Freedom

A Record Number of Environmentalists Were Murdered in 2019

These are dangerous times to be an environmental defender. In 2019, a record number of environmental advocates were murdered. Every year, Global Witness, a human rights watchdog, releases a report detailing the number of murders against environmental advocates around the world. Every year, the numbers go up. This year’s report chronicling 2019 is unfortunately no…

Earther Yessenia Funes

China’s Biggest Propaganda Agency Buys Ads on Facebook and Twitter to Smear Protesters in Hong Kong

China’s largest state-run news agency, Xinhua News, is buying ads on Facebook and Twitter to smear protesters in Hong Kong, a new tactic being used to influence how the rest of the world perceives the pro-democracy demonstrators. An estimated 1.7 million people in Hong Kong, roughly a quarter of its population, took to the streets…

Social Media Matt Novak

I Rode an E-Scooter as Far From Civilization as Its Batteries Could Take Me

Almost as suddenly as the electric rent-a-scooters appeared, everyone had an opinion about them. They began clogging sidewalks across the Bay Area in late 2017 ($1 to start!) as brands with four-letter names like Bird and Lime fought for dominance in the latest vampiric startup scheme. Folks were excited to share their takes, even if…

Tech News Joe Veix

Obama Took a Tiny Step Towards Reform By Signing the USA Freedom Act

After a tense battle over renewing key provisions of the Patriot Act, the US Senatepassed the USA Freedom Act, a bill meant to limit the government’s surveillance apparatus. President Obama signed the bill last night. The USA Freedom Act renews Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which has been used (under dubious legal circumstance) to…

Tech News Kate Knibbs

The US House Just Voted to Stop the NSA’s Bulk Data Collection

As key provisions of the Patriot Act are about to expire in June, Congress is in a big hurry to figure out how to reform surveillance. The House just overwhelmingly voted in favor of the USA Freedom Act, a bill that’ll limit the NSA’s bulk data collection. Unfortunately, it may not be able to fix…

Privacy & Security Kate Knibbs

iTunes Is Also Streaming The Interview Starting Today

According to Re/code, Apple just released The Interview on iTunes in the U.S. and Canada today at 1pm EST. Like other services which started streaming the controversial film on Christmas Eve, iTunes will also let you rent ($5.99) or buy ($14.99) the film. During Sony’s early talks to get would-be streaming services on board, the…

Tech News Darren Orf

Uncle Sam was (probably) a real dude

As the physical embodiment of all things American, Uncle Sam has been used to represent the likes of freedom, Big Brother, consumerism, fetus-snatching, and everything in between. But just over 200 years ago, this anthropomorphized flag of a man was an actual, living human being—and a too-weak-to-enlist one, at that. When Samuel Wilson (born 1766)…

Tech News Ashley Feinberg

You’re now free to use your phone during all your flight, says FAA

Once all airlines are certified by the end of the year there will be no more annoying flight attendants asking you to turn off your phone, tablet, computers or game console at take off or landing. It’s official: The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the usage of all electronics for…

Sploid Jesus Diaz

A Map of Internet Freedom Around the World

Here in the US, it’s easy to slip into the comfortable idea that the internet is unrestricted, a home for free speech and exploration, whether it’s meaningful and important, or dumb hashtags. It’s not that way everywhere though, and Freedom House has mapped out the current state of affairs across the globe. Freedom House’s Global…

Tech News Eric Limer

Miss Alabama Approves of Illegal NSA Spying On All American Citizens

Listen to Miss Alabama (second-place Miss USA!) share her expertise on American Freedoms and why they needed to be erased with wholesale surveillance of phone calls and texts, so that she can feel more safe when going “to the movies” or “to the mall,” in Alabama. Donald Trump’s tacky annual television show always supplies plenty…

Sploid Ken Layne

A Year After SOPA: These Are the Next Five Battles For Internet Freedom

One year ago today, Internet users of all ages, races, and political stripes participated in the largest protest in Internet history, flooding Congress with millions of emails and phone calls to demand they drop the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)-a dangerous bill that would have allowed corporations and the govenrment to censor larger parts of…

Privacy & Security Trevor Timm - EFF

How China’s Web Censorship Is Driving Traffic to a Miami Pet Spa Website

China’s well-known for its long and illustrious history of censoring the web. But rather than just blocking sites, it’s now employing some rather strange techniques—which means the online home of a small pet spa in Miami is receiving an insane number of hits every day. New Scientist has taken a peek inside the sinister world…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

