Colorado's Anti-Repair Bill Is Dead
Colorado's SB26-090, a bill that would have created a "critical infrastructure" exemption to the state's 2024 Right to Repair law, was defeated in a 7‑to‑4 vote by the House committee, halting its progress after passing the Senate. The proposal, backed by tech giants Cisco and IBM, aimed to let manufacturers withhold repair tools and documentation for a broad range of digital equipment. Its failure preserves the Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment Act, which took effect in January 2026 and mandates access to repair resources. Advocates credit extensive testimony from cybersecurity experts, recyclers, and consumer groups for the outcome.
DoT Begins Pan India Testing of Real Time Disaster Alerts on Mobile Networks
India’s Department of Telecommunications has launched a pan‑India test of a Cell Broadcast‑based emergency alert system, supplementing the existing SMS‑driven SACHET platform. The trial will send multilingual test messages in English, Hindi and regional languages to mobile devices across all...
Keyless Car Theft Devices Outlawed at Last, as Police Get New Powers to Track Stolen Vehicles
The UK’s Crime and Policing Act 2026 has made it a criminal offence to make, possess, import, adapt, supply or offer to supply electronic devices such as signal relays, jammers and CAN‑bus injectors that facilitate keyless car theft. The legislation...
Govt Mulls Partial Credit Guarantee, Interest Subvention Support for Pvt Sector Electric Bus, Truck Adoption
India’s heavy industries ministry is evaluating partial credit guarantees and interest‑subvention schemes to lower financing costs for private‑sector electric buses and trucks, which currently cost 2.5‑3 times more than diesel equivalents. Private operators, responsible for roughly 90% of the nation’s two million...
Connecticut Community Voices Concern Over Flock Safety Data
Norwalk police chief James Walsh defended the city’s 11 Flock Safety license‑plate cameras, noting a 45% drop in stolen vehicles since their 2023 installation. He highlighted 28 recovered stolen cars and said the system deters property crime. Community members, however,...
Bentley Systems Achieves Key U.S. Government Security Milestone to Help Modernize Infrastructure
Bentley Systems announced that its ProjectWise and OpenGround platforms have received FedRAMP Moderate Impact Level authorization, clearing the way for U.S. federal agencies to use the tools in a secure cloud environment. The certification, driven by the Federal Risk and...
UK Parliament Opens Scrutiny of Government Digital ID as Mobile Credential Plans Take Shape
The UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has opened a formal inquiry into the government’s upcoming voluntary digital ID scheme, slated for launch before 2029. The probe follows the collapse of the earlier GOV.UK Verify programme, which missed performance targets and...
Angola’s National Data Center Launches
Angola’s government launched a $89 million National Data Center and cloud platform in Luanda, designed to host up to 13,000 virtual servers and interconnect all ministries via a 50 Gbps fiber ring. The modular facility is part of a broader digital‑transformation push...
Bill Gurley, Jack Altman Back Startup Pursuit, Which Helps Companies Sell to Government
Pursuit, a startup that uses AI to surface government contract opportunities, announced a $22 million Series A round led by OpenGov co‑founder Mike Rosengarten. The round brings total funding to $25.5 million and includes investors such as Bill Gurley, Jack Altman and Sam...
Cities Urged to Apply Now for Safe Streets and Roads Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation has opened the 2026 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant cycle, offering $1 billion for planning and implementation projects aimed at reducing roadway fatalities. Applications, due May 26, 2026, prioritize high‑injury networks and locations near...
FDA to Pilot Real-Time Clinical Drug Trials Through Cloud and AI
The FDA announced a pilot that will stream clinical‑trial data to the agency in real time using cloud platforms and artificial‑intelligence analytics. Commissioner Marty Makary said the effort could shave up to 40% off the time between Phase 1 trials and...
Louisiana Makes Connectivity Gains in Rural Acadia Parish
Louisiana’s Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) 1.0 program has delivered high‑speed internet to 307 homes and 80 businesses in rural Acadia Parish. A parallel effort with LFT Fiber added reliable service to another 40 locations, accelerating the parish’s broadband...
