data
Optimizing Machines Is Perilous. Consider ‘Creatively Adequate’ AI.
The future of artificial intelligence needs less data and can tolerate ambiguity.
A Project to Count Climate Crisis Deaths Has Surprising Results
Climate change is already killing people, but countries don’t have an easy way to count those deaths. A new project might change that.
Facebook’s Data Center Plans Rile Residents in the Netherlands
The country has become a magnet for Big Tech facilities, but locals say they will syphon away all their green energy.
The Danger of Leaving Weather Prediction to AI
When it comes to forecasting the elements, many seem ready to welcome the machine. But humans still outperform the algorithms—especially in bad conditions.
6 Ways to Delete Yourself From the Internet
You’ll never be able to get a clean slate—but you can significantly downsize your digital footprint.
To Fight Climate Change, First You Need to Measure It
Scientists at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory are using monitoring equipment to track our impact on the planet more accurately than ever before.
Transparency Laws Let Criminal Records Become Commodities
For millions of people, details from an arrest—even a mistaken one—live on after being sold to data brokers. And the state profits.
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.
For Queer Communities, Being Counted Has Downsides
It can feel good that national censuses are collecting more data about gender and sexuality. But increased attention can come at the price of real action.
'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.
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.
DuckDuckGo Wants to Stop Apps From Tracking You on Android
The privacy-focused tech company's latest update promises to block invasive data collection across your whole phone.
India's New Rules for Map Data Betray Its Small Farmers
The country says that more open access to terrestrial data will help rural farmers. More likely, will make it easier for corporations to control their land.
Ignore China’s New Data Privacy Law at Your Peril
The Personal Information Protection Law gives authorities the power to impose huge fines and blacklist companies. But the biggest impact may be felt outside the country.
How Wavelets Let Researchers Transform and Understand Data
Built upon the ubiquitous Fourier transform, these mathematical tools allow unprecedented analysis of continuous signals.
It’s Time to Talk About Facebook Research
Plus: Adam Mosseri on News Feeds, remote drivers for cars, and a pickle for Greenland.
Data Brokers Know Where You Are—and Want to Sell That Intel
These firms could track whether you've visited your therapist's office or your ex's house. And without regulation, they're a threat to democracy.
Smart Cities, Bad Metaphors, and a Better Urban Future
Shannon Mattern’s new book, A City Is Not a Computer, digs into the data, dashboards, and language that keep people from building better, safer communities.
All the Ways Spotify Tracks You—and How to Stop It
Whether you're listening to workout music or a "cooking dinner" playlist, the app can show you ads based on your mood and what you're doing right now.
Amazon's Massive GDPR Fine Shows the Law's Power—and Limits
It's the first significant GDPR ruling against Big Tech. But secrecy around the decision exposes the regulation’s flaws.
A New System Is Helping Crack Down on Child Sex Abuse Images
There are 150 child sexual abuse laws around the world. Now, metadata is making it easier for countries to work together.
Volunteers Digitized Centuries of Handwritten Rain Data
As the UK went into lockdown, 16,000 volunteers put their spare time to good use, transcribing 350 years of archival records for use by modern climate scientists.
Android 12 Will Let You Fine-Tune Permissions for Apps
A new privacy dashboard and “app hibernation” are coming to Google's mobile operating system.
How Porn's Racist Metadata Hurts Adult Performers of Color
Despite the massive innovations tech has brought to the industry, nonwhite creators remain confined to a rigid, outdated classification system.