This is a bilingual website
At Wide Look, we believe that privacy is a fundamental pillar of a free and democratic society. Without it, open discussion, meaningful dissent, and genuine press freedom cannot exist. However, across the globe, journalists face increasing threats. Empowered governments are employing surveillance, censorship, and legal intimidation to silence independent journalism. Despite the growing danger, many reporters remain unequipped and unaware of how to protect themselves. Few fully understand the digital risks of not using VPNs, encrypted messaging, or strong, secure passwords.
Requests for user data by major tech companies are escalating rapidly. In the past ten years, Apple, Google, and Meta have collectively provided U.S. law enforcement with information on over 3.1 million user accounts. Google’s disclosures rose by 530%, Meta’s by 675%, and Apple’s by 621% during this time. Yet, as we know, a clear remedy exists: end-to-end encryption.
Google dominates the search engine market. A U.S. federal court recently determined that the company breached antitrust laws by preserving an unlawful monopoly in the search sector. The ruling noted that Google spent billions to ensure it remained the default search engine on various devices, effectively blocking competition and hindering innovation. It’s been frequently argued that both Google and Apple exploit their market power to undermine privacy.
In another case of anti-competitive behavior, Apple has been ordered to revise its App Store policies. A judge ruled that the company must stop imposing a 27% fee on purchases made through external links that bypass the App Store. The court condemned Apple’s previous attempts at compliance, labeling them as intentional avoidance.
Your smart TV may soon be tracking your emotions for profit. LG has announced plans to implement “AI-powered emotional intelligence” technology that observes both the content you watch and your viewing habits to serve more tailored advertising. The company describes this as a step toward creating “emotionally intelligent” experiences on TV.
Perplexity appears to be embracing the surveillance capitalism model. The CEO of Perplexity AI revealed plans for a new web browser designed to monitor users’ digital behavior to deliver highly personalized advertisements. This browser will track all online activity—an approach that might sound all too familiar.
Sources:
- Every scary thing Meta knows about me — and you
- Google is giving data to police based on search keywords, court docs show
- Google tracked his bike ride past a burglarized home. That made him a suspect.
- Avondale Man Sues After Google Data Leads to Wrongful Arrest for Murder
- Authorities worldwide can see more than ever, with Big Tech as their eyes
- Google has an illegal monopoly on search, US judge finds
