The NYC Algorithm Deciding Which Families Are Under Watch for Child Abuse
How a family’s neighborhood, age, and mental health might get their case a deeper look
Colin Lecher
Investigative Reporter
Colin Lecher is a reporter based in New York. His work on technology and society has received honors from the Association of Health Care Journalists, the Deadline Club, the Radio Television Digital News Association, and more.
Before joining The Markup, he was a senior reporter with The Verge. There, he reported on issues like automated cuts to healthcare, access to phone services in prisons, and the online gun market.
Impact
After Markup investigation, LinkedIn and Google face lawsuit alleging improper access to health data
The suit accuses the companies of receiving personal information through California’s state health insurance exchange.
Pixel Hunt
How California sent residents’ personal health data to LinkedIn
The state’s health insurance exchange transmitted pregnancy and domestic abuse data during a marketing campaign. It is reviewing its website practices.
How Meta Brings in Millions Off Political Violence
CalMatters and The Markup used Facebook’s AI model to count the millions of dollars it makes after violent news events
Pixel Hunt
Department of Education Sued Following Markup Investigation Into FAFSA Data Shared with Facebook
Advocates want answers after The Markup found the department sharing student data with Meta
Pixel Hunt
Mortgage Brokers Sent People’s Estimated Credit, Address, and Veteran Status to Facebook
More than 200 national and regional lenders share sensitive user data with Facebook. Experts say it might be illegal
Hello World
This Journalism Professor Made a NYC Chatbot in Minutes. It Actually Worked
Jonathan Soma on the power and pitfalls of AI and chatbots
News
Malfunctioning NYC AI Chatbot Still Active Despite Widespread Evidence It’s Encouraging Illegal Behavior
Mayor Eric Adams said the city is working to fix the problems, and the site now advises visitors to “not use its responses as legal or professional advice”
News
NYC’s AI Chatbot Tells Businesses to Break the Law
The Microsoft-powered bot says bosses can take workers’ tips and that landlords can discriminate based on source of income
The BreakdownPrivacy
We Tested Kids’ Smart Toys for Privacy. Here’s How You Can, Too
All you need: your computer or smartphone, some free tools, and your child’s internet- or Bluetooth-connected toy
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