The Markup

California offers a new tool called DROP for residents to request data brokers delete their information and stop tracking them. CalMatters and The Markup are seeking public participation to test compliance with the program.

California residents can now use a new tool called DROP to request data brokers delete their personal information and stop tracking them. Journalists from CalMatters and The Markup are seeking public help to test if brokers comply with these requests.

An investigation by The Markup and CalMatters revealed that many California-registered data brokers used 'no-index' code to hide opt-out pages from search results, making it harder for consumers to delete their data. Following the report and a Senate inquiry led by Sen. Maggie Hassan, most of these brokers removed the code, though eight remain non-compliant.

A California bill requiring online dating apps to perform background checks on users and flag those with certain convictions advanced in the state Senate's public safety committee. The bill, authored by state Sen. Caroline Menjivar, aims to enhance safety but faces criticism over privacy concerns and potential misuse.

The Markup's 18-month investigation into Tinder, Hinge, and their corporate owner Match Group revealed how the company concealed reports of sexual violence on its apps. The investigation, which won the 2025 SABEW Award for technology reporting, found that Match Group allowed a Denver cardiologist convicted of assaulting 11 women to remain on its platforms for years.

Congress estimates data broker breaches have cost consumers $20 billion in identity theft. An investigation by Congress's Joint Economic Committee, prompted by reporting from The Markup and CalMatters, revealed that major brokers are now making it easier for consumers to opt out of their databases.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced plans to terminate an AI chatbot developed by the previous administration, which provided businesses with potentially illegal advice, such as allowing tip theft. The chatbot, costing nearly $600,000 to build, was criticized for being 'unusable' and contributing to a $12 billion budget gap.

The Markup's job posting for an engineer attracted over 400 applications, many of which exhibited signs of AI-generated content, impersonation, and scams, including repeated contact information, identical resume designs, and formulaic application responses. The article highlights red flags for employers and job seekers in an era of AI-driven application fraud.

AI-generated dance videos produced by leading models failed to accurately replicate requested dances despite creating lifelike footage. Testing nine dance styles across four commercial AI models (Sora 2, Veo 3.1, Kling 2.5, Hailou 2.3) revealed inconsistencies in appearance and movement, with about a third of videos exhibiting abnormalities.

California's new DROP tool allows residents to block data brokers from tracking or selling their personal information. The system, mandated by the 2023 Delete Act, enables users to submit requests to all registered brokers at once, simplifying a process previously requiring individual opt-outs for each broker.