Instagram sanctioned and showcased ads endorsing child sexual abuse content in India prior to eliminating them after an inquiry.
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A recent survey reveals that the majority of Americans prefer children to stay off social media until after the age of 16.
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that 56 percent of Americans are in favor of prohibiting social media access for individuals under the age of 16, with backing that spans across political parties and age demographics.
Horror movies utilize music to signal impending peril. These headphones employ the same technique to protect you from robots
Georgia Tech investigators created Spherephones, a wearable headset that transforms the movements of nearby robots into ambient lo-fi music, alerting factory workers prior to them looking up.
Top Ultralight Backpacking Comforters (2026): Zenbivy, REI
Less is indeed less, and don’t allow anyone to sway your opinion. This notion holds especially true when you’re packing everything necessary for a week’s survival on your back, leading us to the backpacking quilt: It’s a sleeping bag, but in a reduced form. In many situations, a backpacking quilt suffices, and I have found them preferable to sleeping bags for nearly all but the chillest outings.
These quilts are not comparable to the ones your grandmother gifted you. Backpacking quilts are crafted from nylon and filled with down similar to a conventional sleeping bag, but they sit atop you like a quilt, rather than cocooning you as a sleeping bag would. The advantages are twofold: A quilt is lighter, resulting in less weight to carry in your pack, and in suitable conditions, you may find your sleep improved as well.
WIRED Top Picks:
Why Is a Quilt Superior to a Sleeping Bag?
I have an entire article dedicated to exploring this question, but the brief answer is that it provides equal warmth while weighing less. The reasoning behind the first claim involves basic physics. When you recline in a sleeping bag, your body’s weight compresses much of the down fill to the sides. The down that remains beneath you is minimal and compacted (due to your weight), leaving you with inadequate insulation. So why carry weight that you aren’t benefiting from?
Quilts eliminate the bottom layer present in a sleeping bag, resting on you like the quilt on your bed back home. Typically, quilts weigh less than sleeping bags and compress into smaller sizes, making them popular among backpackers eager to lighten their loads and conserve space.
When Is a Sleeping Bag Preferable to a Quilt?
When temperatures drop significantly. The drawback of quilts lies in drafts (since they don’t encase you, they’re susceptible to cold air) and their absence of hoods. Drafts aren’t a significant issue in summer, the season during which most of us backpack, which is why I prefer quilts over sleeping bags most of the time. However, when I venture out to ski or snowshoe in the depths of winter, I opt for a subzero sleeping bag.
After years of experimentation, I’ve determined that nearly any quilt is suitable for summer use. For trips during transitional seasons where temperatures could fall below freezing, I still lean toward a quilt, but I favor a Zenbivy, which effectively blocks drafts compared to other quilts thanks to added sheets and side baffles. Whenever I anticipate temperatures dropping below 20°F, I equip myself with a sleeping bag.
If They Use Less Material, Why Are Quilts Pricier?
Quilts can sometimes—but not always—carry a higher price tag than a traditional lightweight sleeping bag. Why pay more for less? Usually, it boils down to down-fill power. Inexpensive sleeping bags commonly utilize 650 down fill, whereas most quilts fall in the range of 800 to 1,000 fill-power, which contributes to their increased cost. That being said, there are some excellent budget-friendly down quilts available, such as REI’s Magma Quilt.
The Best Quilt for Ultralight Summer Excursions
For summer trips, when I aim to travel as light as possible, Enlightened Equipment’s Revelation Quilt is my top recommendation. I own the 40°F model, which weighs a mere 19 ounces. Unlike many manufacturers, Enlightened Equipment does not use dual temperature ratings for comfort and lower/extreme limits. Instead, they select a midpoint number and advise on their website that most individuals “use a quilt 10 degrees warmer than the lowest expected temperatures.” My experiences with the Revelation align with this advice. I’ve found the Revelation keeps me warm down to approximately freezing, provided I’m wearing a base layer. If temperatures drop further, I’ll also wear a puffy jacket, but in summer, even in mountainous regions, this is seldom necessary.
The Revelation can lay completely flat on hotter nights, which is my typical usage. The foot box incorporates a 20-inch zipper and a drawstring that permit you to close it down, forming a snug (read warm) area at your feet when desired. Additionally, there are straps that create a loop and secure around your sleeping pad to hold the Revelation in position. The straps are separate, which is advantageous since I often don’t utilize them, though it poses a risk of misplacing them. They also differ slightly from other systems I’ve tried, as they wrap around your pad (instead of just beneath) and then you clip the Revelation to them. Since I dislike sleeping on the strap, I use these straps in an unconventional manner, placing them under my pad and ignoring the loop feature, and it works perfectly. On warm nights, I completely forgo the straps—after all, quilts are designed for flexibility.
The Revelation is
Politician who looked into spyware misconduct had his phone compromised with Pegasus spyware
Investigators have verified that a politician from Europe experienced a breach of his phone using the Pegasus spyware while he was part of a committee examining the misuse of this infamous surveillance tool. This incident has sparked renewed debate regarding the misuse of spyware by governments to gather intelligence on their adversaries.
