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Daniel Castro

Contributing Writer

Daniel Castro is the vice president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and director of the Center for Data Innovation. Before joining ITIF, he worked at the Government Accountability Office where he audited IT security and management controls.

Follow @castrotech

Policy

A Review: The American Data Privacy and Protection Act

After years of delay and discussion, Congress has released a bipartisan draft bill outlining a comprehensive federal data privacy policy. However, the proposal fails to adequately address two major issues.

June 13, 2022
· Daniel Castro
Opinion

Digitizing Vehicle Titles Is the Way Forward for States

Especially as autonomous vehicles become more common on city streets, it's in everyone's interest for states to offer fully digital e-titles to decrease costs, streamline processing and reduce fraud risk.

January/February 2022
· Daniel Castro
Opinion

AI Could Help Get Government Records Off Paper and Online

Although digitizing government has become easier, the amount of unstructured data agencies hold remains a steep barrier to full transparency. Artificial intelligence could be the answer.

December 2021
· Daniel Castro
Opinion

It’s Time to Get Fax Machines Out of Government Offices

Fax machines have largely disappeared from private-sector offices, yet remain in many state and local government agencies. Eliminating them will not only save money, but also push forward digital services.

October/November 2021
· Daniel Castro
Opinion

The Case for Artificial Intelligence in Recruiting IT Talent

More AI tools are becoming available to help recruit and hire new technology staff. They take some of the burden off management to find the right people and also reduce bias in the process.

September 2021
· Daniel Castro
Opinion

Absent Federal IDs, Digital Driver’s Licenses a Good Start

The ability to verify online that someone is who they say they are is critical for an increasingly digital world. While a federal solution would be ideal, state-issued digital licenses are a move in the right direction.

July/August 2021
· Daniel Castro
Opinion

Government Websites Still Unprepared for Traffic Surges

When the rush for unemployment insurance crashed government websites in 2020, we learned how to navigate traffic surges in a crisis. So why weren’t sites prepared to handle vaccine appointments?

June 2021
· Daniel Castro
Policy

Policymakers Should Make Room for Sidewalk Delivery Robots

The use of robots from companies like Starship Technologies for last-mile deliveries skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and legislators would do well to make them easier to deploy on city sidewalks.

April/May 2021
· Daniel Castro
Opinion

Biden Creates Road Map for Equitable State and Local Data

Data from marginalized communities is often underreported, meaning their needs are hidden from policymakers. President Biden’s initial actions on equitable data pave a path for state and local governments to follow.

March 2021
· Daniel Castro
Opinion

End-to-End Verifiability Key to Future Election Security

With future elections likely to divide along stark partisan lines, and election security in question, end-to-end verifiability can let voters know that their ballots have been received and not tampered with.

January/February 2021
· Daniel Castro