Blake Dowling, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Blake DowlingMarch 3, 2018

Facebook has been a modern American success story that continues to break boundaries and reinvent itself. They have also been in the news a lot lately, not for innovation, but what some people are calling, pay-to-play, exclusion, the “Facebook Apocalypse,” and more. Some publishers and advertisers are not happy, as the platform jacks up rates […]

Blake DowlingFebruary 24, 2018

There are a lot of hot topics raging throughout the state, nation and the world right now. Debates are raging, protests are happening, as it can (and should) in a Democracy. These are serious times, with serious issues on the table. But this column is going to steer the other way, giving you a short […]

Blake DowlingFebruary 17, 2018

The latest cyberthreat … This is a nice sequel to my bitcoin article last month. Everyone loves a sequel right? Except for Smokey and the Bandit 3. (Come on man. Burt wasn’t even in the movie.) OK, there is a new cyber threat that involves criminals diving into the bitcoin mining world. Part 1 is […]

Blake DowlingFebruary 10, 2018

After a 2-year investigation in Tallahassee, the FBI is getting down to business. At this point, no one has been proven guilty of anything. But that hasn’t stopped the circus. Step down! Guilty! Off with their heads! Schemer! Dilly Dilly to the Pit of Misery with you! Points of order to consider. When on the […]

Blake DowlingFebruary 3, 2018

Writing about tech, threats and innovation, it is pretty common that some ideas (or threats) out there really don’t materialize. Like one more season of Saved by the Bell, it just doesn’t need to happen. (It would be called Saved by the Bell – Middle Age Years, I reckon.) Dumb jokes aside, I wrote about […]

Blake DowlingJanuary 28, 2018

Are you bored with your career in politics? Is lobbying getting old? Tired of asking people for money on the fundraising trail? Have you considered cybercrime? Alexzander Cazes thought it sounded like a great idea. If you haven’t heard of Alpha Bay it will most likely be a movie in the next couple of years, […]

Blake DowlingJanuary 20, 2018

The political world has been full of scandals over the years regarding spying and eavesdropping. President Richard Nixon certainly ranks at the top of the list. Our current President may or may not be taping calls and meetings. Lots of U.S. presidents have taped conversations. Opinions differ on the practice, good documentation versus flat out […]

Blake DowlingJanuary 13, 2018

Now that the 2018 Legislative Session is in full swing, lawmakers and lobbyists have taken over our great city. Last night, I bumped into a couple of lobbyists I know, who were hiding from the masses at Whole Foods. Which is genius. Whole Foods has it figured out, they have sports on by the deli, […]

Blake DowlingDecember 22, 2017

Our professional relationships — politics, sports, entertainment, and business — are all dominated by technology. Did you get my text? Did you get my email? Did you see my tweet? Personal relationships have taken a step backward because of technology. I am not saying that tech is not cool, however, there is nothing better than […]

Blake DowlingDecember 16, 2017

The last U.S. president made some changes to the internet and how it is regulated; the new president is now reverting to what the law was before that. Some people are protesting; some are celebrating. As one might say, a standard day in a democracy. So, based on this, maybe you are drawing your lines […]

Blake Dowling

Blake Dowling: The pleasure — and pain — of Facebook

Blake Dowling: Taking a short break to talk Han Solo

Blake Dowling: The new threat … cryptojacking

Blake Dowling: FBI gets busy in Tallahassee

Blake Dowling: Amazon Go is here

Blake Dowling: Beware the dark web

Blake Dowling: Who is listening?

Blake Dowling: Session, bitcoin and digital currency

Blake Dowling: A call for low(er) tech

Blake Dowling: Net neutrality