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 <wi...@newsletters.wired.com> Date: Fri, Mar 4, 2022, 6:02 AM Subject: The problem with Big Tech's wartime push against Putin To: <t...@jtjohnson.com> Plus: More color and context from this week in Silicon Valley. View this email in your browser <https://link.wired.com/view/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27g0n01.m8x/14728b6b> | Manage newsletter subscriptions <https://link.wired.com/oc/5bea123b24c17c6adf1d2a27g0n01.m8x/4c3d2756&newsletter=wir> [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.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>. 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* *m...@wired.com* <m...@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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