Parmy Olson's Blog, page 2

For $29, This Man Will Help Manipulate Your Loved Ones With Targeted Facebook And Browser Links

In the era of fake news, Elliot Shefler has found a lucrative niche helping people track their loved ones with manipulative ‘ads,’ in much the same way Facebook and Google allow.

This Reclusive Engineer Is Plotting The Death Of Blockchain

A tenacious entrepreneur could change the underpinnings of the Web, but he refuses to leave his hometownin the rural English Midlands.

This Health Startup Won Big Government Deals—But Inside, Doctors Flagged Problems

Babylon Health's software, pushed on millions of NHS patients as an alternative to calling the doctor's office, has a record of complaints about its chatbot and questions around its artificial intelligence claims.

Beware 'Unrealistic' Claims Around Tech Saving Money For The NHS

Healthcare economists are skeptical that new technology can lead to cost-savings for the over-stretched healthcare system.

Email Dump Suggests Facebook Traded User-Data Access For Ad Spending

Cache of emails suggest Facebook leveraged user data to push back on competitors, and get more advertising dollars.

A Two-Minute Guide To Blockchain

It’s one of the hardest new forms of technology to explain to people in simple terms. Here’s our attempt.

Facebook Has A Bug-Hunting Tool That Mimics Human Behavior

Facebook says its coders can be more productive with AI that does the gruntwork of looking for flaws.

Facebook’s Zuckerberg Ignores ‘The New Reality’ By SkippingFake News Inquiry In London

Facebook’s founder didn’t show up to answer questions from nine governments on Tuesday. Casper Klinge, the world’s first tech ambassador for a nation, says that was a bad idea.

Facebook's Revenue Dreams For WhatsApp Are Under Threat -- From Old-Fashioned SMS

Facebookwants to charge businesses to message users on WhatsApp. But most businesses are gravitating to SMS, and the trend is likely to stay that way.

Britain’s Storied National Health Service Is Chasing A Tech Upgrade

The government is getting advice from tech experts as it tries to transform its free and desperately-overstretched system.