The Markup
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Challenging technology to serve the public good.
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The Markup
@themarkup.org
· Jun 17
We caught 4 more states sharing personal health data with Big Tech – The Markup
Healthcare exchanges in Nevada, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island shared users’ sensitive health data with companies like Google and LinkedIn
themarkup.org
NEW: State healthcare sites around the country have been quietly sending sensitive user data to Google and LinkedIn. themarkup.org/pixel-hunt/2...
We’ve updated The Markup’s privacy tool to help you understand how sites are tracking you through TikTok and X pixels.
Are TikTok and X tracking you across the internet? Our privacy tool can now tell you – The Markup
We’ve updated The Markup’s privacy tool to help you understand how sites are tracking you through TikTok and X pixels.
bit.ly
February 10, 2026 at 8:00 AM
We’ve updated The Markup’s privacy tool to help you understand how sites are tracking you through TikTok and X pixels.
AI-written applications, an impersonator and a recruiter scam followed just one remote job posting.
Hiring in an era of fake candidates, real scams and AI slop – The Markup
AI-written applications, an impersonator and a recruiter scam followed just one remote job posting.
bit.ly
February 9, 2026 at 8:00 AM
AI-written applications, an impersonator and a recruiter scam followed just one remote job posting.
The civil lawsuit, citing the Dating App Reporting Project, argues that dating apps could kick off serial rapists, but don’t.
Dating App Rape Survivors File Lawsuit Accusing Hinge, Tinder of “Accommodating Rapists” – The Markup
The civil lawsuit filed Tuesday, citing the Dating App Reporting Project, argues that dating apps could kick off serial rapists, but don’t.
bit.ly
February 8, 2026 at 8:00 AM
The civil lawsuit, citing the Dating App Reporting Project, argues that dating apps could kick off serial rapists, but don’t.
The California Courier likes to run Facebook ads against Democrats. Its funding, and most of its writers, are a mystery.
Could this mysterious website influence the 2026 election? – The Markup
The California Courier likes to run Facebook ads against Democrats. Its funding, and most of its writers, are a mystery.
bit.ly
February 7, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The California Courier likes to run Facebook ads against Democrats. Its funding, and most of its writers, are a mystery.
A tool called DROP lets California residents fill out a few forms to keep their personal data from being tracked or sold by data brokers.
How Californians can use a new state website to block hundreds of data brokers – The Markup
A tool called DROP lets California residents fill out a few forms to keep their personal data from being tracked or sold by data brokers.
bit.ly
February 7, 2026 at 8:00 AM
A tool called DROP lets California residents fill out a few forms to keep their personal data from being tracked or sold by data brokers.
Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is looking into whether a new AI image editing tool from Elon Musk's company violates California law.
California investigates Elon Musk’s AI company after ‘avalanche’ of complaints about sexual content – The Markup
Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is looking into whether a new AI image editing tool from Elon Musk's company violates California law.
bit.ly
February 6, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is looking into whether a new AI image editing tool from Elon Musk's company violates California law.
Dancers say their craft can’t be duplicated by AI. Our tests show they’re right — for now.
Generative AI is eating culture. See how close it’s getting to disrupting dance – The Markup
Dancers say their craft can’t be duplicated by AI. Our tests show they’re right — for now.
bit.ly
February 6, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Dancers say their craft can’t be duplicated by AI. Our tests show they’re right — for now.
None of the videos produced by the leading AI platforms showed the actual dances we requested.
How we tested and evaluated AI-generated dance videos – The Markup
None of the videos produced by the leading AI platforms showed the actual dances we requested.
bit.ly
February 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM
None of the videos produced by the leading AI platforms showed the actual dances we requested.
Lawsuits in California federal and state court are unearthing documents embarrassing to tech companies — and may be a tipping point into federal regulation.
‘We’re basically pushers:’ How a battle over kids on social media is unfolding in two California courtrooms – The Markup
Lawsuits in California federal and state court are unearthing documents embarrassing to tech companies — and may be a tipping point into federal regulation.
bit.ly
February 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Lawsuits in California federal and state court are unearthing documents embarrassing to tech companies — and may be a tipping point into federal regulation.
