Sidney Fussell, Author at Gizmodo

China’s Most Popular App Apologizes After Translating ‘Black Foreigner’ as the N-Word

The translation service in China’s biggest messaging app, WeChat, is being retooled after offering a racist slur as a translation for the phrase “black foreigner.” Ann James, a black theater director based in Shanghai, messaged her colleagues in English on Wednesday to say she was running late. When a coworker replied in Chinese, WeChat translated their…

Tech News Sidney Fussell Oct 12 '17

‘Black Data’ Is the Reason Why Smart Policing Is Still Incredibly Biased

We already know we’re being watched. We may even know who’s watching us. What we don’t know is what they’ll do now that they’ve seen us. Andrew Guthrie Ferguson’s “The Rise of Big Data Policing: Surveillance, Race, and the Future of Law Enforcement,” out on October 9 via NYU Press, is a dense, academic, and…

Privacy & Security Sidney Fussell Oct 11 '17

Following ‘Faked’ Footage Scandal, Baltimore Moves to Restrict Public Access to Body Cam Footage

Two members of Baltimore County Council have introduced a new resolution to tighten public access to body camera footage. The measure, introduced by Republican councilmen Todd Crandell and Wade Kach, comes after dozens of criminal cases were dropped in Baltimore City following the release of camera footage that seemingly uncovered officer misconduct. This summer, public…

Privacy & Security Sidney Fussell Oct 9 '17

Russian Agents Used Google to Interfere in Election: Report

Russian actors spent tens of thousands of dollars on Google ads meant to interfere with the 2016 US presidential election, the Washington Post reported on Monday. Citing employees “familiar” with Google’s internal investigations, the Post reports that these ads, which appeared on Gmail and YouTube, “do not appear to be from the same… troll farm…

Privacy & Security Sidney Fussell Oct 9 '17

Mattel Cancels AI Speaker for Kids After Lawmakers Demand Answers

Mattel is cancelling Aristotle, a device described as “Alexa for kids,” after facing criticism from lawmakers and parents’ groups. In a statement, Mattel said Aristotle did not “fully align with Mattel’s new technology strategy” and would not bring the device to market “as part of an ongoing effort to deliver the best possible connected product…

Privacy & Security Sidney Fussell Oct 6 '17

The Ankle Monitor Business Accused of Using Fear to Bind Immigrants in Debt

A staggering report from The Texas Observer describes a scheme that allegedly preys upon immigrants recently released from ICE detainment centers. Libre by Nexus, a Virgina-based company that reportedly brings in more than $30 million a year, offers to help detained immigrants by arranging for their bail to be paid by bondsmen. Upon their release,…

Tech News Sidney Fussell Sep 29 '17

The Face Scan of the Future Could Be a Radar Image of Your Beating Heart

Imagine unlocking devices, withdrawing money from an ATM, and even entering your building all without having to prove who you are. Now, imagine a world where everyone from your landlord to your bank and phone carrier know the size and shape of your heart. Using electrocardiography, researchers at the University of Buffalo have developed a…

Privacy & Security Sidney Fussell Sep 28 '17

Houston Woman Dies From ‘Flesh-Eating Bacteria’ Left Behind by Hurricane Harvey

Flood waters are receding in Houston after the historic rainfall from Hurricane Harvey earlier this month. But the water itself was not the only threat. Flooding breached dozens of waste treatment centers, sending a deluge of bacteria throughout the city. The New York Times reports on the victims of the bacterial spread, including an elderly…

Tech News Sidney Fussell Sep 28 '17

Taser Wants to Turn Smartphone Users Into a Citizen Snitch Network [Updated]

On Thursday, The Intercept published a leaked survey in which body camera manufacturer Axon (the company formerly known as Taser) discussed a new software platform permitting citizens to submit their own photo and video evidence to its private cloud storage property, Evidence.com. While the purpose of the survey was reportedly to gather naming ideas from…

Artificial Intelligence Sidney Fussell Sep 22 '17

Knightscope’s Family of Dystopian Robot Guards Just Grew by Two

If you’ve heard of Knightscope’s security robots, it was probably due to their high-profile failures: one would-be Robocop failed to detect a staircase and killed itself by driving into a water fountain, another ran over a toddler’s foot in a shopping mall. On Wednesday, Knightscope announced two new potential fuckups were joining the force: the K1 and the K5…

