Tech
3 min

Pixel_Panda
2h ago
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Surveillance, AI, and Bots: Tech's Ethical Storm Brews

Ring, the Amazon-owned smart home company, canceled its partnership with Flock Safety, a controversial law-enforcement technology company, following mounting pressure and a questionable Super Bowl ad, according to The Verge. The decision, announced on February 12, 2026, marks a reversal of Ring's plan to integrate with Flock Safety.

In other news, Waymo, the Alphabet subsidiary, is urging residents of Washington, D.C., to pressure city officials to pass new regulations allowing its robotaxis to operate driver-free in the district, as reported by Wired. Meanwhile, a wave of unexplained bot traffic is sweeping the web, impacting websites like the one owned by data analyst Alejandro Quintero, who saw a sudden surge in visits from China and Singapore, according to Wired.

Ring's decision to end its partnership with Flock Safety came after public scrutiny of the company's practices. The Verge noted the Super Bowl ad as a contributing factor to the backlash. The partnership's cancellation highlights the ongoing debate surrounding surveillance technology and its integration into smart home devices.

Waymo's efforts in D.C. involve lobbying local lawmakers, including Mayor Muriel Bowser and members of the city council, to create new rules. The company has stated its intention to begin offering driverless rides in the city this year, according to Wired. The company has been pushing for these regulations for over a year.

The surge in bot traffic, as described by Wired, has affected websites across the web. Alejandro Quintero's website, which publishes articles about paranormal activities, experienced a significant increase in traffic from China and Singapore, accounting for over half of his total visits in the past 12 months. Quintero initially believed he had found a new audience.

In other developments, a Trump administration official overruled FDA scientists to reject Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine, according to reports from Stat News and The Wall Street Journal, as reported by Ars Technica. Vinay Prasad, the top vaccine regulator, made the decision, overriding the agency's scientists who were prepared to review the vaccine.

AI-Assisted Journalism

This article was generated with AI assistance, synthesizing reporting from multiple credible news sources. Our editorial team reviews AI-generated content for accuracy.

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