Benjamin Powers

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.

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DHS's cybersecurity branch audited Voatz's internal networks and servers, finding little to be concerned about, in stark contrast with an MIT report published Thursday. (Image via Mark Van Scyoc / Shutterstock)
MIT Wasn't Only One Auditing Voatz – Homeland Security Did Too, With Fewer Concerns
A newly declassified DHS cyber audit complicates Thursday’s reports of major security vulnerabilities in the Voatz mobile voting app.
DHS's cybersecurity branch audited Voatz's internal networks and servers, finding little to be concerned about, in stark contrast with an MIT report published Thursday. (Image via Mark Van Scyoc / Shutterstock)
Jerome Powell image via Federal Reserve
Could a Digital Dollar Compete on Privacy? Fed Chairman Powell Hints It Might
Fed Chairman Powell has given financial privacy advocates a glimmer of hope – and hinted at how the U.S. might competitively position a digitized dollar.
Jerome Powell image via Federal Reserve
surveillance
Why We Need a Federal Privacy Law
Mutale Nkonde, a Harvard researcher, argues the U.S. should pass a privacy law modeled on California's new CCPA.
surveillance
voting, election
Iowa Caucus App Fiasco Shows Need for Open Source Transparency
Iowa's election mess shows the risks of relying on centralized, digital systems and software that lacks transparency.
voting, election
Credit: Ring promotional screenshot
Third-Party Trackers Are Pulling Your Data Off Ring's Android App
A new report from the Electronic Frontier Foundation details the personally identifiable information pulled from your Ring app.
Credit: Ring promotional screenshot
vote, election
Campaign Privacy Statements Open Voters to Data Sharing
By signing up for one election campaign, you're often consenting to work with others.
vote, election