Tech News Sidney Fussell Sep 20 '17

The Latest Magical Thinking About Trump and the Paris Agreement Is Totally Wrong

Over the weekend, a confusing back-and-forth between the White House and the Wall Street Journal briefly reignited hopes that the US would remain an active participant in the Paris Climate Agreement. Following a climate change conference in Montreal, which the US was not attending in an official capacity, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel…

Climate Change Sidney Fussell Sep 18 '17

Why Do Facebook’s Algorithms Keep Abetting Racism? [Updated]

Call it algorithmic ignorance. Or maybe, algorithmic idiocy. On Thursday, Pro Publica uncovered that Facebook’s ad targeting system, which groups users together based on profile data, offered to sell ads targeting a demographic of Facebook users that self-reported as “Jew Haters.” “Jew Haters” started trending on Twitter when the piece went viral, and by Friday…

Social Media Sidney Fussell Sep 15 '17

E. Coli as High as 135 Times the Safe Limit Discovered in Houston Homes as Residents Return After Harvey

Waste treatment plants across Houston were breached during the heavy rains from Hurricane Harvey. Now, Houston residents are returning home to what remains even after the floodwater recedes: e. Coli, lead, arsenic, and sewage sediment containing dangerous bacteria. According to a report out Tuesday, the New York Times funded lab analysis and sample collection with…

Tech News Sidney Fussell Sep 12 '17

China Wants to Ban Sales and Production of Fossil Fuel-Powered Cars

China announced plans to end sales of all fossil fuel-powered cars. Bloomberg reported over the weekend that Xin Guobin, vice-minister of the Industry and Information Technology Ministry, is finalizing a timetable for ending production and sales of gas-powered cars while stepping up incentives for hybrid and electric cars, though no exact deadline has been announced.…

Climate Change Sidney Fussell Sep 11 '17

EPA Head Scott Pruitt: Discussing Climate Change Right Now Is ‘Insensitive’ to Irma, Harvey Victims

In a bonkers interview with CNN late Thursday, Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt doubled down on the climate censorship that’s become foundational to this administration’s environmental agenda. A longtime denier of man-made climate change, Pruitt told CNN it is “insensitive” to discuss the role climate change may have played in strengthening Hurricane Harvey or…

Climate Change Sidney Fussell Sep 8 '17

Researchers Claim They Can Use Face Recognition to Accurately Identify Someone’s Sexuality

Privacy experts have sounded alarms on face recognition for years. Originally, there were concerns that walking into airports and in public parks meant you were scanned and matched to secret criminal databases. Those fears have since evolved, and now face recognition is a bedrock of predictive technology. Soon, your chances of becoming a terrorist or…

Tech News Sidney Fussell Sep 8 '17

Trump’s EPA Head Is Pushing Out Hundreds of Employees As Houston Faces Unprecedented Environmental Disaster

As unprecedented flooding from Hurricane Harvey sets off a series of environmental disasters in Houston, the Environmental Protection Agency is shedding hundreds of jobs. E&E News reports that roughly 450 employees are poised to leave the EPA as the organization’s lead, Scott Pruitt, pushes for voluntary buyouts, early retirement, and budget cuts. In April, Trump…

Climate Change Sidney Fussell Sep 6 '17

Facebook Claimed It Could Sell Ads to 10 Million More Millennials Than Actually Exist

Citing census data, an equity research analyst claims Facebook is once again inflating one of its key metrics, this time grossly over-reporting its ability to sell ads and effectively inventing millions more young Americans than actually exist. https://gizmodo.com/facebook-admits-to-more-false-metrics-1789039593 Facebook told advertisers that the platform can potentially “reach” 41 million young adults between 18 and 24 in…

Social Media Sidney Fussell Sep 6 '17

Prosecutor Claims Social Media Surveillance of Black Lives Matter Members Wasn’t Surveillance

Six local Black Lives Matter members in Clarkstown, New York have filed a federal suit against the town, its chief of police, police sergeant, and its Special Investigations Unit, accusing them of racial profiling and illegal surveillance that violated their first and 14th amendment rights. In a response to a local news outlet, Rockland County…

Tech News Sidney Fussell Sep 5 '17

Pittsburgh Is Going Green, But Who Is Getting Left Behind?

