Regulation
Gibraltar Could Launch the World’s First Crypto Stock Exchange
“The Rock” hopes a new stock exchange will attract crypto millionaires who want to avoid hefty taxes.
The EU Has a Plan to Fix Internet Privacy: Be More Like Apple
Lawmakers want all websites to use a similar “Ask App Not to Track” function, but Apple's system might not be as clear-cut as once believed.
Europe Is in the Middle of a Messy Nuclear Slowdown
Germany has almost finished phasing out nuclear plants, and aging infrastructure is leading neighbors down the same path. But will green energy goals suffer?
Europe’s Move Against Google Analytics Is Just the Beginning
Austria’s data regulator has found that the use of Google Analytics is a breach of GDPR. In the absence of a new EU-US data deal, other countries may follow.
Gig Workers Were Promised a Better Deal. Then They Were Outsourced
A new subcontractor industry in Europe is benefiting from platforms’ efforts to clean up their image and comply with stricter employment rules.
Cities Want Ebikes to Stay in Their Lane—but Which One?
From New York to Moab, Utah, bicyclists and municipal officials are divided over whether ebikes should be permitted on bicycle trails.
The Antitrust Case Against Facebook Draws Blood
The latest ruling by a federal judge is a milestone for the effort to regulate Big Tech.
It Doesn't Make Sense to Treat Facebook Like a Public Utility
It's an American solution to a global problem.
US-China Trade Tensions Threaten Europe's Biggest Tech Company
ASML quietly built a chip machine manufacturing empire but a sales ban on its most advanced tech in China may hinder its growth plans.
The Future of Tech Is Here. Congress Isn't Ready for It
In a conversation with WIRED, former representative Will Hurd talked AI, the metaverse, China, and how ill-prepared legislators are to grapple with any of it.
'Algorithmic Reparation' Calls for Racial Justice in AI
Researchers are encouraging those who work in AI to explicitly consider racism, gender, and other structural inequalities.
Face Recognition Is Being Banned—but It’s Still Everywhere
Two dozen cities and states prohibit use of the tech. But it’s on phones and is increasingly used in airports and in banks.
Big Data May Not Know Your Name. But It Knows Everything Else
Data brokers claim that deidentified data on millions of Americans is risk-free. Lawmakers need to know that “anonymity” is an abstraction.
Faster Home Broadband Should Be Enshrined in Law
Outdated minimum speeds for home broadband were bad enough before the pandemic. It’s time to pick up the pace.
The Biggest Deepfake Abuse Site Is Growing in Disturbing Ways
A referral program and partner sites have spurred the spread of invasive, AI-generated “nude” images.
Antibiotic Use in US Farm Animals Was Falling. Now It’s Not
A new FDA report shows that a long-awaited Obama-era initiative to stop the spread of superbugs and improve animal welfare has stalled out.
The Gig Economy’s Days in Europe Are Numbered
Court cases and a new draft law from the European Commission are chipping away at the controversial industry. What comes next may look very different.
'Worker Data Science' Can Teach Us How to Fix the Gig Economy
Gig workers are asking to see the algorithms that govern their labor. Their fight has important lessons for creating equitable workplaces for all.
E-Scooters Are Everywhere in Europe. So Are Grisly Accidents
Crashes, nuisance, and clutter are creating hostility to the industry’s startups. Scandinavian cities are forcing them to change course.
Meta’s Failed Giphy Deal Could End Big Tech’s Spending Spree
There was a time, not so long ago, when Meta’s big-money deal to acquire Giphy would have been waved through. No more.
The Movement to Hold AI Accountable Gains More Steam
A New York City law requires algorithms used in hiring to be “audited” for bias. It’s the first in the US—and part of a larger push toward regulation.
Now Isn’t the Time to Give Users Control of Their Data
Until the collection of data is regulated, having power over your own information is more of a nightmarish responsibility than an appealing right.
Humans Are On Track to Export Our Environmental Woes to Space
The cosmos is turning into the playground for entrepreneurs, so the outdated legal spacescape needs to directly address space pollution.
Metadata From Encrypted Messages Can Keep People Safe
Sharing “metadata of the metadata” is crucial for informing product design that will fight misinformation without allowing security backdoors.