Director General role for Digital and Infrastructure, offering a £200,000 salary (about $250,000). The position will unite digital, AI, data, analytics, and estates functions to drive a "step‑change" in how...
PSA Rolls Out Digital System for Civil Registry Corrections
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) launched the Administrative Petition for Correction Automated System (APCAS), a digital platform that automates civil‑registry correction petitions. APCAS is expected to cut processing time by at least 80% for up to 180,000 annual requests. A...
Boost for Miners as Online Export Permit System Now 96% Complete
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Mines reports the Online Mineral Export Permit System is 96% complete, moving the country closer to a digital platform that will replace the cumbersome paper‑based process. The system is designed to streamline approvals, boost transparency and cut...
What I Learned From Unbuilding Products and Systems in the Public Sector - Ayushi Roy (Product Leader)
In this episode, Ayushi Roy—a lifelong civil servant, chief program officer at New America’s New Practice Lab, and Harvard Kennedy School lecturer— shares how product thinking in government differs from the private sector. She explains that, unlike private firms that...
Vietnam to Develop Domestic Cloud so It Can Ditch Risky Overseas Operators for Government Workloads
Vietnam’s government announced Decision 808, a roadmap to build a national cloud platform by 2030, aiming to replace foreign services for all state agencies. The plan is part of a broader list of 20 strategic technologies, including AI models, quantum‑resistant...
We Need to Get Better at Asking Questions About Government AI Systems
Lord Clement‑Jones recently queried the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology about the Claude LLM powering the new gov.uk chat service, but received only vague answers. As LLM‑based tools proliferate across UK public services—from fraud risk reviews to planning applications—questions...
DfE Plans Automated Feasibility-Testing Tool for £15.4bn School-Building Agenda
The UK Department for Education (DfE) is set to spend roughly $2.4 million on an 18‑month contract to build a Digital Configurator, a rule‑based platform that will automate early‑stage feasibility design for its $19.5 billion school‑building programme. The tool will generate block...
HUD Tests DOGE’s AI ‘Regulation Extermination’ Tool for Housing Rules
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is reviewing DOGE’s SweetREX AI platform, which automatically flags federal housing rules for elimination. The tool’s default stance is to recommend deregulation, prompting concerns from watchdogs about bias, legal oversight, and the role...
Bermuda to Transition ‘Key’ Financial Services to Stellar Blockchain
Bermuda announced it will shift core payment and financial‑services functions onto the Stellar blockchain, aiming to become a fully on‑chain national economy. Premier David Burt said the move follows risk assessments that cleared digital‑asset acceptance and investment. Stellar’s low‑cost, fast...
ID4Africa 2026 Shifts Focus to Digital Identity Ecosystems and Sustainability
ID4Africa’s 2026 AGM convened over a thousand senior African officials in Abidjan despite travel disruptions caused by the Middle‑East war. The conference’s theme, “Digital Identity: from DPI to Digital Public Ecosystems,” signaled a strategic shift from enrollment numbers toward sustainable,...
Building Digital ID Systems that Last: African Countries Share Experiences as ID4Africa 2026 Opens
The ID4Africa 2026 Annual General Meeting opened in Abidjan, bringing together ID authorities from more than a dozen African nations to discuss how to build digital identity systems that endure. Leaders highlighted practical steps such as Nigeria’s migration to an...
How Federal Agencies Are Modernizing Digital Service Delivery With Identity and Automation
Federal agencies are overhauling digital service delivery by embedding identity management and workflow automation at scale. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which serves more than 160 million Americans, highlighted the stakes of secure identity for vulnerable populations at the...
FCC Extends Security Update Deadline for Banned Foreign Routers to 2029
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has moved the deadline for manufacturers of banned foreign‑made consumer routers to provide security updates for U.S. customers from March 2027 to at least Jan 1 2029. The extension, announced in a May 8 public notice, aims to keep...
Agentic AI Cuts Federal Procurement Costs in $8.5 Million Pilot, Experts Call for Scale
The ATARC Agentic AI Lab demonstrated that a trio of specialized AI agents can evaluate an $8.5 million federal procurement proposal, flagging compliance risks and accelerating review. The pilot kept humans in the decision loop while cutting analyst time, leading advocates...
AI-Powered Tools to Manage Water in Africa
The International Water Management Institute and the Limpopo Watercourse Commission have launched the Limpopo Digital Twin and WaterCopilot AI tools across Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The Digital Twin creates an interactive, near‑real‑time replica of the basin, merging hydrology,...
New Income Tax Law Aims to Build Transparent, Tech-Driven Ecosystem for Taxpayers: Official
India’s Income Tax Act 2025, which took effect on April 1 2026, replaces the six‑decade‑old 1961 law with a streamlined, technology‑focused framework. The reform aims to cut litigation, simplify compliance and create a transparent ecosystem through digital tools such as the AI‑driven...
City of London Launches $6.7 B Digital ID Orchestrator Push to Curb Financial Fraud
The City of London Corporation has issued a call for technology partners to build a Digital Verification Orchestrator (DVO) that could slash fraud costs by up to £5 bn ($6.7 bn). The voluntary, reusable identity service aims to let consumers verify once...
U.S. Education CIO Thomas Flagg Appointed Deputy Federal CIO
Federal CIO Greg Barbaccia has appointed Department of Education CIO Thomas Flagg as the new deputy federal CIO, ending a year-long vacancy. Flagg brings more than a decade of experience at the Department of Labor and two years leading Education’s...
XRP Offers BRICS a Sovereign, Unfrozen Settlement Layer
Governments will not use RLUSD. They want their own stablecoin, their own treasuries, their own interest. RLUSD is also an issued asset Ripple can freeze. XRP cannot be frozen, clawed back, or minted by anyone. Swift participation means you can...
UK Government Partners with Wayve to Lead Autonomous Driving
Today @peterkyle visited @wayve_ai HQ as we signed a new partnership with the UK government 🤝 After a decade building this technology, it’s great to formalise our collaboration with Government and build a national champion for self-driving across the UK. 🇬🇧...
New Mexico DOJ Touts Statewide Progress with New ‘Crime Gun’ Data Tracking Initiative
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced that the state’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center is already delivering results. Since its launch, law‑enforcement agencies have uploaded more than 700 spent shell casings and linked 31 recovered firearms to 74 separate shootings....