Technology

Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham appears at a 2020 census event in April 2019. He says despite concerns, the bureau is on track to carry out the first primarily online U.S. census with enough workers.

Watchdog Warns Census Faces Cybersecurity, Hiring Risks Before National Rollout

4:50pm February 12, 2020

by Hansi Lo Wang

Weeks before the census is fully underway, the Government Accountability Office finds the Census Bureau is behind on recruiting workers and resolving risks with the first primarily online U.S. count.

After the messy reporting of the Iowa caucus results, some who build tech for progressive causes say the approach to software development in this space needs rethinking.

After Iowa Debacle, Tech Experts Who Aid Progressives Call For A Strategic Shake-Up

11:19am February 12, 2020

by Laurel Wamsley

The failure of this year's Iowa caucuses was years in the making, some technology specialists argue, in part because of the haphazard way political users buy software.

Attorney General William Barr and top law enforcement officials announced what they called a huge cyberattack on Monday at the Justice Department.

Chinese Hackers Charged In Alleged Cyber-Theft Of 145 Million Americans' Data

6:53pm February 10, 2020

The credit agency Equifax was compromised by a cyberattack that permitted China's military to steal names, Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information.

Politics & Government

How Political Campaigns Can Fight Disinformation

4:40pm February 10, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Lisa Kaplan, founder of Alethea Group and former digital director for Sen. Angus King's 2018 campaign, about whether campaigns are prepared for online disinformation.

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President Trump meets with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (center) and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos at the White House on June 19, 2017. The Pentagon has selected Microsoft for a $10 billion cloud computing contract also sought by Amazon.

Amazon Wants Trump To Testify About Military Contract Awarded To Microsoft

1:05pm February 10, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

Amazon accuses the president of interfering in the process over a personal rift with CEO Jeff Bezos. Microsoft won the Pentagon's $10 billion JEDI cloud computing contract after months of controversy.

Image of a black woman wearing a white face mask.

Arts

When Bias Is Coded Into Our Technology

6:03am February 08, 2020

by Jennifer 8. Lee

Facial recognition systems from large tech companies often misidentify black women as male — including the likes of Michelle Obama and Serena Williams. A new documentary, "Coded Bias" unpacks why.

How Digital Billboards Target Passersby (Hint: It's Cellphone Data)

4:34pm February 07, 2020

by Karen Duffin

More and more digital billboards are popping up around the U.S. Many are tracking us through our cell phones — similar to what happens online. Here's a close look at one in Times Square.

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How Political Campaigns Are Using 'Geofencing' Technology To Target Catholics At Mass

10:15am February 07, 2020

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Heidi Schlumpf of the National Catholic Reporter about how one political group is using "geofencing" of cellphone data to target Catholic voters at Sunday Mass.

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Electric vans charge at a warehouse of the German postal and logistics service Deutsche Post near Frankfurt in July 2018. Fleet vehicles are increasingly going electric in Europe and China, and some analysts say American fleets will be following suit.

Environment

From Delivery Trucks To Scooter-Moving Vans, Fleets Are Going Electric

10:04am February 07, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

Lime is all about electric vehicles — battery-powered scooters, that is. But now the company is also going to use plug-in vans for behind-the-scenes operations. And it's far from alone.

A sign alerts customers that cash is not accepted at a shop in San Francisco last year. The city subsequently banned businesses from rejecting cash.

Cities And States Are Saying No To Cashless Shops

6:22pm February 06, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

Washington, D.C., is the latest city to consider banning businesses from rejecting cash. Opponents of cashless stores say they discriminate against low-income, homeless and undocumented people.

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