Sergey Brin: Web Freedom Faces Its Greatest Threat Ever

Over the past three decades, the internet has changed—and if you’re to believe Sergey Brin, the principles of openness and universal access that underpinned it at its conception are under the greatest threat they’ve ever faced. In an interview with the Guardian, Brin has spoken out about his concern for the future of the web.…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

Jonathan Franzen: More authors should pay attention to the questions science fiction raises

“To be honest, I’m thinking much more about science than about religion when I’m writing. To me, art itself is a religion and the challenge to it is not religion, it’s the hardcore materialism of science. So I spend quite a bit of time trying to make sense of how I seem to have a…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

Reddit is Having a Blackout on 18 January in Protest Against SOPA

The web’s been grumbling and muttering about SOPA for a while now, but we’ve not really seen any big gestures made. That’s changing: Reddit admins have announced a blackout to protest against the act. On 18 January, visitors to Reddit’s usual wonderfully chaotic home page will instead be greeted by “a simple message about how…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

Cook Anywhere You Please on This New Induction Range

Be it gas, electric, or induction, ranges have held onto a vestigial limb—a finite, unmovable set of areas to do the actual cooking. This new induction cooktop from Thermador, however, is smart enough to heat anywhere there’s a pot. The new Freedom cooktop bills itself as the first induction appliance whose entire surface acts as…

Tech News Andrew Tarantola

Is Iran Going To Dump the Web and Launch Its Own National Internet?

Iran isn’t a nation known for its liberal outlook on life. So maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the country may soon pull out of the Internet and launch its own national network instead. The Guardian reports that Iran has been running a series of proof-of-concept tests for a national internet. The country-wide…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

Is Obsolete Tech an Inalienable Right?

Today’s superfluous political grappling comes via Texas, where Republican rep Joe Barton’s incensed by legislation mandating efficient incandescent lightbulbs. Rather, he and his backers claim, Americans should be able to screw-in whatever they damn please. Is old tech really a liberty? Although the bulb battle isn’t a strictly partisan one, the AP reports, (the original…

Tech News Sam Biddle

This Suitcase Is Packed Full of Wireless Regime Change

Using Facebook or Twitter to overthrow an oppressive government is one thing, but to see true effectiveness one should probably deploy the case of goodies seen above. Unofficially called an “Internet in a suitcase,” the kit is just one of the many tools currently being employed by the Obama Administration to craft “shadow” networks in…

Tech News Jack Loftus

Department of Justice Subpoenas Twitter Records of WikiLeaks Volunteers

The Department of Justice has subpoenaed many people’s Twitter accounts who were associated with WikiLeaks. The subpoena states that there is “reasonable ground to believe that the records or other information sought are relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation.” The users who were subpoenaed are Birgitta Jónsdóttir (a member of the Parliament in…

Tech News Casey Chan

Freedom

A Record Number of Environmentalists Were Murdered in 2019

China’s Biggest Propaganda Agency Buys Ads on Facebook and Twitter to Smear Protesters in Hong Kong

I Rode an E-Scooter as Far From Civilization as Its Batteries Could Take Me

Obama Took a Tiny Step Towards Reform By Signing the USA Freedom Act

The US House Just Voted to Stop the NSA’s Bulk Data Collection

iTunes Is Also Streaming The Interview Starting Today

Uncle Sam was (probably) a real dude

You’re now free to use your phone during all your flight, says FAA

A Map of Internet Freedom Around the World

Miss Alabama Approves of Illegal NSA Spying On All American Citizens

A Year After SOPA: These Are the Next Five Battles For Internet Freedom

How China’s Web Censorship Is Driving Traffic to a Miami Pet Spa Website

Sergey Brin: Web Freedom Faces Its Greatest Threat Ever

Jonathan Franzen: More authors should pay attention to the questions science fiction raises

Reddit is Having a Blackout on 18 January in Protest Against SOPA

Cook Anywhere You Please on This New Induction Range

Is Iran Going To Dump the Web and Launch Its Own National Internet?

Is Obsolete Tech an Inalienable Right?

This Suitcase Is Packed Full of Wireless Regime Change

Department of Justice Subpoenas Twitter Records of WikiLeaks Volunteers

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia Adds ‘Succulent Chinese Meal’ Guy

Feds Sniffing Around Polymarket After Suspicious Bets

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Don’t Get Too Attached to Any AI App

‘Paradise’ Writer Teases What’s Coming in Season 3 After That Huge Twist

Trump’s New White House App Is Mildly Concerning and Weird for a Lot of Reasons

Bloodsucking Ticks Can Survive Inside Your Home Longer Than You Might Think

The Best New Toys of March 2026

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

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