Working for an Algorithm
Uber And Lyft Drivers Are Being Carjacked at Alarming Rates
The Markup confirmed 124 carjackings and attempted carjackings of ride-hail drivers across the country. Drivers say the companies are doing little to help
Maddy Varner
Investigative Data Journalist
Maddy Varner was an investigative data journalist for The Markup. She left in May 2023.
Maddy extracts datasets from public documents and databases to help build a more concrete understanding of how organizations use technology to predict and affect behavior—and the problems in those assumptions.
Before The Markup, she was a researcher at ProPublica, where she was on a team that won a Loeb Award for Beat Reporting in 2017 for “Monetizing Hate,” a series of stories that examined Facebook’s ad practices.
The Breakdown
Are “Buy Now, Pay Later” Retail Loans a Rip-off?
Companies like Afterpay and Klarna make money when you overspend, but not in the way you think
News
Uber and Lyft Donated to Community Groups Who Then Pushed the Companies’ Agenda
The ride-hail giants are orchestrating a complex PR scheme to sway public opinion to ensure drivers aren’t classified as employees
Machine Learning
NYC’s School Algorithms Cement Segregation. This Data Shows How
New numbers show how many students are locked out by the system
Show Your Work
How We Investigated NYC High School Admissions
New York City schools’ extensive use of screens to choose students is cementing segregation
Privacy
The Little-Known Data Broker Industry Is Spending Big Bucks Lobbying Congress
Data brokers’ millions of dollars in lobbying spending in 2020 rivaled that of some Big Tech firms
News
For Sale on Etsy: Greeting Cards and … Gun Parts?
The Markup found several vendors selling high-capacity ammunition magazines and firearm accessories on Etsy
Google the Giant
Introducing Simple Search
A new browser extension from The Markup
Coronavirus
Remote Learning During the Pandemic Has Hit Vulnerable Students the Hardest
Data on more than 800 schools shows big disparities in Florida
The Breakdown
¿Cómo puedo preparar mi teléfono para una protesta?
Simples pasos a considerar antes de una protesta
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