The Markup

NEW: State healthcare sites around the country have been quietly sending sensitive user data to Google and LinkedIn. themarkup.org/pixel-hunt/2...

California is leading on kids’ data privacy in the U.S. but still lags internationally.

We’ve updated The Markup’s privacy tool to help you understand how sites are tracking you through TikTok and X pixels.

A legislative battle is under way over gaps that allow companies to collect and sell students’ personal information.

A congressional investigation estimates broker breaches have cost consumers $20 billion in identity theft. Major brokers now promise to make it easier to opt out of their databases.

Southern California residents are noticing new license plate readers that appear to be operated by the Border Patrol. Some have had confusing encounters with agents.

Community colleges are spending millions on AI-powered chatbots that students say often give inaccurate answers. Many might see upgrades this year.

The Lincoln Media Foundation has spent big to push ‘local’ conservative messaging

Tech companies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft are ignoring data controls mandated under California law, researchers say.

Dark patterns force patients to share their data with big healthcare networks, even when the privacy form they’re signing explicitly says they can opt-out.

Call center nurses at Kaiser Permanente said workplace surveillance tools and AI prioritize speed and cost savings over quality and safety.

The Markup and CalMatters showed how website code could make it harder for Californians to exercise their right to remove personal data. Now much of that code has disappeared.

An analysis of defense contracts charts the rise of defense spending — often in heavily Democratic districts

Even when patients are told they can opt out, medical providers often don’t give patients instructions on how. For patients who are interested in opting out, here are my best tips on how to start.

My journey included a notary, a hospital that won’t honor its own policies and employees that gave me wrong information.

Data brokers collect thousands of details about your finances, health and habits. See what’s in your profile, who buys it and how companies use it.

Doctoralia said it was removing trackers that communicated with social media companies out of an abundance of caution

Consumers asked a major data broker for their files. What they got back shows interest in how fat they are, how much they drink, and how likely they are to get a mammogram, among many other characteristics.

Even when patients are told they can opt out, medical providers often don’t give patients instructions on how. For patients who are interested in opting out, here are my best tips on how to start.

My journey included a notary, a hospital that won’t honor its own policies and employees that gave me wrong information.

Doctoralia sent information about specialists and appointment dates to social media companies.

Doctoralia said it was removing trackers that communicated with social media companies out of an abundance of caution

Mental health providers are increasingly using AI technology to record conversations, raising privacy concerns among patients and practitioners.

Even when patients are told they can opt out, medical providers often don’t give patients instructions on how. For patients who are interested in opting out, here are my best tips on how to start.

Every day, doctor’s offices across the country tell patients that if they want to see the doctor, they must allow their health data to be accessible by tens of thousands of hospitals and clinics. bit.ly/4yKBXcy 🎨 Gabriel Hongsdusit

A new state tool lets you tell data brokers to stop tracking you. Will they comply? Help us investigate.

The world’s largest health appointments platform, Doctoralia, removed web trackers sending personal information to tech companies following an investigation by The Markup and Brazil’s Agência Pública. bit.ly/3WpUSuN

A conversation with political scientist Thessalia Merivaki

The California Courier likes to run Facebook ads against Democrats. Its funding, and most of its writers, are a mystery.

None of the videos produced by the leading AI platforms showed the actual dances we requested.

California is leading on kids’ data privacy in the U.S. but still lags internationally.

Dancers say their craft can’t be duplicated by AI. Our tests show they’re right — for now.

A conversation with political scientist Thessalia Merivaki

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.

A conversation with political scientist Thessalia Merivaki

AI-written applications, an impersonator and a recruiter scam followed just one remote job posting.

Lawsuits in California federal and state court are unearthing documents embarrassing to tech companies — and may be a tipping point into federal regulation.

We’ve updated The Markup’s privacy tool to help you understand how sites are tracking you through TikTok and X pixels.

Dark patterns force patients to share their data with big healthcare networks, even when the privacy form they’re signing explicitly says they can opt-out.

Call center nurses at Kaiser Permanente said workplace surveillance tools and AI prioritize speed and cost savings over quality and safety.

A legislative battle is under way over gaps that allow companies to collect and sell students’ personal information.

A congressional investigation estimates broker breaches have cost consumers $20 billion in identity theft. Major brokers now promise to make it easier to opt out of their databases.

Southern California residents are noticing new license plate readers that appear to be operated by the Border Patrol. Some have had confusing encounters with agents.

Community colleges are spending millions on AI-powered chatbots that students say often give inaccurate answers. Many might see upgrades this year.

The Markup and CalMatters showed how website code could make it harder for Californians to exercise their right to remove personal data. Now much of that code has disappeared.

An analysis of defense contracts charts the rise of defense spending — often in heavily Democratic districts

Consumers asked a major data broker for their files. What they got back shows interest in how fat they are, how much they drink, and how likely they are to get a mammogram, among many other characteristics.

Data brokers collect thousands of details about your finances, health and habits. See what’s in your profile, who buys it and how companies use it.

The Lincoln Media Foundation has spent big to push ‘local’ conservative messaging

Tech companies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft are ignoring data controls mandated under California law, researchers say.

Doctoralia sent information about specialists and appointment dates to social media companies.