New York mayor says terminating the ‘unusable’ bot will help close a budget gap
Mamdani to kill the NYC AI chatbot we caught telling businesses to break the law – The Markup
New York mayor says terminating the ‘unusable’ bot will help close a budget gap
bit.ly
February 4, 2026 at 8:00 PM
New York mayor says terminating the ‘unusable’ bot will help close a budget gap
Trackers piggybacking on website tools leave some site operators in the dark about who is watching or what marketers do with the data
The High Privacy Cost of a “Free” Website – The Markup
Trackers piggybacking on website tools leave some site operators in the dark about who is watching or what marketers do with the data
bit.ly
February 4, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Trackers piggybacking on website tools leave some site operators in the dark about who is watching or what marketers do with the data
The surveillance economy is getting creepier and more personal
What They Know … Now – The Markup
The surveillance economy is getting creepier and more personal
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The surveillance economy is getting creepier and more personal
Blacklight catalogs the many ways any website tracks visitors: from cookies to capturing every user keystroke and mouse movement
How We Built a Real-time Privacy Inspector – The Markup
Blacklight catalogs the many ways any website tracks visitors: from cookies to capturing every user keystroke and mouse movement
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Blacklight catalogs the many ways any website tracks visitors: from cookies to capturing every user keystroke and mouse movement
The Markup’s popular tool now gives you more ways to understand how sites are tracking you
Announcing Three New Features for the Blacklight Privacy Inspector – The Markup
The Markup’s popular tool now gives you more ways to understand how sites are tracking you
bit.ly
February 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The Markup’s popular tool now gives you more ways to understand how sites are tracking you
The Microsoft-powered bot says bosses can take workers’ tips and that landlords can discriminate based on source of income
NYC’s AI Chatbot Tells Businesses to Break the Law – The Markup
The Microsoft-powered bot says bosses can take workers’ tips and that landlords can discriminate based on source of income
bit.ly
February 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM
The Microsoft-powered bot says bosses can take workers’ tips and that landlords can discriminate based on source of income
Mayor Eric Adams said the city is working to fix the problems, and the site now advises visitors to “not use its responses as legal or professional advice”
Malfunctioning NYC AI Chatbot Still Active Despite Widespread Evidence It’s Encouraging Illegal Behavior – The Markup
Mayor Eric Adams said the city is working to fix the problems, and the site now advises visitors to “not use its responses as legal or professional advice”
bit.ly
February 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Mayor Eric Adams said the city is working to fix the problems, and the site now advises visitors to “not use its responses as legal or professional advice”
A recent controversy about Zoom’s ability to train AI on users’ conversations shows the importance of reading the fine print
This Is What Happens When People Start Actually Reading Privacy Policies – The Markup
A recent controversy about Zoom’s ability to train AI on users’ conversations shows the importance of reading the fine print
bit.ly
February 1, 2026 at 8:01 AM
A recent controversy about Zoom’s ability to train AI on users’ conversations shows the importance of reading the fine print
The Center for Democracy & Technology makes a case for civil rights protections
Dropout Risk System Under Scrutiny After The Markup Report – The Markup
The Center for Democracy & Technology makes a case for civil rights protections
bit.ly
February 1, 2026 at 8:01 AM
The Center for Democracy & Technology makes a case for civil rights protections
Our tool has been used to protect the privacy of medical patients, children, and numerous readers
10 Million Blacklight Scans Later, Here’s What You Found – The Markup
Our tool has been used to protect the privacy of medical patients, children, and numerous readers
bit.ly
January 31, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Our tool has been used to protect the privacy of medical patients, children, and numerous readers
Behind the scenes of our guide to deciphering privacy policies
The One Page on Every Website That Tells You the Truth – The Markup
Behind the scenes of our guide to deciphering privacy policies
bit.ly
January 31, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Behind the scenes of our guide to deciphering privacy policies
Lawsuits in California federal and state court are unearthing documents embarrassing to tech companies — and may be a tipping point into federal regulation. bit.ly/4q8UQRu
📸 Laure Andrillon
📸 Laure Andrillon
January 30, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Lawsuits in California federal and state court are unearthing documents embarrassing to tech companies — and may be a tipping point into federal regulation. bit.ly/4q8UQRu
📸 Laure Andrillon
📸 Laure Andrillon
In a press conference this week on New York City’s $12 billion budget gap, Mayor Zohran Mamdani zeroed in on the previous administration’s artificial intelligence chatbot as one of “a number of different things we’re going to pursue for savings.” bit.ly/4k5Cq2m
📸 Michael M. Santiago, Getty
📸 Michael M. Santiago, Getty
January 30, 2026 at 7:04 PM
In a press conference this week on New York City’s $12 billion budget gap, Mayor Zohran Mamdani zeroed in on the previous administration’s artificial intelligence chatbot as one of “a number of different things we’re going to pursue for savings.” bit.ly/4k5Cq2m
📸 Michael M. Santiago, Getty
📸 Michael M. Santiago, Getty
Machine learning is powering new insights into how birds migrate—and forecasts about where they’ll go next
How AI Is Helping Us Learn About Birds – The Markup
Machine learning is powering new insights into how birds migrate—and forecasts about where they’ll go next
bit.ly
January 30, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Machine learning is powering new insights into how birds migrate—and forecasts about where they’ll go next
Despite being more likely to die of liver disease, Native Americans are far less likely to make the transplant list than White people
A Death Sentence: Native Americans Shut Out of the Nation’s Liver Transplant System – The Markup
Despite being more likely to die of liver disease, Native Americans are far less likely to make the transplant list than White people
bit.ly
January 29, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Despite being more likely to die of liver disease, Native Americans are far less likely to make the transplant list than White people
How arbitrary account bans affect the livelihoods of creators with disabilities
‘Every Day That I Don’t Get My TikTok Account Back Is An Opportunity That’s Lost’ – The Markup
How arbitrary account bans affect the livelihoods of creators with disabilities
bit.ly
January 29, 2026 at 8:00 AM
How arbitrary account bans affect the livelihoods of creators with disabilities