The Breakdown
How Accurate Is Your Commercial Fitness Tracker?
If you have darker skin, shuffle when you walk, or regularly push a stroller, it can throw off the data
All Articles
The BreakdownCoronavirus
Why Can’t More Families Use SNAP Benefits for Online Orders?
Technology hurdles for states and smaller retailers mean that some recipients can't shelter in place
The BreakdownCoronavirus
Is the U.S. Government’s Lifeline Service Really a Lifeline?
Poorly marketed and under-resourced, it’s not always serving the poor
The BreakdownCoronavirus
Why Is It So Hard for Gig Workers to Get Unemployment Benefits?
Their status as “employees” remains unsettled, leading to confusion between state and federal benefits
Coronavirus
How Unemployment Systems Are Failing Workers Around the Nation
Long wait times, passwords sent by mail, and shutdowns thwart applicants
Allstate’s Algorithm
Texas Drivers Sue Allstate over Secret “Suckers List"
A joint investigation by The Markup and Consumer Reports was cited in a lawsuit over discriminatory car insurance rates
Coronavirus
States Are Suspending Public Records Access Due to COVID-19
There is little precedent for such action, even in an emergency
The BreakdownCoronavirus
Why Am I Paying $60 for That Bag of Rice on Amazon.com?
Dynamic pricing algorithms on Amazon aren’t just about supply and demand
Coronavirus
Want to Find a Misinformed Public? Facebook's Already Done It
While vowing to police COVID-19 misinformation on its platform, Facebook let advertisers target users interested in “pseudoscience”
Coronavirus
Blind Users Struggle with State Coronavirus Websites
A Markup survey finds that many state webpages have serious accessibility issues
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