Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

You Are Here: Home » Archives: June 2021

Daily Archives: June 29, 2021

Facial Recognition Technology: Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Should Better Assess Privacy and Other Risks

by on

Facial Recognition Technology: Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Should Better Assess Privacy and Other Risks, GAO-21-518 Published: Jun 03, 2021. Publicly Released: Jun 29, 2021.  We surveyed 42 federal agencies that employ law enforcement officers about their use of facial recognition technology.

  • 20 reported owning such systems or using systems owned by others
  • 6 reported using the technology to help identify people suspected of violating the law during the civil unrest, riots, or protests following the death of George Floyd in May 2020
  • 3 acknowledged using it on images of the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6
  • 15 reported using non-federal systems

GAO surveyed 42 federal agencies that employ law enforcement officers about their use of facial recognition technology. Twenty reported owning systems with facial recognition technology or using systems owned by other entities, such as other federal, state, local, and non-government entities. We recommended that 13 agencies track employee use of non-federal systems and assess the risks these systems can pose regarding privacy, accuracy, and more…”

Robocalls are out of control. But that could change after June 30

by on

CNET: “A big deadline in the fight to beat back those annoying robocalls is coming tomorrow. As of June 30, every major voice provider in the US, including phone companies AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile and cable provider Comcast, will have to implement a technology called Stir/Shaken.That’s good news for everyone whose phone has been jangling… Continue Reading

Jobseekers: This is exactly what you need to know to get paid fairly

by on

Fast Company: “…Data show the pandemic has set women back. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has added 36 years to the global gender gap. This is a defining moment that will set the direction for equal pay moving forward—both for women and for companies committed to… Continue Reading

How to block and report text spam

by on

The Verge – [instructions cover both iPhone and Android] “No strategy is 100 percent effective, but you can stop much of it. Spam texts can be incredibly irritating — you get a notification and stop what you’re doing to check your phone, only to find somebody is trying to sell you something you don’t want.… Continue Reading

Turn Tech to Your Advantage in the New Hybrid Workplace

by on

The New York Times – “With people splitting work hours between office and home, it can be a challenge to figure out what tools to use in which situation…I consulted experts on workplace well-being for their advice on how to deal with this new hybrid setup. Using tech (or unplugging from it) to establish boundaries… Continue Reading

Tree Equity Score

by on

“A map of tree cover in any city in the United States is too often a map of race and income. This is unacceptable. Trees are critical infrastructure that every person in every neighborhood deserves. Trees can help address damaging environmental inequities like air pollution. The score evaluates data from each neighborhood’s: Existing tree canopy;… Continue Reading

The Difference Between Terracotta, Ceramic, and Plastic Pots, and Why It Matters to Your Plants

by on

Life Hacker: “Different pots have different uses for your home plants and planters. Plants behave differently in plastic containers than they do in glazed ceramic pots, and each pot has its own set of care instructions. So what is the difference between these various pots and planters? It comes down to breathability and moisture retention.… Continue Reading

The Library of Congress is a surprising lesson in digital government

by on

Washington Post Editorial Board – “One of the country’s oldest cultural institutions is now writing the book on how to adapt to a brave new world. Only a few years after being labeled a digital laggard, the Library of Congress is bringing its hundreds of millions of documents’ worth of history to citizens across the… Continue Reading