Amazon’s Alexa favored Harris over Trump after AI upgrade

Internal Amazon documents reveal what caused voice assistant Alexa to apparently favor Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in a viral video this week.

By Caroline O'DonovanSeptember 5, 2024

YouTube takes down right-wing channels linked to DOJ Russia indictments

YouTube “terminated” Tenet Media and other channels run by Lauren Chen, who was accused by the DOJ Wednesday of using Russian government money to pay right-wing influencers.

By Gerrit De VynckSeptember 5, 2024

Verizon offers to buy Frontier in multibillion bid to expand network

If approved by Frontier Communications shareholders, the deal would expand Verizon’s landline footprint beyond the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

By Aaron GreggSeptember 5, 2024

New Mexico sues Snapchat over sexual predation of minors

Snapchat is a “breeding ground” for predators seeking to collect sexually explicit images of children and extort them, the state of New Mexico argues in a lawsuit.

By Cat ZakrzewskiSeptember 5, 2024
Tech BriefAnalysis

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk is overflowing with AI bills

The Washington Post’s essential guide to tech policy news.

By Gerrit De Vynck and Will OremusSeptember 5, 2024

Got a Change Healthcare letter about a data breach? Here’s what to do.

Nervous about that Change Healthcare data breach letter that came in the mail? Take these steps if you’re worried you’ve been affected by a data breach.

By Tatum HunterSeptember 5, 2024

Meta content court rules ‘from the river to the sea’ isn’t hate speech

Meta’s Oversight Board ruled the phrase “from the river to the sea” isn’t necessarily hate speech, a decision likely to fuel debate over Israel-Gaza war content.

By Naomi NixSeptember 4, 2024

National Novel Writing Month faces backlash over allowing AI: What to know

Authors are criticizing NaNoWriMo for not objecting to the use of artificial intelligence in its annual event challenging people to write a novel in a month.

By Adela SulimanSeptember 4, 2024
Tech BriefAnalysis

A telltale clue reveals shady ads on Facebook and Instagram

Links to Telegram on Meta’s platforms often lead to drugs and scams, researchers find.

By Will OremusSeptember 4, 2024

Few have tried OpenAI’s Google killer. Here’s what they think.

OpenAI’s search tool shows promise but lacks Google’s specialized functions and can suffer from hallucinations.

By Lisa Bonos and Gerrit De VynckSeptember 4, 2024

How to master small talk at work

Engaging in small talk at work can boost your career and well-being. Follow these expert tips.

By Danielle AbrilSeptember 4, 2024

Spyware vendors thwart restrictions with new names and locations

International efforts to rein in online surveillance tools are being systematically skirted, researchers say.

By Joseph MennSeptember 4, 2024

Stock markets suffer worst day since early August meltdown

The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls more than 600 points, a 1.5 percent drop for the day.

By Hannah ZieglerSeptember 3, 2024

This is what happened to the world’s most pointless website

How it started and how it’s going with the dumbest website in the world, the company whose fans turned against and your favorite simple technology.

By Shira OvideSeptember 3, 2024

Silicon Valley had Harris’s back for decades. Will she return the favor?

Some critics of Big Tech worry the Democratic presidential nominee’s deep ties to large tech companies could prompt friendlier treatment.

By Cristiano Lima-Strong and Cat ZakrzewskiSeptember 3, 2024

Musk’s Twitter investors have lost billions in value

Musk bought X with a combination of his own money, bank loans and capital raised from friends and associates. Here’s how far underwater his investors are today.

By Faiz SiddiquiSeptember 1, 2024
Tech PolicyAnalysis

Musk and Durov are facing the revenge of the regulators

For years, internet moguls like Elon Musk and Pavel Durov have flown above the law as captains of free speech. Now they’re hitting turbulence.

By Will OremusAugust 31, 2024

Brazilian judge orders suspension of X in dispute with Elon Musk

X owner Elon Musk has refused to reestablish an office in the country to respond to government requests to take down accounts that spread fake news.

By Terrence McCoy, Trisha Thadani and Marina DiasAugust 31, 2024

Why killer AI is such an alluring horror villain

The new horror movie “AfrAId” shows that malicious AI is now the go-to villain for Hollywood and our nightmares.

By Shira OvideAugust 30, 2024

Telegram’s Pavel Durov built a haven for free speech — and child predators

Telegram’s anything-goes approach to online content has also made it one of the internet’s largest havens for child predators, experts say.

By Pranshu Verma, Will Oremus and Gerrit De VynckAugust 29, 2024