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TECHNOLOGY Tuesday 3 January 2017

Obama boosted White House technology; Trump sees risks

JULIE PACE and viewed technology as
AP White House Corre- key to making the sprawl-
spondent ing federal government
WASHINGTON (AP) — As more efficient and respon-
Barack Obama began sive to the public.
preparing to leave office, A much less frequent Twitter
the first smartphone-tot- user than Trump, Obama
ing U.S. president ordered let loose Sunday with a vol-
his team to upgrade the ley of tweets highlighting
White House’s aging tech- some of his accomplish-
nology for his successor. ments as president: boost-
New computers were pur- ing clean energy, bringing
chased and faster internet troops home, delivering
was installed. “the longest streak of job
Not included in the mod- growth in our history,” pass-
ernization plans? A courier ing a law to make health
service. care affordable, reducing
But that delivery method dependence on foreign
of a bygone era may be oil and working “to reaffirm
in for a comeback under that all are created equal.”
Donald Trump. Despite his But technology has also
voracious use of Twitter, the been a burden for Obama.
president-elect appears to Online sign-ups for his health
be leaning toward old tech care law were crippled by
to ensure the security of massive technical issues,
sensitive messages. resulting in one of the most
“It’s very important, if you embarrassing episodes of
have something really im- his presidency. National
portant, write it out and Security Agency contrac- In this Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, file photo, President Barack Obama meets with President-elect
have it delivered by cou- tor Edward Snowden stole Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.
rier, the old-fashioned way classified information that Associated Press
because I’ll tell you what, he leaked to journalists, re-
no computer is safe,” vealing the Obama admin- effective way to communi- rounding his relationship election year hacking. Nor
Trump told reporters Sat- istration’s bulk collection cate with Americans. with technology will in- has Trump outlined any
urday in response to ques- of millions of Americans’ “Absolutely, you’re go- volve security. U.S. intelli- changes in the way he ex-
tions about Russia’s alleged phone records, as well as ing to see Twitter,” Spicer gence agencies say Russia pects the White House to
hacking of Democrats dur- U.S. spying on some friendly said Sunday on ABC’s “This hacked the Democratic use technology for day-to-
ing the presidential elec- foreign leaders. Week.” ‘’I think it freaks the National Committee and day work.
tion. Trump, who doesn’t Trump, 70, rarely uses a mainstream media out — a top aide to Democratic Bruce Schneier, a technol-
email or surf the internet, computer and sifts through that he has this following of nominee Hillary Clinton dur- ogy security expert, said
said days earlier that com- stacks of newspapers, 45-plus million people that ing the election, exposing Trump was right to question
puters “have complicated magazines and printed follow him on social media” the vulnerabilities of sys- the safeguards that exist for
lives very greatly.” articles to read the news. and he “can have a direct tems in Washington. Rev- protecting his own commu-
Trump’s skepticism of He panned candidates’ conversation” with them. elations that Clinton used a nications as president.
some technology marks reliance on data and tech- Trump has shown some in- personal email and private “If the Russian spies want
a sharp contrast from the nology in presidential cam- terest in technology since internet server during her to get at his data, no com-
president he’ll replace paigns, preferring to make winning the White House. four years as Obama’s sec- puter is probably safe,”
on Jan. 20. Obama, who decisions in part based on Billionaire tech investor retary of state highlighted said Schneier, a fellow at
was a youthful 47 years the reaction from audi- Peter Thiel has been work- the lax practices that exist Harvard University’s Kenne-
old when he took office, ences at his rallies. While ing with Trump’s transition in government. dy School of Government.
carries a specially outfit- Trump’s tweetstorms are al- team and could serve as As a candidate, Trump “Everything is vulnerable.”
ted Blackberry, emails with ready legendary, he utters an adviser to the admin- called for an immediate Of course, the courier
a small number of friends some of his messages out istration. Trump met with review of U.S. cyber de- system Trump suggests is
and aides, and has re- loud and leaves the actual several Silicon Valley ex- fenses and vulnerabilities, hardly foolproof, either. Af-
ceived some of his daily se- typing to aides. ecutives last month, telling though he has not detailed ter the U.S. killed 9/11 mas-
curity briefings on an iPad. Incoming White House them his administration was specific steps he plans to termind Osama bin Laden,
He celebrated technologi- press secretary Sean Spicer “here to help you folks do take to bolster cybersecu- administration officials said
cal innovations at an annu- said he expects Trump to well.” rity and has not publicly they had gleaned crucial
al science fair, created the continue using Twitter and As Trump heads into the accepted the intelligence information on his where-
job of chief technology of- other social media sites as White House, some of community’s conclusion abouts by tracking the al-
ficer in the White House president, casting it as an the biggest questions sur- that Russia was behind the Qaida leader’s courier.q