Business
There’s A Boom In Homebuying As Unemployment Soars
Forty-two million people have filed for unemployment. But last week applications for mortgages on new homes were up 17.5% compared to a year ago.
People On Nextdoor Say The Platform Censored Their "Black Lives Matter" Posts
People on the social platform say that moderators are deleting comments stating “Black Lives Matter” and stifling discussion about the nation’s protests.
To Build Its COVID-19 Task Force, Las Vegas Partnered With A Company Linked To UAE Intelligence
Group 42 helped provide “vital testing materials" to Las Vegas. It also owns an app that has allegedly been used to spy on people.
Instagram Influencing Has Long Had A Diversity Problem. This Blogger Says Now Is The Time For Change.
"You talk about diversity and inclusion and you want to create a platform for black women, but you barely post black women on your feed."
Workers Around The World Are Already Being Monitored By Digital Contact Tracing Apps
Coronavirus contact tracing apps aren’t government-mandated. But they may be employer-mandated.
Here’s What You Can Say On Facebook That You Can’t Say On Twitter
Neither platform is more free than the other — but they do have different rules.
Black Influencers Are Calling Out Popular Brands For Failing To Address The Deaths Of Unarmed Black People At The Hands Of The Police
"The memes you guys are posting on your pages are just not gonna cut it. Do more. Don’t just be present when it’s time to be lit, on the 'gram.”
The ACLU Is Suing Clearview AI To Stop “Privacy-Destroying Face Surveillance”
The civil liberties organization is suing the facial recognition company for allegedly violating the privacy of Illinois residents.
Bill Gates Conspiracy Theories Have Circulated For Years. It Took The Coronavirus Pandemic To Turn Him Into A Fake Villain.
After months of conspiracy-mongering, people around the world are demanding Gates be arrested for crimes against humanity. Here’s how things got so bad.
Instagram Has Been Taken Over By Influencers Giving Away Free Pelotons. What's The Catch?
"The amount of random people I’ve followed on Instagram solely in hopes of winning a Peloton is ridiculous."
Harris Teeter Won't Tell Employees What Their Temperature Is During New Health Screenings
The Kroger-owned supermarket chain also says the temperature checks aren't medical examinations.
In San Francisco, Working From Home Is Here To Stay. The Techies Might Not Be.
“Somebody give me reasons to be in the SF meatspace vs. somewhere in the forest.”
Facebook Banned Mask Ads. They're Still Running.
Using misleading Facebook pages and deceptive ads, ZestAds sold coronavirus masks at wildly inflated prices.
As Salons Reopen During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Hairstylists Want A Beauty Industry Bailout
"I want to see them considering the beauty industry as a real industry worth saving," said Mercedes Ortiz-Olivieri, who owns a salon in Washington DC.
Americans Are Really Scared About Their Economic Future
A third of Americans expect their households' finances to be worse a year from now.
"How Am I Going To Survive?": A Costco Meatpacking Worker Speaks Of Her Fears As She And Others Labor To Keep Chicken In Stores
As concerns about a meat shortage mount, a meatpacking worker discusses her fear of getting the coronavirus while still needing to work.
Unemployment Is Higher For Low-Wage Workers, Women, People Of Color
The overall jobless rate was 14.7% in April.
Clearview AI Has Promised To Cancel All Relationships With Private Companies
Facing numerous lawsuits, the New York startup said it "is cancelling the accounts of every customer who was not either associated with law enforcement or some other federal, state, or local government department, office, or agency.”
Hospitals Expect To Lose More Than $200 Billion Because Of The Coronavirus
In the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, more than a million health care workers have lost their jobs. Hospitals expect to lose $202.6 billion by June.
Wildlife Traffickers Are Setting Up Fake Zoos On Facebook To Sell The Scales Of Endangered Pangolins
The pages are as easy to find as searching the word “pangolin" in Vietnamese.
A Salon Owner Was Ordered Jailed For 7 Days After Refusing To Close Her Business During Quarantine
"Your actions were selfish, putting your own interests ahead of those of the community in which you live," the judge told salon owner Shelley Luther, who refused to apologize in court.
Amazon Didn’t Pay This Worker Who Tested Positive For The Coronavirus Until A Reporter Asked Questions
Amazon has publicly promised to pay workers who test positive for or are quarantined because of the coronavirus, but some say they haven’t received that money.
Apple And Google Have Released Their Paint-By-Numbers Recommendations For Contact Tracing Apps
The companies say that public health authorities have asked for help in designing what contact tracing apps might look like.
J.Crew Has Filed For Bankruptcy During The Coronavirus Lockdowns
It can’t help that no one has gotten into real pants for months.
The Angry Protest Images From Michigan Don't Tell The Whole Story As The State Decides How To Reopen
The nation is seeing groups of angry protesters, some with face masks and others carrying rifles — on TV and on social media. But many people in the state don't agree on when business should reopen.
Costco Is Loosening Coronavirus Crowd Restrictions. Employees Say It's Still Not Safe.
"They are allowing up to 600 people in the store at a time. Employees have to dodge people like it's a minefield. It’s just a complete breakdown at every level.”
Renters Were Already Screwed. Now They’re In A Panic.
As renters and landlords seek more government relief in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the larger crisis of housing affordability looms.
Starbucks Will Keep Seating Closed, But Start To Reopen For To-Go Service In May
By early June, 90% of US stores will be open for to-go and delivery orders. Seating will remain closed.
Small Businesses Are Reinventing Themselves To Survive The Coronavirus Pandemic
Work-at-home desks, face shields, and home shopping — here is how these businesses are trying to survive.
Georgia, Tennessee, And Alaska Want Restaurants To Reopen — McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A, And Dunkin’ Are Saying Not So Fast.
The socially distanced future of eating out is coming, but it isn't here quite yet.