[FRIAM] Fwd: The problem with Big Tech's wartime push against Putin

Fri Mar 4 11:01:16 EST 2022

Interesting piece.  If you are Big Tech, esp communications, what would you
do?
TJ

=======================
Tom Johnson
Inst. for Analytic Journalism
Santa Fe, New Mexico
505-577-6482
=======================

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: WIRED's Steven Levy <wired at newsletters.wired.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 4, 2022, 6:02 AM
Subject: The problem with Big Tech's wartime push against Putin
To: <tom at jtjohnson.com>

Plus: More color and context from this week in Silicon Valley.

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[image: WIRED Plaintext with Steven Levy]

*03.04.22*

Hi, everyone. Finally, something to do besides doom scrolling—wait for a
table at Veselka
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.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>
!

[image: This Week's Big Moment]

The Plain View

In 1942, smokers of one of the leading cigarette brands noticed a change in
the packaging. The green background on Lucky Strike boxes was now white.
The American Tobacco Company’s official explanation was that copper, used
to produce the green pigment, was at a premium during wartime. To support
the Allied troops, the cigarette maker “sacrificed” by abandoning the green
dye. In what might be called midcentury virtue signaling, the firm rolled
out a massive ad campaign with the slogan, “Lucky Strike Green Has Gone to
War.”
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXRsYXMtcmVwcm9wYXBlcndvcmsuY29tL2x1Y2t5LXN0cmlrZS1ncmVlbi1oYXMtZ29uZS10by13YXIvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Bbb7874c8>

The current Russian invasion of Ukraine has offered a similar opportunity
for a contemporary industry that has occasionally been compared to the
tobacco cartel—Big Tech. Multiple times a day, we read about how technology
companies ranging from trillionaire giants to startups are prioritizing
wartime responsibilities and denying services to Russia or aiding Ukraine.
Some of these moves have directly impacted the battlefield, if you extend
the war theater to digital cyberstructure as well as the global fight for
hearts and minds. The decisions of Meta, Twitter, Google, and
Microsoft to block
or constrain the Russian news agencies
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.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>
Sputnik and RT, for instance, represents an attempt to preemptively
mitigate disinformation. Other measures fall in the category of an overall
boycott of a country brutally attacking another without provocation, or
offering aid to the disenfranchised. Apple, for instance, closed its stores
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FwcGxlLXJ1c3NpYS1pcGhvbmUtdWtyYWluZS10cmFmZmljLW1hcHMtcnQtc3B1dG5pay1hcHAtc3RvcmUvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Bbd333359>
in Moscow. Airbnb is offering
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25ldC5jb20vdGVjaC9zZXJ2aWNlcy1hbmQtc29mdHdhcmUvYWlyYm5iLW9mZmVyLWZyZWUtaG91c2luZy1mb3ItMTAwMDAwLXVrcmFpbmlhbi1yZWZ1Z2Vlcy8_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B4eadd954>
free lodging to refugees. SpaceX is sending
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3BhY2UuY29tL3NwYWNleC1zdGFybGluay10ZXJtaW5hbHMtYXJyaXZlLXVrcmFpbmUtZWxvbi1tdXNrLXJ1c3NpYT91dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B5ab9a157>
Starlink internet terminals to Ukraine. And just as the American Tobacco
Company did in 1942, those launching such initiatives are making sure we
know about it.

