TECHNOLOGY & PRIVACY
Blockchain Technology
In around 10-15 years, blockchain will be intertwined with almost all of our daily activities. But the biggest impact will be on government and the way a direct democracy will work. We are talking about the way we vote, the way we disburse monies, the way we will pay and track taxes etc. I believe that one way to really make government work better is preventing fraud. Fraud happens on a big scale in the distribution of transfer payments, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, FEMA payouts, welfare and other benefits. This extends to big grants for example from the United Nations, where sometimes we cannot even track where that money is going and how it’s being used. Blockchain will be able to eliminate billions of dollars in fraud, saving the taxpayer’s dollar.
Let me give you a more detailed example of the problem: the Federal government made at least $72 billion in improper payments in 2008. A GAO audit classified nearly half of all purchases on government credit cards as improper, fraudulent, or embezzled. Examples of improper taxpayer-funded purchases include gambling, mortgage payments, liquor, lingerie, iPods, Xboxes, jewelry, internet dating services, Hawaiian vacations, and dinners etc. Blockchain can ensure this never happens, because of the nature of the technology: transparency and therefore accountability.
I am in full support of expanding blockchain use in both voting and administrative functions of US government.
Data Privacy
All fifty states have enacted some legislation to protect consumers’ private information, but some states have more stringent laws and penalties than others. The data collected about us has value and we cannot let companies be negligent in handling of such sensitive information. We should have a national standard on the federal level similar to EU's GDPR or the California Consumer Privacy Act. The federal legislation should allow for:
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Clear, Transparent Policies: Consumers can request a report on the types of data collected, data sources, collection methods, and uses for their data. While the data itself needs to be stored in a well-constructed database, many consumer questions can be quickly answered in comprehensive privacy and data collection policies.
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Knowledge of Specific Provisions: Clearly outlined requirements within the proposed Data Privacy Protection Act including things such as providing a clear and conspicuous link on the business’ Internet homepage, titled ‘Do Not Sell My Personal Information,’ to an Internet Web page. We must ensure any individuals who handle consumers’ private data know and understand all pertinent regulations.
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Private right of actions
Infrastructure
Our infrastructure plan must accommodate new technologies of the day. I believe the new infrastructure plan needs to accommodate both driven and self-driven cars. Any spending must go to:
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getting rid of potholes
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re-constructing crumbling bridges
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more vivid lane markings in regards to autonomous self-driving cars and trucks, we will require bright lane markings including smart markers with a digital enablement such as edge computing devices
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an increase in electrical vehicle charging stations around the country to help stimulate the transition to electrical vehicles