Beware of Government by AI
The United Arab Emirates announced it will run half of its government services on agentic AI within two years, positioning AI as an autonomous executive partner that can analyze, decide, execute, and improve in real time. The plan, outlined by...
Some of the Federal Government’s Most Trusted Public Data Tools Aren’t Being Maintained
USA Facts evaluated 55 federal data tools, finding two offline, roughly 40% missed scheduled updates, and 10% suffered reduced functionality. The gaps stem from opaque reasons, including funding lapses from the 43‑day shutdown and staffing changes. Missing or delayed data...
Bill Proposed in North Carolina Seeks to Mandate Large Load Data Centers to Cover Cost of Energy and Water Infrastructure
North Carolina lawmakers introduced the Ratepayer and Resource Protection Act, targeting data centers with a projected peak demand of 40 MW or more and annual water use exceeding one billion liters. The bill would strip state and local tax incentives, require facilities to...
FAA Expanding Weather Camera Network
The Federal Aviation Administration announced an expansion of its weather camera program, adding 64 new camera locations and 60 Visual Weather Observation Systems (VWOS) across Alaska by 2028. The network provides near‑real‑time, 10‑minute interval images and automated surface weather data...
Glass Joins Mastercard Start Path to Advance Modern Infrastructure for Public Sector Finance
Silicon Valley GovTech firm Glass was accepted into Mastercard Start Path’s inaugural Corporate Solutions program, positioning it to scale its AI‑driven public‑finance infrastructure. The partnership grants Glass access to Mastercard’s global network of banks, merchants, and technology partners, accelerating deployment...
Britain Launches Rail Industry AI Action Plan
Britain’s rail sector unveiled an AI Industry Action Plan, crafted by GBRX, to overcome data, governance and skill barriers that have limited artificial‑intelligence adoption. The plan outlines six priority pathfinder projects covering passenger experience, network operations, planning, rolling‑stock and infrastructure...
What Kind Of Heat Sensor Does TSA Use? What To Know Before You Step Into The Scanner
The Transportation Security Administration’s checkpoint scanners use Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) that relies on millimeter‑wave, low‑power radio waves—not thermal heat sensors—to spot concealed items. Unlike older X‑ray backscatter units, the current system projects a generic body outline via automated target...
DG Move Land Director Bemoans Lack of Progress with ETCS Deployment
European Commission transport chief Kristian Schmidt warned that the EU’s goal of equipping 50,000 km of the TEN‑T rail network with the European Train Control System (ETCS) by 2030 is unlikely to be met. Only 10% of the network – about...
Californian mDL Added to Samsung Wallet, Google Wallet Supports Aadhaar Verifiable Credentials
Samsung Wallet has added California’s mobile driver’s license (mDL) to its platform, joining Arizona and Iowa in offering state‑issued digital IDs. The pilot now supports more than 1.7 million active mDLs used at TSA checkpoints, government portals and retail locations. Google...
Council on Environmental Quality Permitting Innovators Program
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has opened its Permitting Innovators program, inviting tech firms and startups to submit solutions that streamline federal environmental review and permitting. Submissions are accepted from April 28 through June 2, with selected...
GSA Hits One-Year Mark for OneGov
The General Services Administration’s OneGov program, launched in April 2025, has consolidated federal tech purchases into 20 unified agreements with major vendors. In its first full year, GSA reports $1.1 billion in cost avoidance, driven by software discounts up to 90%...
COMMENTARY: A Year of OneGov: Over a Billion in Savings and Still Growing
The General Services Administration’s OneGov program celebrated its first anniversary, reporting $1.1 billion in federal cost savings. By consolidating technology purchases under a single customer, GSA negotiated discounts of up to 90% from major vendors such as Microsoft, Adobe and Google....
California Adopts Rules Allowing Testing And Deployment of Heavy-Duty AVs
The California Department of Motor Vehicles approved new regulations that lift the ban on autonomous vehicles over 10,001 pounds, allowing heavy‑duty driverless trucks to be tested and eventually deployed on state roads. Manufacturers must start testing with a safety driver,...