It’s heartening to see how almost all the Western world, except maybe Tucker
Carlson
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL21lZGlhLzIwMjIvMDIvMjMvdHVja2VyLWNhcmxzb24tcHV0aW4tcnVzc2lhLXVrcmFpbmUvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B5c59c3f4>
and Donald Trump
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25uLmNvbS8yMDIyLzAyLzI2L3BvbGl0aWNzL3RydW1wLWNwYWMtcHV0aW4tdWtyYWluZS9pbmRleC5odG1sP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B3db1a40b>,
is united in condemning Putin’s invasion, and that corporations by and
large are making moves to back that up. Yet some of those decisions aren’t
so clear cut in who they benefit, and what precedents they might establish.
In some cases, their responses are state-requested, originating from the
US, EU, or Ukraine itself. Those are hard to turn down. But companies like
Meta, Twitter, and Google have spent years devising policies to guide their
actions, and those rules were intended to be applied regardless of where
political winds are blowing. I am reminded of the exuberance inside the
company then called Facebook when its products helped power the Arab Spring
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.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>.
In the excitement of aligning with a liberation movement, Facebook’s
leaders failed to see how the same protocols could later empower deadly
misinformation in Myanmar and at the US Capitol.

Our big tech companies are so powerful that even actions that seem morally
clear-cut can bite back later on. Take the question of how Facebook
operates inside of Russia. Meta is defying Putin’s objections to
fact-checking, and has blocked state-backed ads
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy8yMDIyLzAyLzI2LzEwODMyOTExMjIvcnVzc2lhLXVrcmFpbmUtZmFjZWJvb2stZ29vZ2xlLXlvdXR1YmUtdHdpdHRlcj91dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Be7ffe09f>.
In response, Russia itself is slowing down access to the platform. If Meta
decided to pull Facebook from Russia altogether, would it be a punishment
or a reward to Putin? Removal might signify a Zuckerbergian solidarity with
the emerging corporate boycott, and also provide a means to fully shut down
disinformation circulating on Cyrillic News Feeds. (Whoops, change that
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly9zZWFyY2hlbmdpbmVsYW5kLmNvbS9mYWNlYm9vay1mZWVkLXJlYnJhbmQtMzgwMzgyP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Bed7fc5a9>
to “Feeds.”) But it would also preclude the possibility that Russians
unhappy with Putin’s actions might organize protests, share stories of
young soldiers at risk, or at least complain about the effects of sanctions.

Responding to a question I asked in a press call this week, Meta’s policy
czar Nick Clegg shared how the company views such contradictions. “We are a
private sector company, which runs apps or services, which happen to be
relied upon by millions of people in Russia and Ukraine, at a moment of
great distress and military conflict,” he said. “And also, we're having
demands made of us by governments in numerous different jurisdictions. That
is quite a difficult balancing trick for us to strike.”

Maybe the best example of this conundrum in the tech world are the demands
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.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>
on the crypto community to deny services to Russians
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY29pbmRlc2suY29tL3BvbGljeS8yMDIyLzAyLzI4L3VrcmFpbmUtYXNrcy1iaW5hbmNlLWNvaW5iYXNlLTYtb3RoZXItY3J5cHRvLWV4Y2hhbmdlcy10by1ibG9jay1ydXNzaWFuLXVzZXJzLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Bb1b31777>.
If it doesn’t, the argument goes, cryptocurrencies will be the loophole by
which Putin’s oligarchs will shelter their ill-gotten fortunes. But one of
the pillars of crypto technology is that no state action can constrain the
much-touted decentralized digital commerce. On one hand, it seems like a
great idea to freeze the wallets of Russian kleptocrats, just as banks are
doing with their offshore accounts. But doing the “right thing” in this
case would be like pulling a weight-bearing Jenga piece out of a delicately
balanced crypto architecture. If crypto is not amoral, is it really crypto?
(So far, some crypto exchanges are holding out.)
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvbS9uZXdzL3RlY2hub2xvZ3ktNjA1NzYzNzM_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B0ed80925>

While there may be no right answers for a lot of these questions, one truth
shines through: These platforms are scarily intertwined in the body politic
and the global economic machinery. And actions taken now, even with the
best of intentions, might wind up repeated to our disadvantage. Cooperation
with state-issued requests that skirt established corporate policies could
set a troubling precedent.

