Public Digital

The Dutch government is developing an alternative to Microsoft's software ecosystem, built on NixOS, a Linux distribution known for its reproducible and declarative configuration. The project, referred to as DAWO, is aimed at reducing dependence on American software vendors. The move is drawing attention as part of a broader European push for digital sovereignty and open-source adoption in public administration.

A new article by Katie Neith, edited by Robert Egan, revisits Isaac Newton's younger years, prompting renewed interest in his life before fame. Readers are pairing the piece with Project Gutenberg's free digital edition of Newton's Principia, making the classic physics text easily accessible alongside the profile of the scientist as a young man.

America.gov, the U.S. State Department's public diplomacy website, is drawing fresh interest online. The site has long served as an official resource explaining American government, society and policy to international audiences, though it was scaled back in earlier years as digital outreach shifted to embassy platforms. Its current state and content prompted discussion on Hacker News, and it is also trending in Google searches in the United States.

A student newspaper column argues for digital minimalism — deliberately cutting back on screens and apps — as a response to how dependent daily life has become on technology. The piece weighs the benefits of constant connectivity against concerns about attention, wellbeing and overuse, and suggests setting personal limits on device use rather than abandoning technology altogether.

Spanish economist José Carlos Díaz said that half of Spain's civil servants will retire over the next decade, arguing the country should bring artificial intelligence into the public administration 'to the max'. His remarks, published by El Confidencial, frame the coming retirement wave as a chance to modernise the state's workforce and digital systems.

A new article in The Conversation examines whether grocery store receipts contain toxic chemicals, pointing to concerns that thermal paper used for printed receipts may carry harmful substances such as bisphenols, which can be absorbed through the skin. The piece discusses what the health risks are for shoppers and retail workers who handle receipts regularly, and what alternatives like digital receipts could mean for reducing exposure.

The Netherlands is developing an open-source desktop work environment for government authorities, built on the NixOS operating system as part of a push for digital sovereignty. Eight municipalities are already testing the system, which aims to reduce dependence on commercial software vendors for public administration IT.

Satellite manufacturer Astro Digital plans to go public through a SPAC merger, with proceeds earmarked for expanding its satellite production capacity and growing its defense business. The move would give the small-satellite firm access to public markets as demand for spacecraft manufacturing and defense-related space technology accelerates, positioning it alongside a wave of space companies seeking public listings.

Privacy advocates are arguing that technology should be built around people rather than controlled by a handful of billionaire-owned corporations. The argument, gaining traction in online tech circles, holds that it is possible to create human-centric, empowering platforms owned by users themselves, and that anything less is a substandard approach to digital rights.

A new historical piece from the American Institute of Physics examines the overlooked role of typists in physics, arguing they were essential to how scientific knowledge circulated among researchers before digital tools. By preparing manuscripts, preprints and letters, typists shaped the speed and reach of intra-scientific communication, and historians are revisiting their contribution to the discipline.

SunLibCrypto has published a new educational guide explaining what an 'altcoin' is, aimed at readers new to cryptocurrency. The guide breaks down the essential concepts, offers simple examples and highlights the key points to remember. It adds to a growing supply of beginner-level crypto explainers as public interest in digital assets continues.

JMT Technology Group has been announced as a new member company of GovTech, the government technology organisation. The announcement, made via GovTech's news channels, signals the firm's entry into the public-sector technology community. JMT Technology Group provides technology consulting and services, and its membership suggests it will collaborate on government digital initiatives. Further details about the scope of the partnership were not provided in the announcement.

The Vatican has announced the theme for World Communications Day 2027: 'Paying attention in the age of clickbait.' The choice signals the Church's continued focus on how digital media shapes public attention, encouraging reflection on truthfulness and depth in an online culture driven by sensational headlines. Vatican News reported the announcement, and further details are expected closer to the event.

The Vatican has announced the theme for the next World Day of Social Communications, focusing on the pitfalls of the 'attention economy' — the business model in which tech platforms compete to capture and monetise human attention. The choice signals Pope Francis's ongoing concern with how digital media shapes public discourse, empathy and truth, continuing his criticism of manipulative online practices.

Orange Business has been selected to provide the European Union's backbone network for trusted data exchange. The deal makes the French telecom operator responsible for the infrastructure underpinning secure data flows between EU institutions and member states. It marks a significant win for Orange in European public-sector digital infrastructure and aligns with EU efforts to build sovereign, trusted data-sharing capabilities.