Data Privacy

Top Public Sector Cybersecurity Threat No Longer is Employees

Hackers pose the greatest cyber risks for states and localities, followed by careless workers and foreign governments, according to an annual IT report.

  • By Andre Claudio

Cloud Boosts Delivery of Government Services During Pandemic, Other Crises

However, state CIOs say there are barriers to transitioning to the cloud, including financial and workforce issues, according to a report.

  • By Andre Claudio

Is Your State Ready To Handle the Influx of Federal Funds for Expanding Broadband?

States have widely different track records on expanding broadband internet access. Here are the ones that could struggle to handle the federal funds coming their way.

  • By Brian Whitacre and Christina Biedny , The Conversation

Robocallers Try New Tactics to Evade Crackdowns

Scofflaws innovate after every government attempt to block scam calls.

  • By Elaine S. Povich, Stateline

How to Identify Phishing Emails and Foil Attacks

COMMENTARY | A cybersecurity researcher explains what to do to protect your organization.

  • By Rick Wash, The Conversation

3 Strategies for Advancing Facial Recognition Technology in Policing

As more agencies launch FRT programs, standard best practices should be discussed regularly to ensure this technology protects citizen’s privacy and civil liberties, according to a recent report.

  • By Andre Claudio

Cities Embraced Technology During Covid But Still Lack Comprehensive Digital Policies

A white paper identifies gaps in technology governance in cities, including problems with accessibility, digital infrastructure and cybersecurity.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

What One City Hopes to Learn by Pausing Use of Facial Recognition Technology

A ban in Baltimore would restrict the city from purchasing facial recognition technology and temporarily restrict use by city agencies, residents and businesses (but not the police).

  • By Andrea Noble

State Data Privacy Bills Growing More Widespread

Ohio lawmakers have introduced legislation to establish “data rights” for citizens. It follows Colorado, which passed a similar law last week.

  • By Jean Dimeo

Colorado Becomes Fourth State to Give Residents Control of Their Online Data

The Colorado Privacy Act allows residents to opt out of data collection and gain access to more insight about how their information is collected and used.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Florida Poised to Enact Digital Privacy Law

Privacy rights advocates say if the bill becomes law it will pressure Congress to pass federal legislation to ease the growing regulatory burden due to a patchwork of state laws.

  • By Andrea Noble

Utah Poised to Block Porn on Smartphones

The bill, awaiting a signature from Gov. Spencer Cox, would require smartphones and tablets in the state to automatically enable filters for content deemed "harmful to minors."

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram
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For States’ Covid Contact Tracing Apps, Privacy Tops Utility

Nearly half the states have or are planning to launch a digital contact tracing system, but critics say the technology has overemphasized privacy at the cost of usefulness.

  • By Lindsey Van Ness, Stateline

How Planning to Protect Data Privacy Helped One State’s Covid-19 Response

By creating standardized data sharing agreements that cover privacy issues unique to each state agency, Indiana officials say they were able to streamline requests to share data with the public.

  • By Andrea Noble

Senate Still Divided on Comprehensive Data Privacy Legislation

Though recent bills are similar, lawmakers have yet to resolve two polarizing issues: preemption and private right to action.

  • By Mila Jasper

City Ban on Business Use of Facial Recognition Tech Said to Be a First

Elected leaders in Portland, Oregon approved the measure this week.

  • By Bill Lucia

Would You Sacrifice Your Privacy to Get Out of Quarantine?

The coronavirus has reignited the post-9/11 debate about security and civil liberties. The U.S. response to that tragedy has lessons for how to manage the trade-offs this time around.

  • By Mike Giglio, The Atlantic

How California’s Consumer Privacy Act Will Become the Digital Law of the Land

Under the law, the onus is on consumers to request that companies disclose or delete their personal data. But more states and the federal government could still jump into the privacy debate.

  • By Andrea Noble

Poll: Americans Distrust Government Collection of Data

Americans are more likely to view the collection of their data by the government as a risk than a benefit.

  • By Andrea Noble

Does L.A.’s Scooter Data Program Violate State Privacy Laws?

As more cities adopt a controversial scooter tracking system pioneered by Los Angeles, concerns about rider data privacy are spreading.

  • By Laura Bliss, CityLab

People Are Starting to Realize How Voice Assistants Actually Work

The secrecy surrounding AI products makes even basic information about them a scandal.

  • By Sidney Fussell, The Atlantic