Government IT News For VARs — January 21, 2015
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
In the news, federal agencies struggle to keep up with digital demand, and President Barack Obama urges the adoption of a data breach law. Also, the Los Angeles Police Department is scheduled to get body cams.
Digital Access Demand Threatens To Outpace Federal Agency Capabilities
According to the Ecommerce Times, federal agencies are finding it difficult to keep up with digital access demand. According to Tim Young of Deloitte Digital, Federal agencies need to modernize their processes and policies in order to keep up. He said, “Business and IT leaders at agencies need to partner together to design 21st century government. A digitally native experience can create more efficient government, more engaged constituents, and more effective programs.” The explosion of mobile devices threatens to outpace current federal agency capabilities.
President Obama Urges Adoption Of Data Breach Law
President Obama is urging the passage of a proposed national data breach reporting law to protect consumer privacy, according to the National Law Review. Called the Personal Data Notification & Protection Act, the law would clarify the obligations of any company that suffers a data breach. Currently 47 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands all have data breach notification laws of various strengths.
LAPD To Get Body Cameras
Government Technology reports the LAPD is expected to roll out use of body cameras for its on-duty officers later this year — but not everyone is convinced their use is a good idea. Commission president Steve Soboroff has asserted that body cams would not be implemented until proper training of officers and a clear use policy were completed. Advocates of the program say the body cams increase accountability; opponents raise issues of tampering and invasions of privacy.
Information Sharing Pilot Launching Between Police And Hospitals
In an effort to increase public health and public safety records, the Camden, NJ, police department is launching a pilot to share information with area hospitals, according to Government Technology. The goal of the program is to find commonalities and identify individuals who “touch all systems” in an effort to find solutions to their issues. Similar data-sharing programs are currently in place in Philadelphia and New York, and work to make the cities safer and healthier through shared data.
Government IT Talking Points
According to the Ecommerce Times, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has taken a hard stance on encrypted communications, stating that governments should be able to monitor any communications when warranted. Cameron, who is up for re-election, has stated that he will ban personal encrypted communications app like Snapchat and WhatsApp, and would also allow government security agencies to monitor communications with appropriate warrants. While the FBI has pushed for years the need to maintain backdoors to allow access into encrypted communications and devices, Cameron’s proposal would go even further in demanding that there can be no walls at all.
Most of the voting machines across Ohio are “ancient,” posing some concerns about Election Day accuracy in recording votes according to Government Technology. The aging equipment poses a quandary for election officials, who are concerned about election protocols and safety. Ohio is not alone: most states are facing similar problems with a need to upgrade polling equipment.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Government IT Resource Center.