Analytics & Data Articles We Like Government Security & Privacy
Do you want your photo flashed on a sign at an intersection? If not, don't jaywalk in China. Leave aside what happens if you're a dissident traveling in a new region. Here's a headline the WSJ used for this must-read article: "The All-Seeing Surveillance State Feared in the West is a Reality in China." More
Global Tech Government Security & Privacy
The horrors of terrorism are again vividly seared on our consciousness, after the vicious bombing at a concert in Manchester. Meanwhile, President Trump has rightly put combatting terrorism at the top of his policy agenda. His recent trip overseas demonstrated some of what that means. More
This weekend, people in over 500 cities around the world will join the first March for Science. I’ve been in life science for nearly 20 years and have never seen anything like this. Of course I’ve also never had such an urgent sense that it is necessary. From the medications you take to the synthetic fibers in your wrinkle-free clothes, science is already supporting you. Let’s return the favor. More
It was a much-needed breakthrough when the FDA last week OK'd personal genomics company 23andMe selling genetic tests directly to consumers. In 2013 the agency had banned the startup from releasing disease-related information. Now we should finally see a consumer-driven marketplace for genomic data. More
A new bill making its way through the House of Representatives would allow employers to require genetic testing for employees. It would be a massive setback, stripping Americans of genetic nondiscrimination protections that took years to put in place. If you value your right to privacy, contact your Congressperson. More
Community Insights Government Jobs
The Trump administration may further restrict H1B work visas for technology workers. There are inherent problems with the current H1B system, but even more with the Trump proposal. We need to increase the minimum salary for H1B recipients, require employers that utilize them to take concrete actions to benefit American workers, and initiate a crash program to improve the tech skills of Americans. More
My country – Estonia – has a very digital lifestyle that is convenient, fast and efficient. Estonia conducts its elections online, and was the first country to have paperless government. Almost 100% of banking transactions are done electronically, and 96% file their income taxes that way. It's not the end of the road but just another milestone on the path of technical revolution. More
On the Saturday after the inauguration I saw a ray of light. Was the Women’s March the start of a new movement or the evolution of existing, long-standing movements? I have no idea, but our social fabric is being ripped apart. So now what? We need to get better at listening to those removed from our bubbles. We need to figure out how to ensure the benefits of tech and globalization are more evenly distributed. We need to participate. More
Technology is rapidly changing every sector of the economy, as well as the nature of warfare. President-elect Donald Trump doesn't seem to get it. But if you lack a sense of the role of tech, you will only be operating for the short-term. More
Government Security & Privacy Society
The tech industry continues to loom large in the responses to this year’s election and plays multiple interesting roles in its aftermath: Russia has been accused of "hacking" the election, Facebook has been forced to address its fake news issue, tech leaders met this week with president-elect Trump, and more. More
Trump has famously declared that he would move to withdraw from the TPP on his first day as president. But studies show that the agreement would be good for both US and Asian healthcare. Plus, America's habit of bringing investment, ideas, and improved standards of care to Asian healthcare might be in jeopardy. More
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi interrupted most evening news in his country last Tuesday to announce that in just three hours, the Indian government would bar the use of 85% of its existing currency. This dramatic announcement comes as India seeks to root out untaxed “black money." More
Techonomy asked people coming to the Techonomy conference: What is the most important tech-related issue the incoming administration should tackle? The answers were diverse, but many focused on the challenges of cyber security and immigration. More
The world is at a turning point and we have to choose. It is astonishing and daunting how fully Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump symbolize the choice the world faces. Watching their debate last week underscored for me not just how different the two of them are, but how different are the possible futures that confront the world. More
The U.S. House of Representatives Science Committee is a joke, but not a funny one. It spends much time on witch hunts against climate scientists, because climate change denial is its chairman's passion. The ranking member of the committee's Democratic minority calls it "mean-spirited and meaningless." Rather than helping, it actively harms our nation's ability to develop policy for science, tech, and innovation. More
We asked attendees at the upcoming Techonomy 2016 conference "What is the most important tech-related issue the incoming administration should tackle?" Tech leader and publisher Tim O'Reilly responded that the biggest challenge will be bringing a tech-centric approach to everything government does. More
Boston and Barcelona, Spain have something in common with Yelp and Zillow–they’re taking advantage of open data. Along with all the ways it’s reshaping business, opening up data to the use of outsiders is beginning also to reshape how city, state, and federal agencies work. Socrata, a privately-held government-data platform provider based in Seattle, is making a business out of facilitating this trend. More
If we're going to make progress in healthcare, we need to connect up the data. A report for the national Cancer Moonshot initiative highlights the massive problem disconnected databases have become in the fight against cancer. But this problem isn't limited to cancer. The well-intentioned HIPAA act of 1996, for example, included strict privacy controls that have turned into a problem for medical research generally. More
Community Insights Government Internet of Things
People have always relied on tech to make civil society more efficient and accessible. Now, the rapid evolution of the net and standards-based protocols are already enriching a variety of civic activities, such as voting. It will get better. A great example of what's possible is a simple system we at Microsoft developed to support the 2016 Iowa Caucuses for both parties. More
Global Tech Government Society
With his country falling apart around him, straining under the weight of corruption and oppression, Evan Mawarire took to Facebook Live to vent his frustration. What has emerged is a nationwide movement of Zimbabweans, united under the hashtag #ThisFlag, who are eager to restore Zimbabwe to its former glory and end the scourge of corruption. More
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