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Category Archives: Economy

The Ocean Investigations Guide

Via Ian Urbina:  “Investigative reporting about activities at sea is a unique specialty requiring distinct tools and tactics. How can I find open-source footage evidence of human rights abuses or illegal fishing on ships? Is it possible to connect ships to the specific seafood buyers?  Is there a way to track ships even when they… Continue Reading

Almost all of earth became permanently drier since 1990: Report

The Hill: “More than 75 percent of the globe became permanently drier over the past three decades, according to a report from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The report, published Monday, found that about 77.6 percent of the globe became drier from 1990 to 2020, more than it did over the preceding… Continue Reading

Everybody Loves FRED: How America Fell for a Data Tool

The New York Times [gift article] – “From Facebook political debates to college classrooms, the St. Louis Fed’s data tool has gained a major following. Fans post about him on social media. Swag bearing his name sells out on the regular. College professors dedicate class sessions and textbook sections to him. Foreign government officials have… Continue Reading

Find out why your health insurer denied your claim

ProPublica’s Claim File Helper lets you customize a letter requesting the notes and documents your insurer used when deciding to deny you coverage. Get your claim file before submitting an appeal. What’s a Claim File? Why Should I Request One? A claim file is a collection of the information your insurer used to decide whether… Continue Reading

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, December 7, 2024

Via LLRX – Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, December 7, 2024 – Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on the… Continue Reading

CFPB Orders Federal Supervision of Google Following Contested Designation

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today published an order establishing supervisory authority over Google Payment Corp. The CFPB is responsible for supervising a wide range of financial firms to ensure they are complying with federal consumer financial protection laws. The CFPB has supervised nonbank entities in certain industries like mortgage and payday lending, service… Continue Reading

Best Business Journalism of the Year

Bloomberg: “In Catholicism, envy is one of the seven deadly sins. In professional journalism, it’s a virtue, albeit too seldomly expressed. Which is why every year, Bloomberg Businessweek commits this cardinal act for all to witness, with our annual Jealousy List. Below, we’ve asked our editors and contributors to identify that one story in 2024… Continue Reading

FBI releases PSA warning about all the ways that cybercriminials are using AI to commit fraud

Criminals Use Generative Artificial Intelligence to Facilitate Financial Fraud – The FBI is warning the public that criminals exploit generative artificial intelligence (AI) to commit fraud on a larger scale which increases the believability of their schemes. Generative AI reduces the time and effort criminals must expend to deceive their targets. Generative AI takes what… Continue Reading

CFPB Proposes Rule to Stop Data Brokers from Selling Sensitive Personal Data to Scammers, Stalkers, and Spies

“The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today proposed a rule to rein in data brokers that sell Americans’ sensitive personal and financial information. The proposed rule would limit the sale of personal identifiers like Social Security Numbers and phone numbers collected by certain companies and make sure that people’s financial data such as income is… Continue Reading

Social Security Faces a Crisis, but Sound Tax Policy Can Help

Bloomberg Tax: “Social Security, one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in US history, faces a funding crisis by 2035. Raising taxes on upper-income earners and including investment income in the taxable base for Social Security would be practical and politically plausible solutions ahead of this deadline. The economic stability offered by the Social Security… Continue Reading