Intensified Israeli Surveillance Has Put the West Bank on Lockdown

The West Bank was Israel’s surveillance laboratory. Since the Israel-Hamas war began, Palestinian residents have been locked in for days at a time.

US House Republicans Had Their Phones Confiscated to Stop Leaks

In an attempt to wrest control from raucous far-right hardliners amid the fight for a new House speaker, Republican Party leaders are instituting phone bans to keep backroom deals secret.

White Supremacist Active Clubs Are Breeding on Telegram

A “friendlier” front for racist extremism has spread rapidly across the US in recent months, as active club channels network on Telegram's encrypted messaging app.

Risk of a US Government Shutdown Is Fueled by Very Online Republicans

Egged on by a far-reaching conservative media ecosystem, right-wing hardliners are forcing Washington to bend to their reality as the federal government careens toward a possible shutdown.

Donald Trump's Mug Shot Matters in a World of Fakes

The first booking photo of a US president stands out among a sea of photoshops and AI-generated images online.

Trump’s Prosecution Is America’s Last Hope

Social norms—not laws—are the underlying fabric of democracy. The Georgia indictment against Donald Trump is the last tool remaining to repair that which he’s torn apart.

The Most Popular Digital Abortion Clinics, Ranked by Data Privacy

Telehealth companies that provide abortion pills are surging in popularity. Which are as safe as they claim to be?

How X Is Suing Its Way Out of Accountability

The social media giant filed a lawsuit against a nonprofit that researches hate speech online. It’s the latest effort to cut off the data needed to expose online platforms’ failings.

The Senate’s AI Future Is Haunted by the Ghost of Privacy Past

The US Congress is trying to tame the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. But senators’ failure to tackle privacy reform is making the task a nightmare.

How AI May Be Used to Create Custom Disinformation Ahead of 2024

Generative AI won't just flood the internet with more lies—it may also create convincing disinformation that's targeted at groups or even individuals.

UFO Whistleblower, Meet a Conspiracy-Loving Congress

Fresh claims from a former US intelligence officer about an “intact” alien craft may get traction on Capitol Hill, where some lawmakers want to believe.

Inside 4chan’s Top-Secret Moderation Machine

Internal company documents reveal how the imageboard’s chaotic moderation allowed racism and violence to take over.

Doctors Behind Mifepristone Ban Called ‘Christians’ a Top Threat

Leaked documents reveal that the American College of Pediatricians viewed “mainstream medicine” and “nominal Christians” as its opposition.

American College of Pediatricians Leak Exposes 10,000 Confidential Files

A Google Drive left public on the American College of Pediatricians’ website exposed detailed financial records, sensitive member details, and more.

Brace Yourself for the 2024 Deepfake Election

No matter what happens with generative AI, its disruptive forces are already beginning to play a role in the fast-approaching US presidential race.

A US Bill Would Ban Kids Under 13 From Joining Social Media

The legislation would insert the government into online platforms’ age-verification efforts—a move that makes some US lawmakers queasy.

Trump’s Indictment Marks a Historic Reckoning

A Manhattan grand jury has issued the first-ever indictment of a former US president. Buckle up for whatever happens next.

How Good Smile, a Major Toy Company, Kept 4chan Online

Documents obtained by WIRED confirm that Good Smile, which licenses toy production for Disney, was an investor in the controversial image board.

The Uniquely American Future of US Authoritarianism

The GOP-fueled far right differs from similar movements around the globe, thanks to the country’s politics, electoral system, and changing demographics.

The TikTok Hearing Revealed That Congress Is the Problem

The interrogation of CEO Shou Zi Chew highlighted US lawmakers’ own failure to pass privacy legislation.

TikTok Paid for Influencers to Attend the Pro-TikTok Rally in DC

The embattled social media company brought out the checkbook to ensure at least 30 of its biggest assets—creators—were in DC to help fend off critics.

The TikTok CEO’s Face-Off With Congress Is Doomed

On Thursday, Shou Zi Chew will meet a rare united front in the US Congress against the Chinese-owned social media app that has lawmakers in a tizzy.

How You Can Tell the AI Images of Trump’s Arrest Are Deepfakes

Doctored images of the former US president went viral on Twitter. These are the telltale signs that they aren’t what they seem.

The Push to Ban TikTok in the US Isn’t About Privacy

Lawmakers are increasingly hellbent on punishing the popular social network while efforts to pass a broader privacy law have dwindled.

The Political Theater Behind the State of the Union Data Privacy Push

Biden’s speech calling for better data protections got a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle. So, where’s a federal privacy law?

How the US Can Stop Data Brokers' Worst Practices—Right Now

Legal experts say a key law should already prevent brokers from collecting and selling data that’s weaponized against vulnerable people.

Congress Has a Lo-Fi Plan to Fix the Classified Documents Mess

As unsecured docs pile up, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is itching to overhaul the nation’s secret secret-sharing operation.

The Small but Mighty Danger of Echo Chamber Extremism

Research shows that relatively few people exist in perfectly sealed-off media bubbles—but they’re still having an outsize impact on US politics.

Why the US Is Primed for Radicalization

A confluence of factors is leading people in the nation to gravitate toward extremist views.

Inside the ‘Election Integrity App’ Built to Purge US Voter Rolls

True the Vote’s IV3 app is meant to catch election cheaters. But it has a fundamental flaw.

The Secret Ballot Is US Democracy’s Last Line of Defense

Voter intimidation has cropped up in places across the nation, but the voting booth remains the one place where nobody can get to you.

When Your Neighbor Turns You In

Authoritarian societies depend on people ratting each other out for activities that were recently legal—and it's already happening in the US.

The Quiet Insurrection the January 6 Committee Missed

A former congressman who helped the House select committee investigate the Capitol attack says the US is losing sight of the big picture.

The $1 Billion Alex Jones Effect

The Infowars host now knows the cost of “free speech”—but does the landmark judgment signal a crackdown on disinformation?

How to Protect Yourself If Your School Uses Surveillance Tech

Colleges and K-12 campuses increasingly monitor student emails, social media, and more. Here’s how to secure your (or your child’s) privacy.

The Twitter Whistleblower’s Testimony Has Senators Out for Blood

Peiter “Mudge” Zatko’s allegations about the social media platform renewed a sense of urgency for lawmakers to rein in Big Tech.

How Whistleblowers Navigate a Security Minefield

Exposing wrongdoing is risky on the best of days. Whistleblower Aid cofounder John Tye explains the extensive steps needed to keep people safe.

Big Takeaways From the FBI's Mar-a-Lago Raid

The fact that a search of Donald Trump's Florida home was even necessary says a lot.

Don’t Call the New Federal Gun Law a Gun Law

Democratic senators lacked actionable gun data for their negotiations—so they passed mental health reform instead.

Interstate Travel Post-Roe Isn’t as Secure as You May Think

Despite the DOJ vowing to protect people's ability to travel out of state for abortion care, legal experts warn not to take that freedom for granted.

The 2022 US Midterm Elections' Top Security Issue: Death Threats

While cybersecurity and foreign meddling remain priorities, domestic threats against election workers have risen to the top of the list.