From eGovernment to mGovernment

https://www.itu.int/ITU-D/cyb/images/m-government1.png

Connecting with its people is important for the government. The government has benefited from the Internet to connect with their citizens, businesses, and employees through the process of eGovernment. Although eGovernment allows the government to connect with many people, the government is constantly looking for ways to connect with even more people. The government saw an increasing trend in Internet use through mobile phones and wireless technologies. Thus, mobile government (mGovernment) was created.

Mobile Government can be defined "as a strategy and its implementation involving the utilization of all kinds of wireless and mobile technology, services, applications and devices for improving benefits to the parties involved in eGovernment including citizens, businesses and all government units" (Kushchu and Kuscu, 2003) Some of the early adopters of mGovernment services include law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency medical services, education, health and transportation. For example, mobile technologies are used to support the activities of state officials that are on the move. These officials can communicate among each other and access various information sources through the wireless network. Mobile technologies also help fire fighters to know more about critical data related to a fire incident before arriving.

Adopting mGovernment services has many benefits both for the government and to the people using these services. Some of these benefits include cost reduction, efficiency, transformation of public sector organizations, added convenience and flexibility, better services to citizens, and the ability to reach a larger number of people through mobile devices than would be possible using wired internet only. As with anything that has many benefits, there are also challenges to mGovernment. Some of these challenges include: wireless and mobile networks and related infrastructure, as well as software must be developed, to increase citizen participation and provide citizen-oriented services, governments need to offer easy access to mGovernment information in alternative forms, mobile phone numbers and mobile devices are relatively easily hacked and wireless networks are vulnerable because they use public airwaves to send signals, and many countries have not yet adopted legislation for data and information practices that spell out the rights of citizens and the responsibilities of the data holders (government). Government wants to connect with every citizen and business in their respective nation. eGovernment services already allow the government to connect with many people but the future of eGovernment will involve mobile phones and wireless technologies, which is known as mGovernment.

Sources:

http://topics.developmentgateway.org/egovernment/rc/filedownload.do~itemId=396584

Cybersecurity Issues on the Rise

Cybersecurity is a huge concern for the developing e-government in the US.  The estimated budget for information security in 2013 is between 3 and 4 billion dollars.  However, it seems that many industries in the private sector aren't as concerned about the cyber threat, as they are financial crimes.  More of their time and money is being spent on protecting actual infrastructures and trying to hinder a criminal from actually breaking into a bank or other building.  Private sectors argue that they need more information on cyber threats and the steps that need to be taken to protect information online.  George Wilshushen, who is the director of information securities at the Government Accountability Office said that, 'there often are competing demands for cybersecurity investments' for the private sector.   President Obama is attempting to address these problems through the his Cyberspace Policy Review.  This is expanding on George Bush's 'Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative'.  Details of the initiative have been released by the government to the public to increase their knowledge and encourage transparency.  Obama has focused on enhanced information sharing in his Policy Review.  Another key component of the initiative is the focus on Cyber Education.  Even with all of the tools and the money in the world to combat cybersecurity, the government still needs people who can implement the new strategies and technologies.  Another new strategy will be the focus on developing deterrence strategies.  These include creating warning signals and accurately describing roles of the private sector.  Another initiative they are taking is to deploy an intrusion detection system of sensors across the federal enterprise.  What are your thoughts on cybersecurity and the billions of dollars that are being invested into it?  Do you think the government needs to change their approach, or continue with what they are doing?




http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2012/August/PublishingImages/cyber_crime_082012_revised2.jpg

Sources: http://www.whitehouse.gov/cybersecurity/comprehensive-national-cybersecurity-initiative
http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2012/August/Pages/CybersecurityLegislationSolutionorDistraction.aspx

National Broadband Plan: Competing Internet Speeds

 The US has always been competitive, and in the technological age internet speeds are seen as a very important battleground. The United States internet speeds are not the highest in the world, promoting the FCC to come up with a plan to bring high speed broadband to everyone nationwide.

Ranking-wise, the US is in 26th place in internet speeds.The countries with the highest speeds are South Korea, Romania, and Bulgaria, in that order. CEO of Pando Networks Robert Levitan said the fastest speeds were found in areas like Eastern Europe, where “focus on infrastructure development and favorable geography promote an incredible level of connectivity."

The National Broadband Plan is supposed to bring high-speed broadband internet to nearly all households in the US, with a connection speed of 100 mbps. In the executive summary of the plan it states, "The United States should lead the world in mobile innovation, with the fastest and most extensive wireless networks of any nation." Obviously the FCC wants to be on top of the food chain in their department, but it is showing to have issues concerning privacy for its tests. These issues are from the National Broadband Plan's website. They are supposed to take your location and use it to map out low points of the broadband in the country. Ryan Radia, Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Associate Director of Technology Studies, wrote in a statement that the FCC“appears to be collecting more personal information than necessary, failing to fully disclose what it is collecting, and providing this information to law enforcement without any due process or judicial scrutiny." If this plan is going to be effective, it needs to not give signs of using any underhanded tactics to get support.

Sources:
http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/21/a-look-at-whos-winning-the-global-internet-speed-race-infographic/
http://news.yahoo.com/privacy-implications-fcc-broadband-test-called-030206271.html

The Communicative Government

http://i4c.eu/images/CAP_egovernment_services.jpg

The use of e-government for the private sector is not a recent phenomenon. Since the early1990s, state and local governments used electronic mail and the web to communicate with groups of people. But e-government projects have not only been used for the private sector, they have also required federal agencies to use electronic procedures in their daily process and procedures.

