European Researchers Say Big Tech Is Blocking Access to Their Data

EU law gives researchers unprecedented rights to scrutinize social media data. Researchers say TikTok, X, and Meta impede their attempts to look inside.

China’s Open AI Models Are Challenging Silicon Valley’s Playbook

As access to Anthropic’s and OpenAI’s frontier models becomes more restricted, Chinese labs are pitching their open-source alternatives as stable, accessible, and increasingly capable.

Stop Saying Kids Can’t Read

Everyone is talking about the reading crisis. But inside the “Mississippi Miracle,” it’s all about comprehension.

The Army Is Burning Through Its AI Tokens

Members of the Army received an email informing them that they were rapidly depleting their AI tokens, and needed to limit use.

ICE Is Using Data Broker Tools to ‘Identify Unaccompanied Minors’ and ‘Fraud’

A newly renewed, $25 million-per-year contract with a subsidiary of Thompson Reuters further expands the power of ICE under the Trump administration.

The $28 Million Mistake That Inspired Estonia’s AI “Fuckup Finder”

A single wording mistake cost the government millions. Now Estonia is using AI to spot legal errors before they become law—and to automate more of the state.

YouTube Appears to Be Making Money Off of Sanctioned Iranians’ Accounts

New research suggests that dozens of monetized YouTube channels are run by people and organizations that the US government has sanctioned for their ties to Tehran.

The Manhattan Institute Helped Kill DEI. Now It’s Coming for Protests

The right-wing think tank is actively pushing “civil terrorism”—increasing penalties for minor crimes committed while people engage in constitutionally protected free speech.

The EU Is Going Through a Trump-Fueled Breakup With Big Tech

France is already moving on from Zoom and Microsoft Teams in favor of homegrown alternatives. Other countries are quickly following suit.

An ICE Firearms Trainer Was Involved in At Least 4 Deadly Shootings

David Norman, a former Phoenix police officer who’s described himself as “a fucking savage,” now runs a company that provided training to Homeland Security’s Special Response Teams.