Digital Life

Interactive devices like Alexa and Google Home are becoming more common fixtures in homes these days. What kind of impact does that have on kids?

Alexa, Are You Safe For My Kids?

7:42am October 30, 2017

Talking to a device that talks back can be entertaining and educational for children. But psychologists say children can develop relationships with these devices that can be different than adults.

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Mattel Shelved Its 'Aristotle' Device For Kids Over Privacy Concerns

5:55am October 30, 2017

by Allison Aubrey

What if the devices in your home got involved in raising your kids? The toy giant Mattel planned to market such a device but pulled the project when parents and pediatricians complained.

Britain Says North Korea Was Likely Behind WannaCry Attack That Hit Hospitals

12:09pm October 27, 2017

by Bill Chappell

The British government is "as sure as possible" that Kim Jong Un's pariah state launched the attack, U.K. Minister of State for Security Ben Wallace told the BBC.

Megan Phelps-Roper: If You're Raised To Hate, Can You Reverse It?

8:39am October 27, 2017

Megan Phelps-Roper grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church, which preaches a message of hate and fear. But after engaging with her critics--on Twitter, no less--she decided to leave the church.

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National

Twitter Says It Will Ban Ads From Russian News Agencies After Interference In 2016 Election

4:43pm October 26, 2017

by David Folkenflik

Twitter has said it will ban all ads from Russian news agencies effective immediately. The company made the decision as a result of role these agencies had in interfering with the 2016 election.

Economy

How 5 Tech Giants Have Become More Like Governments Than Companies

4:33pm October 26, 2017

New York Times tech columnist Farhad Manjoo warns that the "frightful five" — Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook — are collectively more powerful than many governments.

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National

'Distracted Walking' Law Bans Texting While Crossing Streets In Honolulu

4:37pm October 25, 2017

If you're walking across a street in Honolulu, you'll want to put your phone away. A new law went into effect today making it illegal for a pedestrian to be looking at a screen while crossing the street.

Honolulu police officers direct traffic at an intersection. Honolulu is the first major U.S. city to ban texting while walking in a crosswalk.

National

Honolulu's 'Distracted Walking' Law Takes Effect, Targeting Phone Users

10:53am October 25, 2017

by Bill Chappell

Under the new law, the only legal reason for a pedestrian to look at a cellphone while crossing a street would be to call 911. For repeat offenders, fines could run up to nearly $100.

SecureDrop, Encrypted System For News Tips, Announces Fix For 'Vulnerability'

7:19pm October 24, 2017

by Camila Domonoske

Since 2015, newly established SecureDrop servers were briefly susceptible to tampering during installation. Experts say an attack would be very difficult, and there's no evidence one ever happened.

What You Need To Know About The Honest Ads Act

5:28pm October 19, 2017

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks to Democratic Sen. Mark Warner about the Honest Ads Act, a proposal to regulate online political advertising the same way as television, radio and print.

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