All Technology
How to break up with FacebookFacebook can be a good tool for connecting with friends and family. But for some users, that digital connection doesn't outweigh the side effects. Like breaking any habit, cutting back on social media can be a challenge.
FocusWhy Big Tech鈥檚 congressman is betting on IowaTiny Jefferson, Iowa, is energized by the promise of a few dozen well-paying tech jobs. Its unexpected ally: a politician from California who says innovation isn鈥檛 just for places that sport an Amazon or Google HQ.
In Rwanda, zippy drones deliver quick fix, but gloss over deeper needsNew technologies, like medical delivery drones, can offer quick solutions to urgent problems. But lost in the excitement are the infrastructure woes that make such deliveries useful in the first place.
First LookSenate accuses social media companies of downplaying Russian propagandaA report from the Senate intelligence committee this week shows the vast influence of Russian propaganda on the American public before the 2016 elections, and the lack of transparency by the social media platforms that proliferated these messages.聽
First LookCongress asks Google CEO tough questions on user privacy, biasOn Dec. 11, Congress grilled Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Google's practices regarding user privacy, election interference, and possible bias. The hearing underscores a growing uneasiness over the increasing influence of tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon.聽
FocusHow ads hijacked the dream of the internet. Can digital citizens fight back?In the 1990s, Silicon Valley promised a global virtual community that would level hierarchies and empower individuals.聽Instead, we wound up with a habit-forming outrage machine that spies on us. What went wrong?
First LookUK releases documents showing potential abuses by FacebookInternal documents from 2011-2015 show Facebook selling user's data with little regard for privacy concerns. The social media giant says the information offers an incomplete picture, but lawmakers in the US and Britain are pushing for more regulation.
First LookShipping companies unfurl greener solutions for transitWith ships releasing nearly 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, shipping companies are looking for more environmentally-conscious options including the use of sails and alternative fuels.聽
First LookParents' struggle with screen time won't be ending any time soonAcross the United States parents continue to wrestle with how to find a聽balance between letting kids develop interests and limiting a dependence on technology, a new survey shows. One idea gaining momentum: waiting until eighth grade to give a child a smartphone.
Fertilize by drone, till by text: Making tech work for Africa鈥檚 farmersSometimes we talk about automation and job rates as though they鈥檙e in a zero-sum game. But successful innovation does more than develop new technology; it figures out how to boost workers, too.
First LookHow 'net neutrality' became a political rallying pointBefore there was "net neutrality" there was "end-to-end principle," the idea of letting end consumers control the internet and its content rather than a central authority. Under the Trump administration, this engineering maxim has become a hot-button issue.聽
First LookAt ninth Web Summit, women in tech call for equal treatmentAt one of the tech sector's largest global conferences, women leaders said more needed to be done to promote equality in an industry riddled with sexism. Last week, thousands of Google employees walked out to protest discriminatory practices in the workplace.
First LookCameroon latest test for Facebook in spread of misinformationThe social media giant is facing criticism after it's platform was used to spread hate speech in the central African country. As internet use spreads in the developing world, similar misinformation incidents are occurring in Myanmar and Sri Lanka.聽
Arming election officials: How cyber sensors are boosting ballot securityRussia鈥檚 success in 2016, according to some analysts, was to interfere in the election in a way that caused some Americans to doubt the sanctity of their own democratic processes. A new cyberdefense tool not yet widely in use offers promise in combating outside interference.
First LookOnly a quarter of emergency call centers accept text messages to 911During mass shootings and domestic incidents, a phone call to 911 could put someone in further danger. Advocates stress the importance of text-to-911 services, yet most emergency call centers don't have the infrastructure to support them.聽
First LookUnder pressure from Musk, SpaceX hustles to launch satellitesElon Musk has been lauded for his visionary approach in the field of space exploration but signs of internal strife 鈥� from manager firings, to a difficult work environment, to a slew of unfulfilled job postings 鈥� suggest the SpaceX CEO is trying to do too much too fast.聽
First LookIn the 'war room,' Facebook ramps up fight against false informationTwo years ago, Facebook shrugged off assertions that the 2016 election was influenced by fictional news stories on its site. But as Congress pays more attention, the social media giant has begun to take these threats more seriously.聽
Why does Wikipedia (mostly) work?In an era of misinformation, the free online encyclopedia remains largely above the fray.
A laser revolution: How lidar is changing the way we see the worldSome breakthroughs seem to revolutionize our world overnight. Others, like laser mapping technology, take more of a slow build approach, inching into ubiquity while we're looking the other way.
First LookAid programs use the same data tracking technology as bitcoinThe World Food Program has implemented blockchain technology to track aid for refugees and prevent fraud. The technology, best known for supporting virtual currencies, allows for detailed tracking information that is stored in a network of hundreds of devices.
