The Breakdown - The Markup

Illustration of a woman on her laptop, set against a background of a browser window; the image is heavily manipulated to be pixelated in a bitmap style

The BreakdownPixel Hunt

This is how you stop data trackers from sucking up your health data

The Markup and CalMatters found multiple ways consumers can block the trackers quietly sending your data to tech companies, including those used on state-run health exchange websites.

June 17, 2025 08:00 ET

Photo illustration of a person surrounded by graphic elements that include the U.S. Supreme Courthouse, a hand with a gavel, a dilated eye, a search bar, a bottle with pills floating around, a pregnancy test and a diagram of a uterus; a dotted white line with two location pins runs across the composition

The BreakdownPrivacy

How Do I Protect My Privacy If I’m Seeking an Abortion?

A guide to keeping your plans private through every step of an abortion in any state, including Florida and South Dakota

November 14, 2024 08:00 ET

A national alert test displayed on a cellphone.

The Breakdown

How to Sign Up for Local Emergency Alerts Before Natural Disasters Strike

We know early warning systems save lives. Give yourself extra time when disasters come your way

August 30, 2024 08:00 ET

Photo illustration of a masked person holding a phone with their raised arm; the background shows a crowd of masked protesters holding signs

The Breakdown

How Do I Prepare My Phone for a Protest? (Updated 2024)

Simple steps to take before hitting the streets

May 4, 2024 08:00 ET

Digital illustration of a security camera attached to Barbie legs, an old-school phone toy with a face attached to it, and a karaoke machine set against a black background of an eye

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

March 28, 2024 11:01 ET

The BreakdownAutomated Censorship

How Automated Content Moderation Works (Even When It Doesn’t)

Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms moderate billions of posts—here are some of their common techniques

March 1, 2024 08:00 ET

Digital illustration of a phone displaying a privacy policy, with various parts of it highlighted and annotated with numbers. Behind the phone are 6 vignettes that are numbered. The first vignette shows a car with a dashed line pointing to a location symbol. The second vignette shows a series of spheres on a conveyer belt passing through a machine; they end up as cubes. The third vignette is a bunch of browser windows with little fuzzballs interspersed among them. The fourth vignette shows two hands about to shake, and dollar signs are behind them. The fifth vignette shows a room, with eyes peering in the back of the room. The sixth vignette shows a black tentacle creature chasing a blue cursor character.

The BreakdownPrivacy

How to Quickly Get to the Important Truth Inside Any Privacy Policy

An investigative data journalist and a former tech lawyer teach you how to spot tricks and hidden disclosures within these interminable documents—and even how to claw back some privacy

August 3, 2023 08:00 ET