Technology has achieved great strides in the modern world. It has helped maintain the economy, obtain and secure data, and connect people across the world. It has also helped the government improve throughout the years. From using blockchain technology to the use of AI, the US government is finding new ways to integrate technology into daily government functions.
AI Maintaining Law and Order
Law and order are one of the primary functions of any government in the world. But because of the lack of manpower, the U.S. government looked into integrating various functions of technology to maintain order. For example, AI is being used by various law enforcement agencies to help detect wanted criminals and missing persons.
However, because many fear that this will lead to law enforcement spying on unsuspecting citizens, it’s been banned in many cities. But this didn’t stop the implementation of recognition software in spotting smuggled and counterfeit goods. AI is also being used in robotic devices to help identify and defuse explosive devices.
AI’s integration with law enforcement has drastically changed how law and order are maintained in various communities. It has helped keep tight surveillance against potential crimes and kept many law enforcement units away from danger. Technology has come a long way from simply keeping data for the government. Many law enforcement agencies rely on technology to keep many citizens safe from harm.
Updating Old Systems
Despite the great impacts of technology in many industries in the United States, the government is still greatly lagging in modernizing various systems. In a US Government Accountability Office report, many government departments are still using legacy systems dating back to the 1970s. So in 2019, the GAO requested that 80% of the overall federal IT budget (about $72 billion) be allocated to a legacy application modernization plan. This plan is meant to update and modernize various legacy systems in many departments.
This means that for the next years, the systems that many departments in the US still use up to this day does not break down and cause a catastrophic loss of data. It also means that the old systems that these departments rely on do not need to be replaced.
The practice of modernizing legacy systems can be found in all branches of the government. Many are still using old and outdated systems for storing data and information from the executive branch down to local communities. Many of which, when replaced with modern systems, can lead to loss of data that can never be retrieved. This reliance on legacy systems is more out of desperation. Without technology advancing throughout the years, these government systems can easily lead to many departments losing key functions.
Blockchain Integration
Blockchain has many modern uses for businesses. However, even the government is looking into integrating this modern technology for various purposes such as a security measure, keeping personal data safe, and transferring secure information across different departments.
Blockchain is reforming how data can be obtained in many states. States such as New York and Delaware are also looking into how to use Blockchain for voting. At the same time, states like Illinois are looking into using it for registration purposes. The technology has many uses that can help expedite various government functions without a need for human involvement. However, there are some pain points when it comes to the integration of Blockchain into the government. First of which is that it’s quite expensive.
Blockchain technology comes with many parts, and all are required for it to work. Take, for example, the function of Blockchain in voting. For Blockchain to work in voting, all systems that are part of voting require blockchain integration. This requires updating different devices related to voting and also maintaining these devices over time.
This can lead to increased costs for a single application to be applied in one government function. However, many are excited for Blockchain integration in the government as it can make the government more transparent with their data. Additionally, it can also streamline and expedite registration, a function that usually takes many hours to finish.
