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The nation’s governors are delving into their varied policy priorities for the coming year, but a new shared reality is emerging: Governors are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the Internet.
Laszlo Bock, CEO of HUMU, a startup that uses AI, behavioral science and “nudges” to improve workplaces. (Wall Street Journal – January 31, 2020)
The market capitalization of General Motors Co., which is only about two and a half times less than the market value of Tesla Inc. But GM hasn’t lost hope in this changing world: “We hope that you believe as we do that General Motors is uniquely positioned to take the industry forward,” says GM Chief Executive Mary Barra.
Twitter will review and remove deepfake videos and altered images if they are “significantly” altered, shared “in a deceptive manner” or are threatening to safety. The policy “is not meant to be the final word.”
Kansas legislators commissioned a study to analyze the state’s high electricity prices, recommending an update to its outdated system, a shift to performance-based rate-making, and a focus on renewables.
Cyberattack assistance for local governments varies a lot: Some states provide large sums but others claim they don’t have jurisdiction. Local governments are getting targeted more, so cybersecurity protection needs to become all-inclusive.
Cybersecurity research firm, McAfee found that 83 percent of counties didn’t have a dot-gov website, which would help distinguish them from misinformation sites. Election security begins with protecting online information.
Taking their cues from states as diverse as Arizona and Virginia, they are shredding red tape at a remarkable clip, freeing their economies and providing a map for what's needed at the federal level.
The voting meltdown in Iowa has increased mistrust in the traditional American election system. Support is growing for new ways to cast ballots, including ranked choice and approval voting.
The Release of Results from Monday’s Democratic Caucus in Iowa was delayed until Tuesday afternoon because of what the party called a “reporting issue”with the app developed for that purpose. Before the initial results were tallied in Iowa, the party announced it would not use the app in Nevada next week.
Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said in response to the app-issues that delayed the Iowa Caucus results on Tuesday. Merrill assured Connecticut voters that they can have “confidence” in the state and that the state’s “reliance on paper is our best defense against threats to our cybersecurity.” (The Hartford Courant — February 4, 2020)
The amount that Americans are expected to spend on smart home technologies and services in 2022, according to Statista. As smart systems are becoming more integrated into everyday life, many are concerned about the security threat they pose due to the hacking risk. “Since they are connected to the Internet, they are a security risk and you need to be aware of that.”
Chatbots, application automation are changing the real-estate industry slowly but surely. But some buyers still want what automation doesn’t have: human interaction without security threats.
Springfield City Council in Massachusetts decided to not vote on a proposed five-year ban prohibiting police from using facial recognition technology. A councilor said they’re “clearly not ready for a vote.”
A senator hopes the increase would put more money into road maintenance. Alaska currently has the lowest gas tax in the nation, and increasing the tax as proposed in the bill would still make it the 48th-lowest gas tax in the nation.
A Bureau of Economic Analysis report sheds light on the health of U.S. counties, but experts caution that more analysis is needed for insight into what has driven growth in some counties while others have fallen behind.
In a world of phishing attacks and other technological threats, we need to do a better job of training the men and women who run the polls. There's still time, and it doesn't cost a lot.
Author Stephen King tweeted on January 31, 2020 in response to Facebook’s privacy and misinformation issues. (The Hill — February 3, 2020)
The amount of phone companies that broke the law by selling location data for their smartphone users, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reported last week. The FCC was investigating reports from 2018 that claimed that U.S. phone companies were selling phone location data to third-party firms without the phone users knowing. “For just a few hundred dollars, shady middlemen could sell your location within a few hundred meters based on your wireless phone data.”
Calhoun County, S.C., says that the taxes from online purchases are being collected by neighboring counties due to incorrect ZIP code information. “I think we need to get every nickel we can get.”
Governments across the nation are proposing legislation that would curb the influence and prominence of online misinformation, but until those bills get signed into laws, read online information carefully and critically.
With increasing tech and automation, the next work generation can expect to have 19 jobs over their career, which could require constant skill updating. California’s commission hopes to develop ideas on how to embrace it.
The city will bring in a team of experts to discuss future technology implications, opportunities in transportation with local leaders. “We’re talking about the now of transportation, and how we incorporate that.”
A number of bills have been introduced that seek to transform the relationship between the state's consumers, data brokers and large tech companies, but lawmakers don't necessarily agree on the legislative fine print.
States can now collect sales tax on products purchased remotely, opening the door to billions in new revenue. But how to collect the money is complicated. New software tools might be the answer.
As the number of rides from transportation network companies has surged in recent years, governments feel compelled to charge higher fees to help pay for road congestion problems and to improve public transit.
Deyanira Del Rio, co-executive director of the New Economy Project, said at a hearing last Thursday regarding a bill that prohibits putting restrictions on cash payments. While there is a growing trend to use cashless payments like credit cards or mobile payments, Americans who do not have a bank account would be negatively impacted by the cash restrictions. (The Hill — January 30, 2020)
The number of electric delivery vans that United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) will buy in an attempt to reduce car emissions and delivery costs. The company will also test self-driving package delivery vehicles in partnership with Waymo. UPS hopes the partnerships “will help us continue to push the envelope on technology and new delivery models.”
The Dallas-based company Alto differs from other ride-hailing companies in that it’s “an accessible luxury.” The membership-based service owns its own fleet of SUVs, uniformed drivers and has a signature scent.
Ann Arbor, Mich., only has about 47 percent of the workers it needs to ensure an accurate count for the 2020 Census. The jobs would pay up to $23 an hour. Officials encourage people to “be a part of history.”
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