Policy

After stopping the use of facial recognition software for more than a year amid civil liberties concerns, the Ohio attorney general’s office is once again using the technology.

After nearly a decade of contentious debate surrounding the use of police body cameras, the Portland, Ore., City Council has approved a policy. Until now, Portland was the nation’s largest municipal police agency without the technology.

The Louisiana state Senate bill faces fierce opposition from the petrochemical industry, which says the new monitors will be costly and may spark unnecessary fear among the public.

Lawmakers of both parties are eyeing legislation that would advance federal data privacy as well as measures that would address children’s online privacy. Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Virginia have also passed privacy laws.

More than three dozen former election officials, members of Congress and Cabinet secretaries are calling on lawmakers to make at least $400 million in election security grant funding available for fiscal 2024.

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.

The Supreme Court has agreed to decide when — or whether — public officials with public-facing social media accounts can legally deny access to individuals who want to post comments.

State lawmakers gave final approval to legislation imposing significant penalties on any person who uses remote tracking devices to keep tabs on someone without their consent.

According to the draft policy under consideration, the goal is to have a cohesive online presence through municipal, departmental and committee social media sites, with the municipal website as the primary online presence.

The Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act would give schools better access to cybersecurity resources and improve tracking of cyber attacks nationally, although some say it's a "drop in the bucket" compared to what's needed.

The California State Auditor issued a report this week criticizing the Department of Technology for failing to guide the state’s IT needs, failing to assess agencies’ information security systems, and failing to reduce risks to IT projects.

The group will focus on combating the spread of fentanyl, helping victims of online child sexual exploitation, defending critical infrastructure and improving supply chains.

The Lake County Board of Elections is considering whether to implement poll worker management software they purchased or break the contract with the software provider amid security concerns.

Increased awareness about disinformation and concerted efforts by institutions and individuals to promote and seek credible information can make a difference.

A draft rule would impose oversight and transparency requirements on insurance companies that use big data about consumers or feed such data into predictive models and algorithms.

U.S. tech companies are pushing to narrow the scope of legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S., creating new obstacles as the Biden administration seeks to confront China’s influence.

A new bill, proposed last month by State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, would require that all new electric vehicles in California are equipped with so-called bidirectional charging by 2027.