The experts at The Citizen Lab, a digital rights unit based at the University of Toronto, report that the confirmed phone breach of Stelios Kouloglou, a Greek journalist and ex-politician, during 2022 and 2023 is the first instance of a member from the European Parliament’s PEGA committee—responsible for investigating phone spyware assaults by European states—publicly recognized as a spyware victim.
In a phone conversation, Kouloglou expressed to TechCrunch that the intentional infiltration of his phone was “irresponsible.” Another current European legislator described the hacking of Kouloglou’s device as a “direct assault on the rule of law,” urging the European Commission to enact firm regulations concerning the deployment of spyware within the 27-country coalition.
Although instances of spyware intrusions targeting lawmakers are uncommon, the timing and specific targeting of a committee investigator via the very spyware he was scrutinizing indicates a heightened scrutiny of the committee’s internal processes prior to a much-anticipated report outlining its discoveries. The breaches raise new inquiries into the manner in which governments utilize spyware, ostensibly necessary for tackling severe crime, yet are found monitoring the communications of journalists, legislators, and dissidents.
Citizen Lab’s analysts did not pinpoint the phone intrusion to a particular nation but indicated that the government client employed the same Pegasus-enabled email account that had previously been used in a campaign that infiltrated the devices of reporters across Europe. The identity of the client remains unknown, but the recurrence of the same offensive email address suggests that the client had NSO Group’s permission to deploy its Pegasus spyware to surveil phones across various nations in Europe.
A representative from the European Commission did not reply to TechCrunch’s inquiry for a statement. NSO Group also failed to respond to a request for comments regarding the Citizen Lab report before its publication.
In a report released on Friday, Citizen Lab stated that Kouloglou’s phone was compromised in October 2022 and at least twice during March 2023 by exploiting a vulnerability in Apple’s iPhone software. Although this flaw had been patched, the update was not yet applied to Kouloglou’s device. The method used was a “zero-click” vulnerability, meaning the spyware infiltrated and extracted his information without any action required from him.
The vulnerability exploited an existing flaw in Apple’s smart home software utilized in iPhones. It enabled the spyware to retrieve sensitive information from Kouloglou’s phone without his awareness, including text messages, other communications, geolocation data, and images.
The timing of the October 2022 breach aligns with significant discussions via email and text during October and November 2022, leading up to the release of a preliminary draft focusing on spyware misuse in Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Spain.
The infiltration also coincides with Kouloglou being hospitalized for a planned surgery, which may have permitted the spyware operatives to eavesdrop on surrounding conversations regarding his healthcare or other dialogues with visitors at that time.
Months later, on March 6 and 7, Citizen Lab reported that Kouloglou’s device was again accessed by the same Pegasus operator while he traveled from Athens to Brussels, during a critical period of committee hearings just prior to the committee finalizing and issuing their written draft report.
In their conversation, Kouloglou indicated to TechCrunch that he was unsure why he was singled out but suspects it relates to his involvement in the European Parliament’s committee scrutinizing Pegasus-related abuses.
He expressed his indignation upon learning of the breach of his phone.
“You realize that all of your personal data [was taken] — not only the professional exchanges or messages with ministers — but also the very private things, like the joyful moments and the sorrowful moments,” he remarked to TechCrunch.
Kouloglou intends to file a lawsuit against NSO Group, the Israeli-based spyware firm. NSO is largely prohibited from operation in the United States following an executive order during the Biden administration that banned the government’s use of spyware that could infringe upon individuals’ human rights.
Last year, the spyware manufacturer acknowledged that an undisclosed American investment group invested tens of millions into the company, likely as part of efforts to restore NSO’s tarnished reputation tied to facilitating human rights violations.
Kouloglou stated he was going public with his experience “for democracy, human rights, and the battle against corruption.”
“Corruption affects everyone,” he asserted.
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Final opportunity to submit your application — Startup Battlefield Australia applications terminate on July 6
Each startup experiences a pivotal moment that alters everything.
For some, it means acquiring their initial customer. For others, it’s securing their first round of funding.
For a fortunate few, it all begins with one pitch.
If you’re considering applying for Startup Battlefield Australia, the time is now. Applications close on July 6, and once the deadline has passed, the opportunity evaporates.
Who ought to apply?
If you’re an early-stage startup based in Australia or New Zealand, this opportunity is tailored for you.
We seek founders who are:
- In the pre-seed to Series A phase.
- Developing a genuine product with initial traction.
- Addressing significant challenges with groundbreaking technology.
- Prepared to present their business to investors, media, and the wider startup community.
You don’t have to be well-known.
In fact, that’s the intention.
Startup Battlefield serves to unveil the next emerging company before it’s on everyone’s radar.
What’s at risk?
On August 19, 2026, eight chosen startups will showcase live at Stripe Tour Sydney in front of prominent investors, global media, and Australia’s tech community.
The top three startups will be awarded up to $15,000 in Stripe fee credits.