OSIbeyond Launches Compliance as a Service (CaaS), Eliminating Upfront Costs for CMMC Compliance
OSIbeyond, a managed IT and cybersecurity firm serving the Defense Industrial Base, launched a Compliance as a Service (CaaS) solution that shifts CMMC compliance from a costly, project‑based model to a subscription‑based, fully managed service. The offering bundles secure Microsoft...
State CISOs Losing Confidence in Ability to Manage Cyber Risks
Statewide chief information security officers are losing confidence in their ability to manage cyber risk, with only about 25% feeling "extremely" or "very" confident that state assets are protected—a sharp drop from nearly half in 2022. The decline coincides with...
EU Lawmakers Fail to Agree on Watered-Down AI Act, Talks Pushed to May
EU lawmakers and member states failed to reach a compromise on a softened AI Act, leaving a key exemption for AI in already‑regulated products unresolved. The 12‑hour trilogue ended without an agreement, pushing the next round of talks to May....
Nigeria Moves to Mandate Organisations to Disclose Cyber Attacks Amid Rising Threats
Nigeria’s tech regulator, NITDA, announced that banks, fintechs and other organisations must disclose cyber‑breaches or at least share threat intelligence. The push follows a weak reporting record – only 37% of financial institutions filed fraud incidents in 2023 and fraud...
Amgen, AZ Will Pilot FDA's Real-Time Clinical Trial Plan
The FDA unveiled a plan to receive clinical‑trial data in real time, aiming to accelerate drug development. AstraZeneca and Amgen have agreed to pilot the model with two studies that will stream endpoints and safety signals to regulators as they...
TSA Sets Out $11.7bn Budget Request for 2027 to Facilitate Technology Upgrades
The Transportation Security Administration has asked Congress for an $11.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2027, centering on advanced screening technology, staffing stability, and deeper private‑sector collaboration. The proposal earmarks more than $390 million for computed tomography scanners, biometric tools and automated...
The Data Search Across Agencies Enabled by the Home Office Biometrics Programme
At Identity Week Europe 2026, Graham Camm outlined the UK Home Office’s Biometrics Programme, which consolidates DNA, facial and fingerprint data for roughly 50 internal customers across immigration, borders, passports and law‑enforcement agencies. The platform enables real‑time cross‑agency searches, allowing...
Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Prism C-UAS Software for Extended Small-Drone Detection Range
Teledyne FLIR OEM unveiled Prism C‑UAS, a software stack that pushes small‑drone detection beyond conventional thermal systems by identifying targets with fewer than four pixels. The solution blends patented denoise and up‑sampling algorithms with AI‑driven perception, delivering longer detection windows...
Oslo Implements New AC Charging Pricing Model
Oslo, home to the world’s highest EV concentration, has replaced its time‑based public AC charging fees with a consumption‑based model effective April 22. Drivers now pay for the kilowatt‑hours consumed, a service surcharge based on the city’s spot electricity price, and...
Sensys Gatso Wins Schenectady School Zone Speed Enforcement Contract
Sensys Gatso Group secured a five‑year, multi‑million‑dollar contract to operate school‑zone speed enforcement in Schenectady, New York. The program will install fixed‑pole cameras at roughly nine locations, with the system slated to go live in September and the option to...
Cabinet Office Adds £60m to Core Digital Delivery Deal
The UK Cabinet Office has increased the ceiling of its strategic delivery partnership with CGI from £120 million to £180 million (about $229 million), adding an extra £60 million ($76 million). The boost funds additional IT professional services needed to launch and operate the Infected...
Why AI Governance Now Looks Like Talent Management
Public‑sector organisations are moving from low‑code apps to AI agents that act as digital workers, demanding a governance model akin to talent management. Microsoft’s Agent 365 introduces identities, role‑based access and sponsorship, embedding ownership from day one. Early governance is now...
