OkCupid settles claims it shared user photos with a facial recognition company
OkCupid settles claims it shared user photos with a facial recognition company Dating app OkCupid agreed to settle claims from the Federal Trade Commission that it deceived millions of users by sharing their photos with a third-party facial recognition company without their consent. OkCupid and parent company Match Group did not admit wrongdoing as part […]
Online age checks came first — a VPN crackdown could be next
Online age checks came first — a VPN crackdown could be next This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about online age verification and your privacy, follow Emma Roth. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The […]
The FBI is buying Americans’ location data
The FBI is buying Americans' location data WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 18: Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats in the Hart Senate Office Building on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. A closed session immediately followed the hearing. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) | […]
Instagram is getting rid of end-to-end encrypted DMs that ‘very few’ people used
Instagram is getting rid of end-to-end encrypted DMs that 'very few' people used Instagram will no longer support end-to-end encrypted messages starting May 8th. In a statement to The Verge, Meta spokesperson Dina El-Kassaby Luce says the platform is discontinuing the feature because “very few people” were using E2EE in their DMs. Instagram has begun […]
Anthropic doesn’t trust the Pentagon, and neither should you
Anthropic doesn't trust the Pentagon, and neither should you Today we’re talking about the messy, fast-moving situation at Anthropic, the maker of Claude that now finds itself in a very ugly legal battle with the Pentagon. The back-and-forth is complicated, but as of a few days ago, the Pentagon had deemed Anthropic a supply chain […]
Lawmakers just advanced online safety laws that require age verification at the app store
Lawmakers just advanced online safety laws that require age verification at the app store A package of child safety bills is headed to the House floor following an hours-long session that left Democrats and Republicans divided. On Thursday, lawmakers on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce voted to advance the Kids Internet and Digital Safety […]
Meta’s AI glasses reportedly send sensitive footage to human reviewers in Kenya
Meta's AI glasses reportedly send sensitive footage to human reviewers in Kenya Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses could be sending sensitive footage to human reviewers in Nairobi, Kenya, according to an investigation by the Swedish outlets Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten. The report, which was published last week, claims Meta contractors in Kenya have seen videos captured […]
AI tools can unmask anonymous accounts
AI tools can unmask anonymous accounts Do you have a Reddit alt, secret X, finsta, or Glassdoor account you trash your boss with? AI might have just made it a lot easier to unmask you. That’s the conclusion of a recently published study, which hints at some uncomfortable consequences for staying private online – even […]
Let me see some ID: age verification is spreading across the internet
Let me see some ID: age verification is spreading across the internet Age verification is a reality on a growing number of social media platforms, requiring an ID or facial scan for full access to everything from YouTube to Roblox. The age-gating wave is coming along with calls for stronger child safety measures online, despite […]
Discord is delaying its global age verification rollout
Discord is delaying its global age verification rollout Discord won’t roll out age verification globally on its platform next month as previously announced, and says in a blog post that it’s delaying the launch until the second half of 2026. “The way this landed, many of you walked away thinking we’re requiring face scans and […]