The grand prize takes it a step further.
The winner gets automatic qualification for Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 — one of the most esteemed startup competitions worldwide — taking place in San Francisco this October.
The countdown is ticking
The application period is nearly closed.
Once the deadline has gone by, there are no extensions, second chances, or late applications.
If you’ve contemplated applying, don’t waste another day pondering, “What if?”
Submit your application today and grant your startup the chance to become the next company everyone discusses.
Applications close on July 6
Don’t allow this chance to slip away.
Apply now
Free to apply • No equity taken • Live in Sydney on August 19, 2026.
When you make a purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our editorial independence.
Mark Zuckerberg informs employees that AI agents have not advanced as swiftly as he anticipated.
Replacing humans with AI doesn’t appear to be as straightforward as one might think, as evidenced by Meta’s situation.
According to Reuters, during an internal town hall on Thursday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg informed employees that the speed of AI agent advancement had not “picked up in the manner” that executives had previously anticipated.
Earlier this year, Meta terminated around 8,000 staff — roughly 10% of its overall workforce — and reassigned an additional 7,000 to various AI divisions, including one called Agent Transformation, Bloomberg stated.
In this week’s gathering, Zuckerberg reportedly remarked on these layoffs — indicating that they were not as “neat” as they ought to have been. The decisions were made because senior leaders at the company “were concerned that we weren’t moving quickly enough to adjust” to the evolving dynamics of the tech sector, Zuckerberg allegedly stated.
The corporate head also reportedly mentioned that the anticipated benefits of the new AI-centric organizational structure had not “materialized yet,” though he expressed his belief that the company would start to notice advancements from its AI expenditures within the next three to six months. Several additional investigative accounts have illustrated Meta’s relatively new AI division as a demoralizing environment, according to some engineers involved.
Meta has made significant investments in AI and is projected to allocate up to $145 billion on AI infrastructure this year, Reuters reports.
TechCrunch reached out to Meta for a response.
Beatbot’s AI pool cleaners strive to maintain your Summer festivities throughout peak season with significant savings
Beatbot’s AI-driven robotic pool cleaner is crafted to make summer pool upkeep and entertainment easier.
Amazon aims to create proprietary chips for Kindles, Fire TV, and Echo speakers.
Ming-Chi Kuo’s supply chain analysis and an interview with Panos Panay conducted on the same day present a unified perspective. Amazon is fully committing to custom chips.
Spotify Recognizes Streaming Fraud After Kalshi Trader’s Allegation
Caleb Davies, a well-known trader on Kalshi, often shares with the media how prediction markets play a role in his financial achievements. The IT expert from Minneapolis indicates that he has made roughly $1.2 million across different prediction platforms, with $414,000 coming from Kalshi’s culture markets. Davies is particularly focused on music charts, utilizing Spotify data to inform his betting strategies. “Every morning, I download the data and update my projections,” he tells WIRED.
Nonetheless, this summer, Davies has expressed concerns regarding what he sees as automated manipulation within Spotify-related markets. He has collected and disseminated evidence supporting these concerns and has contacted Spotify, Kalshi, and Polymarket to relay his apprehensions.
The situation escalated when Malcolm Todd’s song “Earrings” unexpectedly soared to the top of a Spotify chart. In a series of posts on X, Davies speculated about the presence of “botting,” where automated systems artificially boost streaming numbers. He proposed that traders in the prediction market were employing bots to modify event contracts. Todd’s surprising ascent wasn’t even represented on Polymarket, suggesting a statistical anomaly that Davies deemed questionable.
Spotify confirmed that it examined the manipulation incidents pointed out by Davies and detected fraudulent streaming activity. “All streaming services face continuous manipulation. Spotify deploys advanced detection measures and does not compensate for manipulated streams,” stated spokesperson Laura Batey. There was no formal statement regarding Davies’ theory on prediction markets manipulation.
After the inquiry, Spotify revised its charts, eliminating over 500,000 fraudulent streams, which resulted in Todd’s drop from first to fourth place. This adjustment arrived too late for Kalshi, which had already rewarded those who bet on Todd’s track.
Kalshi spokesperson Elisabeth Diana disclosed that they have been in ongoing discussions with Spotify. Consequently, Kalshi removed Spotify’s branding from relevant markets and specified that Spotify had not authenticated the chart outcomes.
When Davies raised his concerns with Kalshi, the company’s head of enforcement, Robert DeNault, indicated that only Spotify could validate botting activity. He also proposed alternative explanations for the surge.
Davies informed WIRED, “No one from Polymarket profited from the fraud. This contradicts Kalshi’s perspective as Malcolm Todd wasn’t an option there.”
Polymarket counters this assertion. “This assertion is impractical because we did not list Malcolm Todd in this Spotify market,” conveyed spokesperson Annabel Walsh. The platform is probing the larger issue of streaming manipulation, but has not identified any immediate problems.
The motives of those responsible for the manipulation remain unclear, as no direct communications have occurred. Todd has not made any remarks, and there is no evidence of his involvement.