There are benefits for adopting a web based human service on states and local governments, such as efficiency gains, cost savings, and service improvements. E-government can be seen as a way to organize internal processes, for example and automated workflow can reduce the amount of time people spend inputting and processing information. It also allows numerous individuals to access data at the same time.

The reduction in cost is a big reason why state and local government decide to implement e-government. For example, people spend much time filling out applications in person, and the process and production of paper also adds to the cost. Online applications have made this process easier for everyone because functions are now automated. Governments also reduce cost by posting information on the web, instead of printing and distributing advertisement or mail. In numerous states the web is used to accept applications and to decide eligibility of the customer and in some cases applications can be downloaded from their websites. Some systems not only verify if customer will receive benefits, but also review if customer is qualified for other programs.

States where service is web-based, customers will also benefit. Customers reduce traveling time, time of personal interaction, and time spent waiting for the government’s response. Web technology gives customers rapid access to documents and information, enabling the staff to have more time to give service to clients with special needs. E-government also collects data and enables states to improve their services.

E-government projects cost millions of dollars to put into action and years to plan. One option to consider before implementing e-government is to develop a return on investment analysis, because it determines the cost and benefits of applying an e-government project. Once a decision has been made to develop an operation of e-government, there are different ways to fund a project. Productivity funds, share in savings agreements, leasing funds, and private sponsorship are ways to initiate a process. Some states prefer commercial advertisement and transactions fees to finance for these projects. 

Sources: http://76.12.61.196/publications/servicedeliverychallengese-govIN.htm

Is The Government Spying On You?

 

http://softsupplier.com/wp-content/plugins/jobber-import-articles/photos/114454-us-accuses-russia-and-china-of-internet-spying-2.jpg

The Internet has opened the doors for so many opportunities that were not easily available in the past. For example, research is now easier to do with the Internet available. Instead of going to the library and reading books for information, the Internet speeds up the process and the user can search millions of sources with the needed information. However, although the Internet is widely used all over the world, many people do not feel safe using the Internet because they feel that their activity online is being tracked by another person or organization. These people may have a point. 

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the US, with assistance from major telecommunication carriers, including AT&T have engaged in a massive program of illegal dragnet surveillance of domestic communications and communications records of millions of ordinary Americans since at least 2001.  (Electronic Frontier Foundation) There have been several news reports in December 2005 that have revealed that the National Security Council (NSA) have been tracking several phone calls and Internet communications from Americans. EFF has also obtained other whistleblower evidence from former AT&T technician Mark Klein showing that AT&T and the NSA work together to track email, web-browsing, and other Internet activity from AT&T customers.

The Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) also grants many federal agencies to track online activity of American citizens. The original Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act dates back to 1978; it was expanded during the Bush administration in 2008, to allow both foreign and domestic surveillance without a warrant, as long as the intent is to gather foreign intelligence. (Chappell, 2012) President Obama recently signed a FISA extension in December 31, 2012, which would allow federal agencies to track American citizens online activity until 2017. 

The EFF is currently fighting in court to stop this activity. EFF is currently representing victims in the Jewel v. NSA case, which was filed in September 2008, and it is seeking to stop the warrantless wiretapping and hold the government officials behind the program accountable. EFF also represented victims in the Hepting v. AT&T case, which was filed for invading a customer's privacy. The case was dismissed by the US Supreme Court. Many amendments have also been passed to limit the activity of FISA but they all failed to become ratified.

Sources:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/12/28/168220266/congress-extends-fisa-wiretapping-act-to-2017-awaits-obamas-signature

https://www.eff.org/nsa-spying

National Hacking Event: Opportunity for Government Collaboration

Asheville, NC

Technology and most importantly the internet has improved the ability for people to communicate and exchange information. 'E-government' is the idea of government using the internet and technology to better communicate and interact with its citizens. The National Hacking Event taking place June of 2013 nationwide is an event supported by federal agencies such as the Census Bureau and NASA which will bring together citizens, software developers, and entrepreneurs to use government data to help deal with issues that local neighborhoods, cities, and states face. This event is a great way to create a more personal relationship between government agencies and its citizens by promoting transparency and collaboration. Citizens are encouraged to be part of the community to realize the needs of society and how to best benefit society as a whole. Even with technology there are so many government agencies both local, state, and federal which leads to government information difficult to access and such information may help solve a problem a community may face. A neighborhood that sufferers growing poverty and crime is such a common issue with any country around the world. Society then must face this problem with the idea that there are such numerous issues and factors that contribute to this problem, but there is information and solutions out there that can help manage the situation. Relying on just a few people or a few government agencies to solve the problem is not sufficient or possible and that is why the government realizes that collaboration between itself and all citizens is necessary for the good of society as a whole. Do you believe that the government should promote citizens to become more aware and participate in local affairs? In our society do you believe that the youth of the country is more disconnected to societal affairs than say adults? If so how do you believe is will affect the future when the youth become the leads of the this world?

Sources:

http://www.govtech.com/e-government/White-House-Drums-Up-Support-for-National-Hacking-Event.html

http://hackforchange.org/