Vice Pulled a Documentary Critical of Saudi Arabia. But Here It Is.
Vice’s hard-nosed coverage on Saudi Arabia changed after investment deals with the repressive kingdom. A deleted documentary is not completely gone, however.
Technology
U.S. Spy Agency Dreams of Surveillance Underwear It’s Calling “SMART ePANTS”
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is throwing $22 million in taxpayer money at developing clothing that records audio, video, and location data.
Meta Overhauls Controversial “Dangerous Organizations” Censorship Policy
In an internal update obtained by The Intercept, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company admits its rules stifled legitimate political speech.
Voices
AI Isn’t Banning Books in Iowa Schools. Republicans Are.
Overstating the power of algorithmic systems only serves to benefit the tech companies behind them.
A Pro-Putin Facebook Network Is Pumping French-Language Propaganda Into Africa
The pages promote Russia’s line on the war in Ukraine to more than 4 million followers, casting doubt on Meta’s pledge to combat foreign influence campaigns.
The Online Christian Counterinsurgency Against Sex Workers
Evangelical military vets are using “counterterror” internet surveillance techniques to help police get search warrants against sex workers.
The War on Immigrants
Texas State Police Purchased Israeli Phone-Tracking Software for “Border Emergency”
The software was licensed as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s troubled Operation Lone Star border crackdown.
As Actors Strike for AI Protections, Netflix Lists $900,000 AI Job
Rob Delaney said, “My melodious voice? My broad shoulders and dancer’s undulating buttocks? I decide how those are used!”
Pentagon Joins Elon Musk’s War Against Plane Tracking
The U.S. military’s elite special operations command doesn’t want its planes tracked, according to a procurement document.
FBI Hired Social Media Surveillance Firm That Labeled Black Lives Matter Organizers "Threat Actors"
A new Senate report calls out the FBI for lying to Congress about its social media monitoring, pointing out the FBI’s hiring of ZeroFox.