Can “Govtech” Save the Government—and Tech?
Tech companies can help streamline government services, but they need to overcome privacy fears
Gavin Newsom did not become governor of California quietly. During his first days in office in January 2019, Newsom said he would remove state National Guard troops from the Mexico border, and he accused the White House of “corruption and incompetence.”
The mini-drama surrounding his first few weeks in office eclipsed two significant new policies that will affect how the state of California collaborates with technology companies. On his first day in office, Newsom announced changes to the way state agencies could buy technology. On his second, he created a new department—the Office of Digital Innovation—with a starting budget of $36.2 million.
Few Americans took note of the announcements. But in the technology world, Newsom’s policies were read as a nod to a little-known sector called “govtech,” where technology companies offer solutions to government problems.
How can governments make applying for food stamps or reporting earthquake damage as seamless as ordering an Uber?
