The Markup - All Articles

An illustration shows a person using a laptop in front of a blurred California privacy website, with yellow pixel-like blocks scattered across the image to suggest digital data. The stylized artwork uses a limited color palette and visual elements that evoke online privacy and information security.

Hello World

Californians can protect their personal data with one click. Help us test if it works

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

June 30, 2026 8:00 a.m. UTC

An illustrated composite image shows two people in conversation, one taking notes while the other appears distressed. Audio waveforms, a microphone icon and the word “REC” are layered over the scene, suggesting a recorded or transcribed discussion.

Privacy

Your medical provider might be recording your mental health care visits

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

June 16, 2026 8:00 a.m. UTC

Illustration of Alice from Alice in Wonderland, dressed in a patient gown, falling down a rabbit hole surrounded by buttons that say “I accept” and privacy policies

Privacy

The form asked my permission to share my health data. Then it wouldn’t let me say no.

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.

May 27, 2026 8:00 a.m. UTC

A woman wearing glasses speaks into a microphone during a congressional hearing while holding a blue pen in one hand. A nameplate reading “MS. HASSAN” sits in front of her as other attendees appear out of focus in the background.

Privacy

It’s easier for Californians to escape data brokers following a Markup investigation

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.

May 22, 2026 8:00 a.m. UTC

Privacy

Websites break California privacy law at ‘industrial scale,’ survey finds

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

April 21, 2026 8:00 a.m. UTC

A close-up view of a person holding a white cell phone with both their hands. A ray of light softly illuminates the person's left hand.

News

Background checks to curb dating app violence advance in California legislature

Bill addresses an issue investigated by The Markup last year.

April 17, 2026 2:00 p.m. UTC

Inside The Markup

The Markup wins SABEW Award for Best in Business Journalism

The 18-month-long investigation about how Tinder, Hinge, and their corporate owner kept rape under wraps won in the technology reporting category.

March 30, 2026 8:00 a.m. UTC

A close view shows a person using a laptop displaying a news website with a headline and photo on the screen. Another laptop sits nearby on the desk, and the scene is set in a modern office environment with glass walls and overhead lighting.

Election 2026

It was John Wayne’s political club. Now it’s spending millions on online influence

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

March 9, 2026 8:30 a.m. UTC

An illustration in green, red, blue and yellow tones that shows a desktop computer screen with an open window tab that resembles a Pokemon battle scene. At one end of the screen is a pixelated student and at the other is a wolf that represents a chatbot. The illustration includes a bubble text that reads "where can students get free food on campus?" alongside other bubbles of text with red exclamation points.

Machine Learning

California colleges spend millions on faulty AI systems: 'The chatbot is outdated’

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

March 7, 2026 8:00 a.m. UTC

A roadside device mounted on a small trailer sits on the shoulder beside a two-lane road as a blurred van drives past, with utility poles, trees, and rocky hills in the background under a clear sky.

Privacy

He saw an abandoned trailer. Then, he uncovered a surveillance network on California's border

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.

March 6, 2026 8:00 a.m. UTC