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Our World in Data
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- 1Jury finds Facebook liable in Cambridge Analytica deception case●Jury finds Facebook liable for deceiving users in Cambridge Analytica case
A jury has found Facebook liable for deceiving users in the long-running Cambridge Analytica case, stemming from the scandal in which data from millions of users' profiles was harvested without proper consent for political targeting. The verdict marks a significant legal setback for Meta, years after the 2018 revelations first triggered regulatory and public scrutiny worldwide.
- 2Irish watchdog fines Google €403 million over GDPR breaches●Irish data protection watchdog fines Google €403M over GDPR breaches
Google has been fined €403 million by Ireland's Data Protection Commission for breaches of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. The Irish Times reports the decision by the regulator, which oversees many major US tech firms because of their European headquarters in Ireland. The penalty is one of the largest GDPR fines issued to date, underlining continued EU scrutiny of how large technology companies handle users' personal data.
- 3US Immigration in Historical Perspective Examined●How high is current immigration to the United States in historical perspective?
New analysis from Our World in Data examines how current immigration levels to the United States compare with earlier periods in the country's history. The piece places recent flows in long-term context, looking at foreign-born population shares over time and prompting debate about whether today's numbers are historically unprecedented or within past norms.
- 4Satellite data reveals worsening boom-and-bust cycles in drylands●Satellite data exposes escalating 'boom-and-bust' dynamic in greening drylands
New research from the University of Arizona analysing decades of satellite imagery finds that the world's drylands, though greening as vegetation responds to rising carbon dioxide, are increasingly locked into extreme 'boom-and-bust' cycles — rapid plant growth followed by sudden collapses. Scientists warn the pattern could destabilise ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
- 5Google to Test AI Chips in Space with Project Suncatcher▼Google Plans First Test of AI Chips in Space under Project Suncatcher
Google has announced Project Suncatcher, an initiative to test its AI chips in space for the first time. The plan points to putting data-processing hardware aboard satellites, a step that could eventually move parts of AI computing off Earth. The announcement is drawing attention across the tech and semiconductor world, with observers weighing the engineering challenges of running chips in orbit and what it could mean for the future of data centers.
- 6Unmanned 'robust little' vessel sets off on 22,000km Antarctica climate mission●‘Robust little’ vessel begins treacherous 22,000km journey around # Antarctica in the name of # climate science https://
A saildrone, an unmanned, hurricane-proof research vessel, has begun a roughly 22,000km circumnavigation of Antarctica, departing from Hobart. The voyage aims to gather climate science data from some of the world's most dangerous waters, where few crewed ships can operate. Observers are sharing the story, impressed that a small robotic craft is attempting a route that has tested even experienced sailors.
- 7Midcentury raises $15 million seed round for robotics AI●Midcentury emerged from stealth with a $15 million seed round to address the data bottleneck in robotics. Source: Ventur
Midcentury has come out of stealth with a $15 million seed round to tackle the data bottleneck holding back robotics and physical AI. The startup says progress in robotics is limited by how hard it is to gather the real-world training data that AI systems need. The funding was reported by Ventureburn, and it lands amid growing investor interest in physical AI and robotics data solutions.
- 8Data and AI Can Speed Up Climate Responses, Experts Say●Data And AI Tech Can Speed Up Our Responses To Climate Change, Not Replace Them
Food Tank argues that data and AI technologies can accelerate responses to climate change, but should support rather than replace existing climate action. The piece emphasizes that tools like data analytics and artificial intelligence are complements to established environmental strategies, helping speed up decision-making and implementation, not substitutes for the fundamental work of reducing emissions and adapting to a warming world.
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Startup Midcentury has raised a $15 million seed round to build training data for physical AI systems such as robots and autonomous machines. The funding signals continued investor appetite for startups supplying high-quality data to the physical AI sector, where collecting real-world sensor and motion data is considered a key bottleneck for training capable models.