Dear friends,
It’s been nearly four months since Editor-in-Chief Sisi Wei joined us at The Markup, and the reporting out of her newsroom has made a big impact in a short time.
In October, we published an incredible investigative package detailing internet service pricing disparities that disproportionately affect non-White communities (including our first-ever story recipe to show others how to replicate or localize our work; to date, eight local outfits including Outlier and Sahan Journal have published their own original reporting based on this investigation).
Last month, we found that tax filing websites like H&R Block and TaxAct have been sending people’s confidential financial information to Facebook via the Meta Pixel. Some companies immediately removed or reduced use of the Pixel. But lawmakers still want to know more, and a class action lawsuit is now pending.
Just this week, we revealed that direct-to-consumer telehealth companies were leaking the ultra-personal medical information they collect to advertisers like Facebook, Google, and Twitter. Paired with our earlier reporting on sensitive data being leaked to Meta, we are having a major impact in the healthcare data space (and the Department of Health and Human Services agrees).
When you’re using technology that’s supposed to make your life easier, other tech that puts you at risk is along for the ride. And we’re here to tell you what you can do about it.
As the end of the year rapidly approaches, we’re primed to drive even more change in 2023, made possible by your continuing support. Stick around to see what’s next!
With gratitude,
Lauren Spirig
Director of Development