Florida

During the recent Florida’s Digital Government Summit, several government and industry experts shared their perspectives on the future of cybersecurity and the cloud and life-saving emergency management technology.

Digital twins, centered on several core pieces of technology, including the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, are making a critical difference locally and nationally in the government technology landscape.

State lawmakers are assigning $25 million to help police departments replace their drone fleets after Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration forced local governments to stop using drone technology made in China.

New career and technical education programs, including associate's degrees and certificates in cybersecurity, data science and machine learning, are part of a statewide push to fill jobs in the technology sector.

A laptop-building seminar for younger Florida students is a highlight of Remake Learning Days, an initiative to bring computer literacy and other learning opportunities in STEM subjects to low-income communities.

Pending the governor’s signature, Florida House Bill 379 will require school districts to prohibit students from accessing social media platforms during school and develop curricula on social media safety.

The measure, null, and its companion, null, are headed for final votes. Both measures attempt to give consumers the right to opt out of sharing their data for targeted online ads.

Plus, more states announce new broadband deployment funding, the White House launches a $1.5 billion innovation fund related to the telecommunications supply chain, and more.

Millions of dollars in government aerial drones will be shelved under a rule that prevents agencies in the state from using drones manufactured by China-based Da Jiang Innovations.

As more state and local agencies turn to cloud computing for security, efficiency and flexibility, Polk County, Fla., offers a quick lesson about why that choice can be vital. In short, it’s about speed and transparency.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a bill to create a “digital bill of rights” aimed at curbing big tech “overreach and surveillance.” Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez announced millions in cybersecurity grants for local governments.

Citing concerns about potential influence of entities tied to the Chinese government, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a proposal that would block networks and devices from being able to access the social media platform.

In his proposed budget last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined millions of dollars for the state’s Department of Management Services. The money would fund modernization and cybersecurity efforts among other initiatives.

Angst between the County Commission and the Sheriff’s Office over the regional emergency call dispatching center continues to mount as politicians question the Sheriff’s Office about why the county lags in 911 tech.

From Titusville to Tampa, people across the state of Florida were awoken early Saturday morning to the sound of the SpaceX plane X-37B returning to Earth after a record-breaking 908 days in orbit.

New laws in Florida and Texas set the stage for states to have more control over what’s posted on social media, but that could soon be tested at the U.S. Supreme Court and mean potential changes to the First Amendment.

Two years in, the relatively young IT agency is working to build a team, build trust and build up, says CIO Jamie Grant. The process has required a significant shift away from "business as usual."

The recently announced funds will be used to expand cybersecurity and IT education programs across the state to help grow the state's high-tech workforce. The money is part of a larger $30 million workforce training push.