Examining How Modern Technology Impacts Real People
An article from The Guardian, titled “US authorities reportedly investigate claims that Meta can read encrypted WhatsApp messages”, reveals that US authorities are looking into allegations that Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, may be able to access users’ encrypted messages. The report stems from a lawsuit claiming Meta can access “virtually all” private communications … Read more
In a recent article titled Bombshell report exposes how Meta relied on scam ad profits to fund AI by Ars Technica, it has come to light through internal documents that Meta has profited significantly from scam advertisements to fuel its artificial intelligence initiatives. The report details how Meta’s ad systems targeted users most likely to … Read more
The ProPublica article “Trump DOT Plans to Use Google Gemini AI to Write Regulations” reveals that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) intends to use Google’s AI, Gemini, to draft federal transportation regulations. The plan, advanced by the current administration, emphasizes speed over precision, raising concerns about outsourcing critical safety standards to technology known for … Read more
After the study from China about screen addiction, it’s India’s turn. India’s Economic Survey 2025–26 has flagged a troubling trio of public health crises: rising obesity, mental health decline, and digital addiction, all fueled by rapid urbanization, processed food consumption, and near-universal smartphone access. The report warns these trends are eroding productivity, straining healthcare systems, … Read more
A new study published in Psychology Research and Behavior Management, Parent-Adolescent Mobile Phone Addiction and Mental Health: Actor-Partner Effects in 4,633 Chinese Dyads, examines how mobile phone addiction in parents and adolescents influences depression and anxiety within families. The research, based on a large sample of 4,633 parent-child pairs in China, found that excessive phone … Read more
TikTok settles youth addiction lawsuit as trial against Meta and YouTube begins A landmark lawsuit accusing social media giants of deliberately designing addictive platforms that harm children’s mental health has taken a turn, with TikTok settling just as jury selection began in a California trial against Meta and YouTube. The case, brought by a 19-year-old … Read more
In “Giving your healthcare info to a chatbot is, unsurprisingly, a terrible idea”, The Verge reports that OpenAI says more than 230 million people ask ChatGPT for health and wellness advice weekly and highlights the launch of a consumer feature, ChatGPT Health, that encourages users to share sensitive data like diagnoses, medications, and lab results … Read more
A New York Times article reports on a lawsuit by job seekers alleging that Eightfold AI’s résumé-screening and applicant-scoring system should be regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), similar to credit bureaus. The case argues applicants deserve disclosure of what data is collected and how rankings are produced, plus a way to dispute … Read more