To be clear, this tech is already deployed across a lot of programs, govt or otherwise. In many states you have to be identity proofed with this type of stuff to get your unemployment benefits

Someone missed the fact that he cited my reporting!? 🤯

The government is testing how well facial recognition works to compare folks against their ID and to identity proof them online. One tested solution had a false negative rate of about 50%, essentially meaning that only half of legit users got through. www.nextgov.com/emerging-tec...

GSA testing finds variations in the accuracy of digital ID verification tech

The preliminary results of a study that tested five different vendor solutions found some to be relatively accurate, while others were inaccurate or inequitable.

And it’s trying to fix some of the crappiness of its application processes: www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...

SSI to move core disability program application online

The initial rollout will be available to adults who have never married and are applying for Supplemental Security Income for the first time.

The agency is currently begging Congress for more funding: www.govexec.com/management/2...

Biden administration seeks more Social Security funding, election and transition provisions in possible CR

The Office of Management and Budget made the requests as part of the process by which the White House and Congress prepare for the potential need to pass a short-term continuing resolution in Septembe...

All this has real consequences: as I reported in April, 30,000 people died while waiting for Social Security disability determinations during fiscal 2023 www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...

30,000 died in fiscal 2023 waiting for disability decisions from Social Security

SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley sat down with Nextgov/FCW recently to talk through the agency’s biggest challenges, including how it delivers disability assistance.

John Oliver talks through SSA's disability benefits — a “key safety net" for disability with a "nightmare" application process m.youtube.com/watch?v=_hIO...

S11 E23: Disability Benefits, Trump, Vance & Haiti: 9/22/24: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

Flagging that changing details like name / gender is one of the things that State isn’t offering online … check story for more details.

journalism!! www.wsj.com/us-news/spri...

Under Trump, EPA scientists say managers pressured them to "delete evidence of chemicals’ harms, including cancer, miscarriage & neurological problems, from their reports — and in some cases, they said, their managers deleted the information themselves." (Via @propublica.bsky.social)

EPA Scientists Said They Were Pressured to Downplay Harms From Chemicals. A Watchdog Found They Were Retaliated Against.

Three reports issued by the agency’s inspector general detailed personal attacks suffered by the scientists — including being called “stupid,” “piranhas” and “pot-stirrers” — and called on the EPA to ...