Analysis: There Is Zero Evidence of a Shoplifting ‘Epidemic’
Ell Folan
Shoplifting rates are down from 2017, writes Ell Folan, while the media is acting as if all hell has broken loose.
Tag: data
Opinion: Vaccine Passports Are Still an Awful Idea
James Meadway
With coronavirus cases rising, the government could still introduce vaccine passports in England - a decision that comes with major implications for our privacy and freedom, writes James Meadway.
Analysis: TERFs Don’t Speak for Women – But Don’t Take It From Me, Look at the Polls
Ell Folan
Britain’s reputation as TERF Island isn’t wholly unfounded, writes Stats for Lefties founder Ell Folan. The good news, though, is that transphobes are firmly in the minority.
Analysis: Imagine Starmer is Polling Badly. Now Times That by Ten
Ell Folan
On virtually no measure is Sir Keir doing well in the polls, writes data journalist and Stats for Lefties founder Ell Folan.
Analysis: Vaccine Passports Could Be a Dystopian Nightmare
James Meadway
What seems like a sensible measure could be a slippery slope to a social credit system. We must not sleepwalk into more unregulated, opaque data collection, writes James Meadway.
Analysis: Big Tech’s Mission to Replace the Banks Will End in Tears
James Meadway
As long as profit is allowed to drive developments in fintech, the risks of catastrophic overreach remains, writes James Meadway.
Opinion: We Could Be Collecting Data on Coronavirus Cases, but the Government is Afraid of Being Embarrassed
Jo Sutton-Klein
Testing on the scale seen in countries like Korea might not be possible, but there are other ways the UK could gather data on the spread of Covid-19, writes junior doctor Jo Sutton-Klein. The problem may be that the government doesn't want to make too much data public.
Novara FM: A New Dark Age?
On #NovaraFM, James Butler is joined by James Bridle, to discuss the politics of technology, silicon prometheanism, how to think about the present – and why nothing seemed to happen after the Snowden leaks.
Choice: Break up Facebook – or Take It Into Public Ownership? I Am Not Kidding
Paul Mason
The emerging scandal over Facebook's role in the manipulation of user data raises questions over the future of tech giants that hold massive amounts of our information. So how do we solve a problem like Facebook?
4 Reasons the Left Should Care About Data and Surveillance
Tasmin Lockwood
Most people passively accept the collection, storage and sale of their data - after all, the government tells us mass surveillance makes us safer. But Tasmin Lockwood argues the left should take privacy more seriously and stop ignoring the dangers inherent in letting the state collect so much information about us.
#FuckUber: 8 Reasons Why Uber is Bad for All of Us
Sam Hind
Since its inception, Silicon Valley 'ride sharing' start-up Uber has drawn criticism and anger from taxi drivers wherever it has been launched. While it is undoubtedly undermining cabbies, this is just the tip of the iceberg.