Big Data
New Tech Is Fundamentally Changing the Power Balance Between Police and the Public
The NYC subway saboteur gazed into the surveillance state. What looked back?
Will Algorithmic Tools Help or Harm the Homeless?
Researchers created an algorithm to identify the people most at risk for long-term homelessness in Los Angeles. Some worry the tool itself poses risks.
Here's What You'll Learn in a College Class on Calling Bullshit
The course, offered at the University of Washington, teaches that the proliferation of algorithms and data is making misinformation more widespread.
Growing Up on Social Media, We Learned About Ourselves. Facebook Learned More.
A Facebook event planned seven years in advance became observational comedy about the weird geography of a world built by Palo Alto coders.
The Role of Big Data in Science's Reproducibility Crisis
The reproducibility crisis is driven, in part, by invalid statistical analyses that are from data-driven hypotheses.
The Importance of Accessibility in Data Visualizations
As big data rises in prominence, it's time to consider turning quantitative data into a qualitative experience for those with a temporary or permanent loss of sight.
Amazon Markets Surveillance Technology to Law Enforcement
Amazon, one of many tech companies that have called for reform of government surveillance, is selling facial recognition services to cops.
Does Big Data Belong in Courtrooms?
The criminal justice system has been using predictive algorithms for decades, but research shows even the best algorithms are no better than humans at predicting recidivism—and neither are very good.
Big Data’s Impending Struggle to Combat Climate Change
Saving the planet and addressing climate change now hinges on a massive data puzzle.
Is the Stock Market Sexist?
Inherent market bias is one of the factors keeping women off corporate boards—until someone has to take the fall. Welcome to the Glass Cliff.
Welcome to the Glass Cliff
An early look at a Pacific Standard story that's currently only available to subscribers.
Glitch in the Machine
The government unleashed Big Data to shut down Medicare fraud. Why isn't it working?
How to Scam Medicare in Four Easy Steps!
An early look at a Pacific Standard story that's currently only available to subscribers.
The $60 Billion in Missing Medicare Funds
Introducing the January/February 2016 print issue of Pacific Standard.
More Than Just the Numbers
When we treat people as collections of statistics, we ignore important aspects of their humanity.
The Future of Work: Stop the Stealing and Pay Us for Our Online Data
The latest entry in a special project in which business and labor leaders, social scientists, technology visionaries, activists, and journalists weigh in on the most consequential changes in the workplace.
When Big Data Becomes Bad Data
Corporations are increasingly relying on algorithms to make business decisions, and that raises new legal questions.
The Tiger Mom Tax
Asians are nearly twice as likely to get a higher price from the Princeton Review's SAT test prep services.
How Social Media Can Help Natural-Disaster Victims
It's a lot of information overload, but there's some useful stuff in there too.
It's Sample Size, Stupid
How Apple's new smartwatch could save lives.
Your Cell Phone Data Shows How Much You Hang Out With Friends
Even in this Internet age, it's a lot.
The Ethical Risks of Detecting Disease Outbreaks With Big Data
The stakes of the analysis are much higher when lives are on the line.
Survive and Thrive: How Big Data Is Transforming Health Care, Part I
It's becoming easier to track health data for our own casual use. But for some people—like Ph.D student Maria Qadri, a Type 1 diabetic—it could have a huge impact on quality of life.