In general, consumers should be wary of corporate actions taken in the
guise of righteousness. Take Lucky Strike. Post-armistice, it came out that
the tobacco company’s vaunted switch from copper pigment had actually been
planned
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc25vcGVzLmNvbS9mYWN0LWNoZWNrL2J1bGxzLWV5ZS1sb2dvLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B289dc2b2>
long before Pearl Harbor. Surveys had shown that its female customers
didn’t like green. The war provided cover for something the company was
intending to do anyway. So, as I page through the press releases of tech
companies mobilized against Putin, my first question is, “Got a light?”

[image: Looking Back]

Time Travel

Big Tech’s response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine represents a hefty
pendulum swing from the dark period after Edward Snowden’s revelations. In
a 2014 story about how Silicon Valley responded to the leaks
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tLzIwMTQvMDEvaG93LXRoZS11cy1hbG1vc3Qta2lsbGVkLXRoZS1pbnRlcm5ldC8_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B9bbf78fc>,
I found that the security and policy officials were appalled by federal
actions, to the point where they considered their own government as an
adversary.

*News of the government raid on data-center traffic hit the industry with
the visceral shock of having one's home robbed. The betrayal was most
strikingly illustrated in a PowerPoint slide that showed how the NSA had
bypassed Google's encryption, inserting a probe as data moved from its
servers across the open Internet. Between two big clouds—one representing
the public Internet, the other labeled "Google Cloud"—there was a little
hand-drawn smiley face, a blithe emoji gotcha never meant to be seen by its
victim. Google's Drummond wrote an indignant statement to the Post,
describing the company as "outraged." Yahoo's director of security, Ramses
Martinez, endorses the sentiment. "It was news to us," he says of Muscular.
"We put a lot of work into securing our data."*

*It's one thing to object to a legal process that one believes is
unconstitutional. It's quite another to be working for an American company,
charged with protecting the privacy of customers, and find that the eyes
staring across from you on the virtual Maginot Line of cyberdefense are
those of the United States of America.*

[image: Reader Question]

Ask Me One Thing

Dag asks, “From your perspective, what was the most intriguing story you’ve
ever written?”

Thanks, Dag. It’s impossible to identify the single most intriguing story,
but a continuing source of fascination for me is when the nature of reality
shifts as the reporting continues. I loved doing the fairly recent story
about Huawei and polar codes
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L2h1YXdlaS01Zy1wb2xhci1jb2Rlcy1kYXRhLWJyZWFrdGhyb3VnaC8_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Ba02e1bba>
because of the way a mathematical discovery altered perception of a
business and economic issue. My immersion into crypto wars provided a
window into the enforced paranoia of the intelligence agencies, where truth
unfolds fractally, and every answer raises another question
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcmNoaXZlLmd5Zm9yZC5jb20vMTk5Ny93aXJlZC11ay8yLjAzL2ZlYXR1cmVzL3dpc2VjcmFja2Vycy5odG1sP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Bcd452425>.
This dynamic affected another favorite, my report on the puzzle of the encoded
Kryptos sculpture
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tLzIwMDkvMDQvZmYta3J5cHRvcy8_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B357c5b4d>
at the CIA. No wonder that one of my favorite lines in theater is from
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” when Martha says, “Truth or illusion,
George, you don’t know the difference.” To which George responds, “No, but
we must carry on as though we did.”

*You can submit questions to* *mail at wired.com*
<mail at wired.com?subject=ASK%20LEVY>*. Write ASK LEVY in the subject line.*

[image: Notable Links]

End Times Chronicle

Putin is threatening nukes
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.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>,
the UN reports that we have almost no time
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8yOC9jbGltYXRlL2NsaW1hdGUtY2hhbmdlLWlwY2MtdW4tcmVwb3J0Lmh0bWw_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B37b7738c>
to forestall a climate catastrophe, and there’s no baseball
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly90aGVhdGhsZXRpYy5jb20vbGl2ZS1ibG9ncy9tbGItbG9ja291dC1uZXdzLXJvYi1tYW5mcmVkLWNhbmNlbHMtcmVndWxhci1zZWFzb24tZ2FtZXMtYWZ0ZXItbWxicGEtcmVqZWN0cy1vd25lcnMtYmVzdC1maW5hbC1jYmEtb2ZmZXItaW4tbmVnb3RpYXRpb25zL2hReVE0QklTeWh3cS8_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B6a78499b>.
What more do you need to know?

