Benjamin Powers

Powers is a tech reporter at Grid. Previously, he was privacy reporter at CoinDesk where he focused on data and financial privacy, information security, and digital identity. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Daily Beast, Rolling Stone, and the New Republic, among others. He owns bitcoin.

Benjamin Powers

Latest from Benjamin Powers


Tech

Europe Debates COVID-19 Contact Tracing That Respects Privacy

European researchers are looking for ways to track the spread of coronavirus while respecting privacy rights.

Inside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emergency Operations Center. (Credit: CDC/Unsplash)

Tech

A New Ultrasonic Hack Can Exploit Your Siri

A new hack called a SurfingAttack uses ultrasonic guided waves to communicate with a device through the voice assistant.

Via Shutterstock

Tech

Zoom Has Privacy Issues, Here Are Some Alternatives

Worried about getting Zoombombed? Here are some privacy-facing services to check out while you're WFH.

One of Zoom's view options. (Credit: Zoom)

Tech

Privacy Advocates Are Sounding Alarms Over Coronavirus Surveillance

Crises provide opportunities for surveillance architecture to move forward, say privacy advocates. This time is no different.

Photo by Dennis Kummer on Unsplash

Policy

In Fight Against Coronavirus, Governments Face Trade-Offs on Privacy

Safeguarding privacy rights is tricky during a time of pandemic and panic.

Oct 29 - g4ll4is flickr

Tech

Mass Surveillance Threatens Personal Privacy Amid Coronavirus

The extreme surveillance measures taken to address COVID-19 are not normal or inevitable.

(Shutterstock)

Markets

Bernie Sanders: Our Campaign Is About People, Not Tech

Bernie Sanders has never been closer to delivering a “revolution” in American life. How will he address personal privacy, cryptocurrencies and big tech?

Bernie Sanders, Rally at Pittsburgh University, Sunday April 14.

Markets

Amy Klobuchar Wanted a Return to Normalcy, but Do Voters?

While Trump self-inflated and Bernie talked of revolution, Klobuchar took a middle lane on tech. From election security to privacy to transparency in online ads, Klobuchar was a practical legislator in a chaotic political environment.

Klobuchar supporters at a rally in Charleston, South Carolina.

Policy

Privacy Laws Are Only as Effective as the Companies Implementing Them

Sometimes the very laws meant to enforce privacy can result in companies sharing it.

GDPR

Policy

When Corporations Violate Privacy, They Do Concrete Harm

There are tangible safety implications to consumer privacy violations, says Lindsey Barrett of Georgetown Law.

identity, privacy