If you seek an abortion in this country and seek a consultation in a doctor’s office with toilet bowls, stethoscopes, and people in unflattering scrubs, then under HIPAA, that doctor is required by law to keep your abortion plans secret unless he or she offers a referral to another health care provider. The people you care for are what the law calls “insured entities,” along with health insurance companies, HMOs, and the like. However, social networks, apps and search engines are not bound to HIPAA. The law was written in the 90s and no one seems to have bothered to update it. Read more
In my opinion, LinkedIn is the worst social network. The company finds itself at a fork in the road where hustle culture is giving way to boomer stereotypes and automated sales pitches. While the site is somewhat useful as a digital resume and Rolodex, it seems to have the lowest level of collective empathy of any social network. Read more
Machine learning is a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science that focuses on using data and algorithms to mimic the way humans learn and gradually improve accuracy. Machine learning is therefore one of the most interesting methods in computer science today and is applied behind the scenes in products and services that we consume in everyday life. Read more
Just as a company’s success shouldn’t fall into the shadows of its industry brethren, a company’s layoffs don’t necessarily mean its competitors are also screwed. Instead, I think changes within a particular startup can be used as benchmark questions for its larger market; In other words, we can use the micro to better understand the macro. Read more
While there is currently no precedent for a period tracking app to share its user data with authorities for criminal investigations, other apps have been known to share user data in sensitive cases, and last year the popular period tracking app Flo received an FTC complaint for misleading users and sharing personal health information. Both activists and privacy experts agree that the recent decision and the presence of Roe v. Wade as a legal bulwark against invasive abortion regulations could have far-reaching implications for privacy. Read more
The Metaverse features a central business district where (Texas entrepreneur Steve) Jackson hopes companies will set up virtual offices. Wired (Magazine) is building an office there that could accept subscriptions or allow readers to meet to discuss stories… Metaverse visitors will be charged $10 for 80 hours a month. Read more