[image: Looking Back]

Last but Not Least

On top of everything else, Ukraine is now in environmental hell
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3VrcmFpbmUtaXMtaW4tYW4tZW52aXJvbm1lbnRhbC1jcmlzaXMtdG9vLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B869faa1d>
.

You thought Telegram was a mouthpiece for rightwing spreaders of
misinformation? Maybe it is, but the service is also providing critical
networking
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3RlbGVncmFtLXVrcmFpbmUtcnVzc2lhLWNoYW5uZWxzLXNpZ25hbC8_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B88dda6ed>
for Ukrainians.

You can admire Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. You can be inspired
by him. But don’t meme-ify him
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3VrcmFpbmUtdm9sb2R5bXlyLXplbGVuc2t5LW1lbWUvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B356b4068>
.

India’s inexcusable caste bias has infected Silicon Valley
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3RyYXBwZWQtaW4tc2lsaWNvbi12YWxsZXlzLWhpZGRlbi1jYXN0ZS1zeXN0ZW0vP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B229440b9>
.

[image: This Week's Big Moment]

<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly9zbGkud2lyZWQuY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzQwMTQ3JmxpPSZlPXRvbSU0MGp0am9obnNvbi5jb20mcD0wMzA0MjAyMiZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Bb98e27a6>
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly9zbGkud2lyZWQuY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzQwMTQ4JmxpPSZlPXRvbSU0MGp0am9obnNvbi5jb20mcD0wMzA0MjAyMiZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27C852436bc>
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly9zbGkud2lyZWQuY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzQwMTUwJmxpPSZlPXRvbSU0MGp0am9obnNvbi5jb20mcD0wMzA0MjAyMiZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27D31e1c299>
[image: smoke rising in the background behind houses as people stand in the
foreground]
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3VrcmFpbmUtaXMtaW4tYW4tZW52aXJvbm1lbnRhbC1jcmlzaXMtdG9vP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B15957eb0>

*Ukraine Is in an Environmental Crisis Too*
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3VrcmFpbmUtaXMtaW4tYW4tZW52aXJvbm1lbnRhbC1jcmlzaXMtdG9vP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27C15957eb0>

*BY GREGORY BARBER AND MATT SIMON*

Russia’s attack is literally tearing the country apart, polluting air and
water. Ukrainians will suffer long after the conflict ends.
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3VrcmFpbmUtaXMtaW4tYW4tZW52aXJvbm1lbnRhbC1jcmlzaXMtdG9vP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmwmdXRtX2JyYW5kPXdpcmVkJnV0bV9tYWlsaW5nPVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1hdWQtZGV2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmYnhpZD01YmVhMTIzYjI0YzE3YzZhZGYxZDJhMjcmY25kaWQ9OTYzNTY0MSZlc3JjPVdJUkVEX0NSTVNlcmllcyZtYmlkPUNSTVdJUjA5MjEyMA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27D15957eb0>
[image: Young girl seen reading news on cell phone at a bomb shelter in
Kyiv, Ukraine]
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3RlbGVncmFtLXVrcmFpbmUtcnVzc2lhLWNoYW5uZWxzLXNpZ25hbD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B1e82d50e>

*When War Struck, Ukraine Turned to Telegram*
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3RlbGVncmFtLXVrcmFpbmUtcnVzc2lhLWNoYW5uZWxzLXNpZ25hbD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27C1e82d50e>

