The Government Just Made it Harder to See What Spy Tech it Buys: A Loss for Cybersecurity Transparency

In a shocking move, the US government has shut down FPDS.gov, a critical resource for tracking the procurement of powerful spying tools and technologies used by various agencies. The site, which provided an exhaustive database of federal contracts related to cybersecurity and surveillance, was abruptly replaced with SAM.gov, a new platform that is significantly less transparent and user-friendly.

FPDS.gov was a go-to tool for investigative journalists, researchers, and cybersecurity professionals looking to uncover information about the government's spending on national security technologies. Its simple interface and robust data set made it an indispensable resource for understanding the complex web of contracts and partnerships between government agencies and private contractors. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), in particular, relied heavily on FPDS.gov to inform its investigations into government surveillance activities.

According to Dave Maass, director of investigations at the EFF, "FPDS may have been a little clunky, but its simple, old-school interface made it extremely functional and robust. Every facet of government operations touches on contracting at one point, and this was the first tool that many investigative journalists and researchers would reach for to quickly find out what the government is buying and who is selling it, and how these contracts all fit together."

FPDS.gov provided valuable insights into the procurement of various surveillance technologies, including phone hacking tools and mass location data collection systems. The site also shed light on the use of Palantir installations, a powerful data analytics platform developed by the company of the same name. While the exact extent of these technologies is still unclear, their widespread adoption by government agencies has raised significant concerns about the potential for abuse and erosion of civil liberties.

Sam.gov, the new replacement for FPDS.gov, takes a significantly different approach to transparency. The site's user interface is less intuitive, and its data set is not as comprehensive. According to EFF, "the new platform makes it demonstrably harder to reliably find out what agencies are spending tax payer dollars on." This shift in transparency has significant implications for the cybersecurity community, which relies on FPDS.gov to stay informed about government contracting activities.

The government's decision to shut down FPDS.gov and replace it with Sam.gov raises questions about the administration's priorities regarding cybersecurity and transparency. While the exact motivations behind this move are unclear, cybersecurity experts warn that the reduced transparency could lead to a lack of accountability and oversight in government contracting practices.

In conclusion, the shutdown of FPDS.gov marks a significant setback for the cybersecurity community and highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in government contracting activities. As researchers and journalists continue to investigate the use of surveillance technologies by government agencies, it is essential that policymakers prioritize the development of more transparent and user-friendly platforms like FPDS.gov.

Key Takeaways:

• The US government has shut down FPDS.gov, a critical resource for tracking government procurement of powerful spying tools and technologies.
• The replacement platform, SAM.gov, is less transparent and user-friendly than its predecessor.
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) relies heavily on FPDS.gov to inform its investigations into government surveillance activities.
• The shutdown marks a significant setback for the cybersecurity community and highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in government contracting activities.