Billionaire Mark Cuban has offered to fund former employees of 18F, a federal technology and design consultancy that saw its budget drastically cut and staff laid off. Cuban's offer aims to enable these individuals to continue working on their existing civic tech projects, though the specifics of the funding mechanism and project selection remain unclear. He expressed interest in projects focused on improving government efficiency and transparency, ultimately seeking to bridge the gap left by 18F's downsizing and ensure valuable public service work continues.
The author recounts their experience in an Illinois court fighting for access to public records pertaining to the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request portal. They discovered and reported a SQL injection vulnerability in the portal, which the state acknowledged but failed to fix promptly. After repeated denials of their FOIA requests related to the vulnerability's remediation, they sued. The judge ultimately ruled in their favor, compelling the state to fulfill the request and highlighting the absurdity of the situation: having to sue to get information about how the government plans to fix a security flaw in a system designed for accessing information. The author concludes by advocating for stronger Illinois FOIA laws to prevent similar situations in the future.
HN commenters generally praise the author's persistence and ingenuity in using SQL injection to expose flaws in the Illinois FOIA request system. Some express concern about the legality and ethics of his actions, even if unintentional. Several commenters with legal backgrounds offer perspectives on the potential ramifications, pointing out the complexities of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and the potential for prosecution despite claimed good intentions. A few question the author's technical competence, suggesting alternative methods he could have used to achieve the same results without resorting to SQL injection. Others discuss the larger implications for government transparency and the need for robust security practices in public-facing systems. The most compelling comments revolve around the balance between responsible disclosure and the legal risks associated with security research, highlighting the gray area the author occupies.
Summary of Comments ( 295 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43231062
Hacker News commenters were generally skeptical of Cuban's offer to fund former 18F employees. Some questioned his motives, suggesting it was a publicity stunt or a way to gain access to government talent. Others debated the effectiveness of 18F and government-led tech initiatives in general. Several commenters expressed concern about the implications of private funding for public services, raising issues of potential conflicts of interest and the precedent it could set. A few commenters were more positive, viewing Cuban's offer as a potential solution to a funding gap and a way to retain valuable talent. Some also discussed the challenges of government bureaucracy and the potential benefits of a more agile, privately-funded approach.
The Hacker News post titled "Mark Cuban offers to fund former 18f employees" generated a number of comments discussing Mark Cuban's offer and the broader implications of the situation surrounding 18F, a digital services agency within the General Services Administration of the US government.
Several commenters expressed skepticism about Cuban's motives, questioning whether this was a genuine offer or a publicity stunt. Some suggested that his offer might be conditional and tied to certain outcomes, or that he might have ulterior motives related to acquiring talent or influencing government policy. Others pointed out that Cuban's offer, while generous, might not be enough to sustain 18F's operations long-term, given the complexities and costs associated with government work.
There was discussion about the potential challenges of accepting private funding for a government agency, including concerns about conflicts of interest, accountability, and transparency. Some commenters argued that accepting private funding could undermine the independence and integrity of 18F and create a precedent for other agencies to seek private funding, potentially leading to undue influence by wealthy individuals or corporations.
A few commenters highlighted the importance of 18F's work and the negative consequences of its potential shutdown, emphasizing the agency's role in modernizing government technology and improving citizen services. They expressed concern about the loss of experienced and skilled employees and the potential disruption to ongoing projects.
Some comments focused on the political aspects of the situation, with some criticizing the decision to cut funding to 18F and others suggesting that this was a deliberate attempt to dismantle government agencies and privatize their functions.
Several commenters debated the merits of government-led versus private sector-led technology initiatives, with some arguing that the government is better equipped to handle certain types of projects, particularly those related to public services and infrastructure, while others maintained that the private sector is more efficient and innovative.
Finally, some comments touched upon the broader issue of government funding and the challenges of balancing budgets while maintaining essential services. Some commenters advocated for increased funding for government technology initiatives, arguing that these investments are essential for improving efficiency and effectiveness.