PITTSBURGH — America’s storied “Steel City” is on the forefront of an energy revolution, transitioning from its long reliance on fossil fuels to renewables and energy efficient homes. In June, Mayor Bill Peduto joined an alliance of over 100 cities committing to solar and wind power. The announcement came only hours after President Trump made…

Climate Change Sidney Fussell Sep 1 '17

Sidney Fussell

China’s Most Popular App Apologizes After Translating ‘Black Foreigner’ as the N-Word

‘Black Data’ Is the Reason Why Smart Policing Is Still Incredibly Biased

Following ‘Faked’ Footage Scandal, Baltimore Moves to Restrict Public Access to Body Cam Footage

Russian Agents Used Google to Interfere in Election: Report

Mattel Cancels AI Speaker for Kids After Lawmakers Demand Answers

The Ankle Monitor Business Accused of Using Fear to Bind Immigrants in Debt

The Face Scan of the Future Could Be a Radar Image of Your Beating Heart

Houston Woman Dies From ‘Flesh-Eating Bacteria’ Left Behind by Hurricane Harvey

Taser Wants to Turn Smartphone Users Into a Citizen Snitch Network [Updated]

Knightscope’s Family of Dystopian Robot Guards Just Grew by Two

The Latest Magical Thinking About Trump and the Paris Agreement Is Totally Wrong

Why Do Facebook’s Algorithms Keep Abetting Racism? [Updated]

E. Coli as High as 135 Times the Safe Limit Discovered in Houston Homes as Residents Return After Harvey

China Wants to Ban Sales and Production of Fossil Fuel-Powered Cars

EPA Head Scott Pruitt: Discussing Climate Change Right Now Is ‘Insensitive’ to Irma, Harvey Victims

Researchers Claim They Can Use Face Recognition to Accurately Identify Someone’s Sexuality

Trump’s EPA Head Is Pushing Out Hundreds of Employees As Houston Faces Unprecedented Environmental Disaster

Facebook Claimed It Could Sell Ads to 10 Million More Millennials Than Actually Exist

Prosecutor Claims Social Media Surveillance of Black Lives Matter Members Wasn’t Surveillance

Pittsburgh Is Going Green, But Who Is Getting Left Behind?

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Reality TV Star-Senate Candidate Claims He Intentionally Got Caught Insider Trading on Kalshi to Make a Point

Tesla Says EV Orders Benefitted From Soaring Gas Prices

The Hardware in Your Pre-2023 Tesla Will Never Allow It to Fully Drive Itself, Elon Musk Admits

Jon Favreau Regrets Trying to Keep Tony Stark Alive During ‘Avengers: Endgame’

Baseus Picogo MagSafe Power Bank Is Restocked at Nearly 50% Off, Ultra-Slim 10,000mAh iPhone Charger for Less

Trump’s New Wildfire Agency Is Betting on a Risky Firefighting Strategy

In the New BMW 7 Series, Even the Windshield Is Part Screen

I Need the ‘Andor’ Season 2 Blu-ray Right Now

DC Goes Full Horror in First Trailer for ‘Clayface’

HP’s EliteBoard Keyboard-Computer Proves We Can Stick a PC in Anything

Sleep-Tracking Earbuds Didn’t Fix Me, but They Did Open My Eyes

I’ve Tested a Lot of Bad Smart Glasses and These Are the Worst Yet

Roborock’s Qrevo Curv 2 Flow Is the Ultimate Robot Mop—If You Don’t Have Corners or Walls

Alienware’s $350 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor Nixes Everything for a Pretty Screen

Sony Inzone H6 Air Review: A Perfect Case for Open-Back Gaming Headsets

Anker’s EufyMake E1 Finally Brings Printers Out of the Dark Ages

The Soundboks Mix Is Going to Make You the Most Popular Guy at the Park

Asus Zenbook A16 Review: Start Considering Snapdragon on PC, for Real

Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 Review: Almost Better than My Ecobee