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.

How a Cloud Flaw Gave Chinese Spies a Key to Microsoft’s Kingdom

Microsoft says hackers somehow stole a cryptographic key, perhaps from its own network, that let them forge user identities and slip past cloud defenses.

Don't Join Threads—Make Instagram's 'Twitter Killer' Join You

Meta’s Twitter alternative promises that it will work with decentralized platforms, giving you greater control of your data. You can hold the company to that—if you don't sign up.

Humans Aren’t Mentally Ready for an AI-Saturated ‘Post-Truth World’

The AI era promises a flood of disinformation, deepfakes, and hallucinated “facts.” Psychologists are only beginning to grapple with the implications.

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.

Talitrix Prison-Monitoring System Tracks Inmates Down to Their Heart Rate

Documents WIRED obtained detail new prison-monitoring technology that keeps tabs on inmates' location, heartbeats, and more.

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.

How ChatGPT—and Bots Like It—Can Spread Malware

Generative AI is a tool, which means it can be used by cybercriminals, too. Here’s how to protect yourself.

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.

North Korea Is Now Mining Crypto to Launder Its Stolen Loot

A spy group working for the Kim regime has been feeding stolen coins into crypto mining services in an effort to throw tracers off their trail.

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.

Crypto Was Afraid to Show Its Face at SXSW 2023

Any mention of crypto was deliberately veiled at this year’s festival. And that strategy might catch on.

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.

Crypto Buyers Beware: 1 in 4 New Tokens of Any Value Is a Scam

And according to tracing firm Chainalysis, one very prolific scammer ran at least 264 of those scams in 2022 alone.

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.

ADS-B Exchange, the Flight Tracker That Powered @ElonJet, Sold to Jetnet

ADS-B Exchange, beloved for resisting censorship, was sold to a company owned by private equity—and now even its biggest fans are bailing.

Most Criminal Cryptocurrency Funnels Through Just 5 Exchanges

The crypto money-laundering market is tighter than at any time in the past decade, and the few big players are moving a “shocking” amount of currency.

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.

January 6 Report: 11 Details You May Have Missed

The January 6 Committee’s 841-page report will go down as one of the most important documents in US history. These key details stand out.

WhatsApp Launches a Proxy Tool to Fight Internet Censorship

Amid internet shutdowns in Iran, the encrypted messaging app is introducing proxy connections that can help people get online.

Why the US Is Primed for Radicalization

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

I Lost $17,000 in Crypto. Here’s How to Avoid My Mistake

I’m not the first person to suffer this fate, but hopefully I can be the last.

The Hunt for the FTX Thieves Has Begun

Mysterious crooks took hundreds of millions of dollars from FTX just as it collapsed. Crypto-tracing blockchain analysis may provide an answer.

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.

This Chatbot Aims to Steer People Away From Child Abuse Material

Pornhub is trialing a new automated tool that pushes CSAM-searchers to seek help for their online behavior. Will it work?

The Deep Roots of Nigeria’s Cybersecurity Problem

Despite having one of the strongest data-protection policies in Africa, the country’s enforcement and disclosure practices remain dangerously broken.

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.

Why the Twilio Breach Cuts So Deep

The phishing attack on the SMS giant exposes the dangers of B2B companies to the entire tech ecosystem.

The Low Threshold for Face Recognition in New Delhi

Police in India's capital say they only require an 80 percent accuracy rate for matches, raising new alarm bells for civil liberty advocates.

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.