CivicTech

CivicTech Data

The Bowtie Cop Who Changed the Course of Crime in New York City

How did New York City move from being synonymous with rampant crime in the 1980s to setting a benchmark for safety in urban environments by the late 1990s? At the heart of this transformation was Jack Maple, a transit cop whose unassuming appearance belied his revolutionary impact on policing. Jack Maple, known affectionately as “Jack […]

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CivicTech Ethics Privacy

How Flock Safety Turned Edge ML Cameras into a Massive Surveillance Network

Imagine this: As you make your way to your favorite fast-food joint, an unassuming black camera records your license plate. It swiftly processes this data through a neural network and uploads it into an expansive, searchable database. This network, accessible by law enforcement nationwide, can reveal your every move—without the need for a warrant. Welcome […]

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CivicTech

When Legacy Systems Meet Modern Expectations: The Healthcare.gov Launch Debacle

On October 1, 2013, a spectrum of expectations surrounded the launch of HealthCare.gov, the online portal to provide millions of Americans with health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act. The aim was ambitious: offer a seamless digital experience akin to top-tier e-commerce sites. However, by 8:01 a.m., optimism turned to dismay as users encountered […]

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CivicTech Data Visualization

The Art of Misleading: A Data Scientist’s Take on MCPS’s Statistics

Statistics: a tool that, when used effectively, can illuminate deep truths about our world. But, when misapplied, it can mislead, manipulate, and mask reality. This dichotomy is at the heart of the recent controversy surrounding Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and their presentation to the Montgomery County Maryland Board of Education concerning the closure of […]

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AI CivicTech

Unveiling AI in Government: The Investigative Ripple Effect

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing numerous fields, one area that remains under-explored is the use of AI within government operations. This vital question was first posed by Cascade PBS & KNKX reporter Nate Sanford, whose findings have not only shed light on novel uses and potential misuses of AI but have […]

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CivicTech Interesting

How an E-scooter makes woman’s commute more affordable and efficient

Commuting daily into New York City was never easy and, by the looks of it, it hasn’t gotten easier. I never thought e-scooters, which have usually been looked at as a menace by city officials, can make things easier. This video is from News 12. Navigating the Urban Jungle on Two Electric Wheels: A Peek […]

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AI CivicTech Current Events Economics of AI Ethics

What’s Inside America’s AI Action Plan: Cold War Echoes, Silicon Power Plays, and the Rise of AI Sovereignty

In the latest episode of the Data Driven podcast, I saw down with Christopher Nuland (AI Technical Marketing Manager at Red Hat) dive deep into the newly unveiled U.S. AI Action Plan, unpacking a complex mix of geopolitics, technology, and culture. What begins as a breakdown of a policy document quickly evolves into a rich […]

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CivicTech Interesting

How New Jersey Turned Into A Giant Suburb

The mid-twentieth century marked a significant transformation for the United States, as waves of growth, prosperity, and globalization swept across the North American continent. This period brought about significant changes to America’s urban industrial core, with the promise of suburban living causing a mass exodus from once bustling cities to the freedom offered by new […]

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AI CivicTech Red Hat

Reinventing a 1,000-Year-Old City with AI: How Vienna is Building the Future

What happens when a city with over a thousand years of history decides to transform itself using cutting-edge technology? In the case of Vienna, it means building a future where artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs), and digital humanism work hand-in-hand to redefine how city services operate—and how they serve people. The capital of […]

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