Ring, the Amazon-owned smart home company, canceled its partnership with Flock Safety, a controversial company, after facing mounting pressure and criticism, according to The Verge. This decision, announced on February 12, 2026, followed a questionable Super Bowl ad and widespread backlash regarding surveillance concerns.
The cancellation of the partnership was a direct response to public pressure, as reported by The Verge. Ring's initial plan to integrate with Flock Safety, a company known for its automated license plate readers and other surveillance technologies, drew criticism from privacy advocates and consumer groups. The Super Bowl ad, which likely highlighted the partnership, further amplified the negative attention, ultimately leading Ring to reverse its decision.
In other news, United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Vulcan rocket experienced a booster problem shortly after liftoff from Florida's Space Coast early Thursday morning, according to Ars Technica. The rocket, carrying a batch of US military satellites, twisted on its axis after sparks emerged from the exhaust plume. While the rocket recovered and continued its ascent into orbit, the incident raised concerns.
This wasn't the first time a Vulcan rocket encountered issues. Sixteen months prior, a Vulcan rocket lost a booster nozzle shortly after launch, also from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, as reported by Ars Technica. Details of the recent booster problem remain unclear, and an investigation is underway. Despite the malfunction, the rocket still reached its planned orbit.
Also, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revoked an analysis of greenhouse gases that laid the foundation for regulating their emissions by cars, power plants, and industrial sources, according to Ars Technica. This move, widely anticipated, effectively dismantled a key component of the agency's regulatory framework. The analysis, known as an endangerment finding, was initially ordered by the US Supreme Court in 2007 and completed during the Obama administration.
The endangerment finding, which theoretically served as the basis for all government regulations of carbon dioxide emissions, has had limited impact due to lawsuits and policy changes between administrations, as reported by Ars Technica. The first Trump administration left the finding in place, but the current revocation signals a significant shift in environmental policy.
In the tech world, Google finally released a YouTube app on Apple's Vision Pro mixed reality headset, two years after the device's launch, according to Ars Technica. Users had expressed frustration at the lack of a dedicated YouTube app, especially given the device's focus on video content consumption and YouTube's extensive library of immersive VR and 360 videos.
The new app is not simply a port of the iPad version; it features spatially arranged panels and supports 3D, 360-, and 180-degree videos, as detailed by Ars Technica. This release addresses a significant user complaint and enhances the Vision Pro's video capabilities.
Finally, Wired reported on several developments, including ICE's expansion plans, ethical concerns at Palantir, and the capabilities of AI assistants. The publication discussed ICE's plans to expand across the US, Palantir CEO Alex Karp's response to employee concerns about collaborating with ICE, and a WIRED writer's experience with the AI assistant OpenClaw.
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