Sidney Fussell
Senior Writer
Sidney Fussell is a senior staff writer at WIRED covering surveillance, ad tech, and Silicon Valley's social and political impact. He was formerly a staff writer at The Atlantic. He is based in San Francisco. Send tips to sidney_fussell@wired.com or via Signal at 510-768-7625.
There’s $2B for Broadband on Reservations. It Won't Be Enough
The recently approved US infrastructure law aims to close the digital divide for Native peoples. But the demand far outstrips the money allocated.
The Hidden Dangers of 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Apps
Services such as Afterpay, Affirm, and Klarna are soaring in popularity and valuation. But consumer advocates say they make it easy to get overextended.
The ‘Broadband Gap’ Is Now a Housing Problem
Many people eligible for Covid-era rent assistance have trouble navigating a “tangled web” of agencies because they don't have reliable internet access.
Borrowed a School Laptop? Mind Your Open Tabs
Students—many from lower-income households—were likely to use school-issued devices for remote learning. But the devices often contained monitoring software.
Advocates Struggle to Control Police Use of Surveillance Tech
A key backer of a 2018 Oakland law to rein in tools like automated license plate readers says the city is not following the rules.
Chicago Claims DoorDash and Grubhub Misled Customers on Fees
The city capped commissions on restaurant deliveries amid the pandemic, but it says the apps added new fees and marketed deceptive promotions.
Explosion in Geofence Warrants Threatens Privacy Nationwide
New figures from Google show a tenfold increase in the requests from law enforcement, which target anyone who happened to be in a given location at a specified time.
The Push for Ad Agencies to Ditch Big Oil Clients
An activist coalition is pressuring firms to stop promoting fossil fuel companies—some of which have advertised oil and gas as “climate friendly.”
The NYPD Had a Secret Fund for Surveillance Tools
Documents reveal that police bought facial-recognition software, vans equipped with x-ray machines, and “stingray” cell site simulators—with no public oversight.
Struggling to Recruit, Police Turn to Targeted Ads
The pandemic and the George Floyd protests have made recruiters’ jobs tougher. Now they’re tapping the behavioral profiling power of social media.
The Absurd Idea to Put Bodycams on Teachers Is ... Feasible?
The idea to monitor educators so they don't teach critical race theory seems ridiculous. But schools are already rife with invasive surveillance.
Why Do Some Crimes Increase When Airbnbs Come to Town?
Tourists neither commit nor attract crimes. But a study finds that violent offenses rose in neighborhoods where more homes were converted to short-term rentals.
This AI Helps Police Track Social Media. Does It Go Too Far?
Law enforcement officials say the tool can help them combat misinformation. Civil liberties advocates say it can be used for mass surveillance.
French Spyware Executives Are Indicted for Aiding Torture
The managers are accused of selling tech to Libya and Egypt that was used to identify activists, read private messages, and kidnap, torture, or kill them.
Baltimore May Soon Ban Face Recognition for Everyone but Cops
The measure would make private use of the technology illegal but would not apply to police. It awaits the mayor's signature.
The All-Seeing Eyes of New York’s 15,000 Surveillance Cameras
Video from the cameras is often used in facial-recognition searches. A report finds they are most common in neighborhoods with large nonwhite populations.
Roku and YouTube Are Battling for Your Precious TV Data
Connected TV advertising brought in $9 billion last year and is poised to grow as more viewers shift from cable to streaming.
AI Shows ExxonMobil Downplayed Its Role in Climate Change
According to a new paper, the company’s own research showed that human activity was a contributor, but public statements suggested otherwise.
Facebook Allows Drug Ads to Target Teens, Activists Say
The social network has rules about what can be shown to minors. The Tech Transparency Project found that they aren’t being enforced.
A Border Town Confronts the Reality of Police Surveillance
Chula Vista police have deployed drones and other tech. Now residents are pushing back, after reports that data was shared with immigration authorities.