Notices by Rob Pegoraro (robpegoraro@journa.host)

Since I'm now in flight on my way to Vegas for #CES2024: Which consumer-tech developments would you like me to look out for at this giant gadget gathering?

The good news here is not just that the IRS will debut a “prototype system to allow Americans to file tax returns digitally and free of charge” in a pilot test next year—it’s that the IRS was smart enough to get help from the U.S. Digital Service instead of rounding up the usual government-contracting suspects. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/15/irs-free-file/

I got around to reading the lengthy takedown by Block short-sellers Hindenburg Research of consistent and egregious fraud-enabling behavior on Block's #CashApp service, and the willful incompetence alleged therein is mind-boggling. Like, it's enough to make you think Block CEO Jack Dorsey would have been dumb enough to entrust Twitter to Elon Musk. https://hindenburgresearch.com/block/

Impressive work by Google to protect the privacy of its customers! Alas, the customers here aren't the likes of you or me, but a host of sleazy online publishers that include disinformation merchants, ad-fraud operators, and Russian, Iranian and Syrian sites under trade sanctions. Damning work by @ProPublica uncovering Google's deceitful display-ads business: https://www.propublica.org/article/google-display-ads-piracy-porn-fraud