MPs Call on UK Government to Learn From Central Bank’s IT Project Success Story
The UK Public Accounts Committee highlighted the Bank of England’s nine‑year, $547 million Real‑Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system replacement as a rare success in public‑sector digital transformation. The project, which now settles roughly $1.0 trillion of payments daily, delivered value for money...
Tender for Signalling on Madrid’s C-5 Commuter Line
Adif announced a €32 million (≈ $35 million) tender to replace signaling equipment on Madrid’s 20.7‑km C‑5 commuter line, covering 11 stations between Embajadores and Móstoles‑El Soto. The upgrade will install LED signals, fiber‑optic cables, new track circuits and the Asfa Digital traffic‑management system,...
2Trust.AI and Carahsoft Partner to Scale AI Governance for Public Sector
2Trust.AI has partnered with Carahsoft Technology Corp. to distribute its AI governance platform to U.S. federal, state and local agencies. The solution will be available through Carahsoft’s major procurement vehicles such as SEWP V, ITES‑SW2 and NASPO ValuePoint. It offers...
The Productivity Problem Hiding in Plain Sight
Liquid Interactive released a roadmap titled “Speed. Safety. Scalability.” to guide responsible AI adoption across Australia’s public service. The paper argues that productivity losses stem from structural friction—excessive paperwork, duplicated checks, and reliance on key individuals—rather than skill gaps. By...
Met Police Federation Decries ‘Outrageous’ Palantir AI System
The Metropolitan Police Federation is threatening legal action over the force’s new Palantir AI system, which it says breaches officers’ privacy and GDPR rules. The pilot, launched last week, has already led to two arrests and two suspensions while hundreds...
A New Bill Would Help VPPs Replace Peaker Plants in California
A California Senate bill, SB 913, would let virtual power plants (VPPs) compete with fossil‑fuel peaker plants by counting customer‑owned batteries, EVs and smart devices toward resource adequacy. The legislation passed the Senate Energy Committee and now heads toward a...
Local Policies to Get Buildings Off Gas Keep Winning in Court
Federal courts across the United States are consistently upholding local policies that require new buildings to be all‑electric, despite the 2023 Ninth Circuit decision that struck down Berkeley, California's gas‑ban ordinance. In six post‑Berkeley lawsuits, judges have rejected the Energy...
Romania Signs First Hydrogen Train Contract
Romania’s Railway Reform Authority has signed a €229.3 million (≈$250 million) contract with Siemens Mobility to supply 12 Mireo Plus H hydrogen trainsets, including a 15‑year maintenance package. The first unit is slated for delivery in 2028, with passenger service expected to begin in...
EU Says Meta Needs to Do More to Keep Under-13s Off Instagram and Facebook
The European Commission warned Meta that its current safeguards are insufficient to keep children under 13 off Instagram and Facebook, citing evidence that 10‑12% of users on the platforms are underage. The regulator said Meta must redesign its services and...
Removing Human Error by Design – The Role of Remote Control in Safer Rail Operations
Rail operators are turning to remote‑control technologies to eliminate the conditions that foster human error, rather than merely adding more procedures. By moving critical safety actions—such as activating protection or applying isolations—into a centralized, real‑time interface, the number of manual...
Hitachi Rail to Upgrade Taiwanese EMU Train Protection Equipment
Hitachi Rail has secured a €37 million (~$41 million) contract from Taiwan Railways Corp to replace the automatic train protection system on 63 EMU500 commuter trainsets. The upgrade will install Hitachi’s ELO signalling solution, aiming to reduce faults and improve operational efficiency....
Centre In Talks With US, Anthropic For Access To Claude Mythos: Report
The Indian government is negotiating with the United States and Anthropic to secure Indian companies' access to Claude Mythos, a powerful AI model capable of discovering critical software vulnerabilities. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the model as a major cyber...
Commission Sets Out a Common Approach for EU-Wide Age Verification Technologies
The European Commission has adopted a recommendation to create a common EU‑wide age‑verification framework, targeting full availability by 31 December 2026. The blueprint mandates anonymous proof‑of‑age tools that protect privacy while allowing platforms to block age‑restricted content. It ties the rollout to...