A state audit revealed that California spent $24 billion on homelessness programs over the past five years without consistently tracking their effectiveness, leading to a lack of reliable data to understand why the issue hasn't improved in many cities. The audit found that only two of the programs were likely cost-effective, including one that converts hotel and motel rooms into housing and another that provides housing assistance to prevent families from becoming homeless. The lack of accountability and transparency at every level has raised concerns among lawmakers, with calls for a shift toward solutions that prioritize self-sufficiency and cost effectiveness. The California Interagency Council on Homelessness, responsible for overseeing the programs, has not tracked spending or program effectiveness, and the state database contains inaccuracies. The council acknowledged the findings and emphasized the need for local governments to step up in collecting data on program outcomes.
Google has agreed to delete billions of data records to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that the company improperly tracked users in its private browsing mode. The settlement, valued at more than $5 billion, requires Google to update disclosures about data collection in incognito mode and allows users to block third-party cookies for five years. While Google denies any wrongdoing, the agreement aims to reduce data collection from private browsing sessions and increase transparency, pending approval from a U.S. District Judge.
Google Chrome will begin phasing out third-party cookies starting on January 4, a move aimed at enhancing user privacy. This change will impact online advertising and data tracking practices, as third-party cookies are commonly used to track users across different websites. Google plans to replace third-party cookies with a new system called Privacy Sandbox, which aims to provide a more privacy-friendly alternative for targeted advertising.
Spotify Wrapped 2023, the annual feature that allows Spotify users to share their personalized listening history, is expected to be released on December 1 or 2. While previous years only collected data from January 1 to October 31, the cutoff date for tracking data this year has not been confirmed. Apple Music users have a similar feature called Apple Music Replay, which is a permanent feature in the app and updates weekly throughout the year. Additionally, users can generate a purchase receipt-style graphic of their listening data using Receiptify.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has launched new dashboards to track COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases and deaths. The dashboards provide data on emergency department visits, hospital admissions, confirmed and probable cases, deaths, and demographic characteristics. The DPH plans to release a dashboard tracking immunizations soon. The data will be used to identify patterns, predict trends, and address disparities in access to vaccinations. Healthcare professionals find the data helpful, but some express concerns about information overload for the average patient. It is too early to determine if last season's tripledemic will indicate future patterns.
Some elite distance runners are choosing to train without GPS watches, opting for vintage watches or no watches at all. These runners find that the abundance of data provided by GPS watches can be more of a hindrance than a help, as it takes away from the enjoyment of their runs and distracts them from focusing on their bodies and the overall feel of their training. By ditching the data, these runners are able to listen to their bodies more effectively and prioritize effort over pace. They rely on their own estimations and simple timekeeping methods to track their runs, finding joy and liberation in the simplicity of their training approach.
COVID-19 infections are increasing again in August 2023, with daily hospital admissions up over 70% from mid-June in the United States. The Eris variant (EG.5) is being attributed to the current surge. Data from EPIC and Walgreens show significant increases in infections, test positivity rate, and emergency department visits. Hospitalizations are a delayed indicator, suggesting further increases. Long COVID is a concern, with evidence of lasting central nervous system damage and persistent symptoms in some patients. However, there is still a lack of solid data on the short- and long-term risks of COVID-19, hindering accurate tracking and projection of the pandemic's impact.
Amazon has been using an algorithm to track and target its US staff who violate the company's three-day-in-office rule, according to leaked documents. The algorithm, known as "Unicorn," analyzes employee data to identify those who spend less than three days per week in the office and then automatically generates lists of workers to be monitored or potentially fired. This revelation raises concerns about workplace surveillance, privacy, and the extent to which companies can track and control their employees.
Google Analytics has officially shut down Universal Analytics and encourages users to transition to Google Analytics 4 (GA4). For those who haven't completed the GA4 setup, Google may have automatically created a GA4 property based on their Universal Analytics settings. However, it is recommended to manually migrate settings for more accurate configuration. Various resources are available to assist with the GA4 migration, including guides on setup, event tracking, creating segments and audiences, and avoiding configuration mistakes. GA4 offers improved audience creation capabilities, event-based tracking, privacy features, and integration with media platforms. Recent updates include support for Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), customizable conversion attribution settings, and integration with AdSense. Despite the initial learning curve, embracing GA4 allows businesses to gain a deeper understanding of user behavior and make data-driven decisions for better results in the long run.
When using a loyalty card or digital coupon at a grocery store, your shopping habits and personal data are being tracked and used for profit by grocers. This data includes information such as your income, education, ethnicity, and family details. Grocers like Kroger, Walmart, and Safeway have their own advertising platforms that not only allow them to reach customers but also sell data to other companies. The data collected can include geolocation, demographics, website interactions, social media activity, and even sensory data like CCTV recordings. Consumers have the option to opt-out of tracking, but it may limit access to savings incentives. Some states have implemented data privacy laws to give consumers more control over their data.
As Covid-19 tracking efforts wind down, wastewater data is becoming increasingly important in monitoring the virus. The National Wastewater Surveillance System, established by the CDC in 2020, now includes data from over 1,400 sampling sites across the US, covering more than 40% of the population. Wastewater surveillance will remain a critical early warning system for both officials and members of the public, helping to spot incipient outbreaks and track new variants. However, more work is needed to turn this ad hoc emergency effort into a sustainable national system, and officials will need to be thoughtful about how they use the data.
The U.S. public health emergency declaration for COVID-19 is set to expire this week, leading to changes in how the pandemic is managed. Vaccines and tests will no longer be free and will be covered by health insurance. COVID data tracking will be scaled back, while telemedicine access will remain in place. Emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments will continue. The end of the public health emergency also means the end of extra federal funding for Medicaid, which could lead to millions losing coverage. Experts worry that the lack of funding for pandemic preparedness could leave the U.S. unprepared for future threats.
The Tor Project and Mullvad VPN have released a new privacy-focused web browser called Mullvad Browser, which minimizes data tracking by making all users appear as one. The browser is free to download and works on Windows, MacOS, and Linux. The Mullvad Browser is the latest browser focused on user privacy, joining other privacy-focused browsers such as DuckDuckGo and Brave.
