The Breakdown

Can I Opt Out of Facial Scans at the Airport?

Technically, yes, but it is not always easy

Google the Giant

Swinging the Vote?

Google’s black box algorithm controls which political emails land in your main inbox. For 2020 presidential candidates, the differences are stark.

Show Your WorkGoogle the Giant

How We Examined Gmail's Treatment of Political Emails

We conducted an experiment with a new email address to try to figure out how Gmail's sorting algorithm worked without user input

The Breakdown

Who Am I Buying from When I Shop Online?

America’s biggest stores are becoming third-party marketplaces

The Breakdown

I Bought a DNA Testing Kit. What Am I Giving Away?

Oh, the places your DNA will go!

A Letter from the President

We put your privacy first

Show Your WorkAllstate’s Algorithm

How We Analyzed Allstate’s Car Insurance Algorithm 

By parsing a rare document containing fine details of the company’s auto insurance pricing, we found stark differences in how high proposed price hikes were allowed to rise

Allstate’s Algorithm

Suckers List: How Allstate's Secret Auto Insurance Algorithm Squeezes Big Spenders

Insurers are supposed to price based on risk, but Allstate’s algorithm put a thumb on the scale