*BY MATT BURGESS*

As Russian troops surround Kyiv, millions of Ukrainians have relied on the
messaging platform for government information.
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3RlbGVncmFtLXVrcmFpbmUtcnVzc2lhLWNoYW5uZWxzLXNpZ25hbD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27D1e82d50e>
[image: Volodymyr Zelensky standing behind a podium while giving a speech
from Kyiv, Ukraine]
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3VrcmFpbmUtdm9sb2R5bXlyLXplbGVuc2t5LW1lbWU_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Bada8b064>

*Volodymyr Zelensky Is Not a Meme*
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3VrcmFpbmUtdm9sb2R5bXlyLXplbGVuc2t5LW1lbWU_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Cada8b064>

*BY KATE KNIBBS*

The Ukrainian president's actions in the face of the Russian invasion
turned him into a hero online. But the Marvelization of political figures
is dangerous.
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3VrcmFpbmUtdm9sb2R5bXlyLXplbGVuc2t5LW1lbWU_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Dada8b064>
[image: reflection of a man on water ripples]
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3RyYXBwZWQtaW4tc2lsaWNvbi12YWxsZXlzLWhpZGRlbi1jYXN0ZS1zeXN0ZW0_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B834567cc>

*Trapped in Silicon Valley’s Hidden Caste System*
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3RyYXBwZWQtaW4tc2lsaWNvbi12YWxsZXlzLWhpZGRlbi1jYXN0ZS1zeXN0ZW0_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27C834567cc>

*BY SONIA PAUL*

Born in a cowshed in India, Siddhant now works for Meta in California. But
he hides his background as a Dalit and fears he can never reveal his true
self.
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L3RyYXBwZWQtaW4tc2lsaWNvbi12YWxsZXlzLWhpZGRlbi1jYXN0ZS1zeXN0ZW0_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1ubCZ1dG1fYnJhbmQ9d2lyZWQmdXRtX21haWxpbmc9V0lSX1BheXdhbGxTdWJfMDMwNDIyX1N0ZXZlbkxldnkmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWF1ZC1kZXYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZieGlkPTViZWExMjNiMjRjMTdjNmFkZjFkMmEyNyZjbmRpZD05NjM1NjQxJmVzcmM9V0lSRURfQ1JNU2VyaWVzJm1iaWQ9Q1JNV0lSMDkyMTIw/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27D834567cc>

[image: Sign up for WIRED's Deals Newsletter]
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXIvZGVhbHM_c291cmNlQ29kZT1DTVVuaXRQcm9tbyZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27B0d6aa6e9>

*Get Our Deals Newsletter
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXIvZGVhbHM_c291cmNlQ29kZT1DTVVuaXRQcm9tbyZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27C0d6aa6e9>*

Be the first to know about sales on laptops, TVs, headphones, and other
gadgets. Sign up!
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXIvZGVhbHM_c291cmNlQ29kZT1DTVVuaXRQcm9tbyZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27D0d6aa6e9>

<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly9zbGkud2lyZWQuY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzQwMTUxJmxpPSZlPXRvbSU0MGp0am9obnNvbi5jb20mcD0wMzA0MjAyMiZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27E00942190>
<https://link.wired.com/click/26903665.28833/aHR0cHM6Ly9zbGkud2lyZWQuY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzQwMTUyJmxpPSZlPXRvbSU0MGp0am9obnNvbi5jb20mcD0wMzA0MjAyMiZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5sJnV0bV9icmFuZD13aXJlZCZ1dG1fbWFpbGluZz1XSVJfUGF5d2FsbFN1Yl8wMzA0MjJfU3RldmVuTGV2eSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249YXVkLWRldiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PVdJUl9QYXl3YWxsU3ViXzAzMDQyMl9TdGV2ZW5MZXZ5JmJ4aWQ9NWJlYTEyM2IyNGMxN2M2YWRmMWQyYTI3JmNuZGlkPTk2MzU2NDEmZXNyYz1XSVJFRF9DUk1TZXJpZXMmbWJpZD1DUk1XSVIwOTIxMjA/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27Fd81859e8>
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