How Meta’s Victim-Blaming Failed To Sway Jurors in Social Media Addiction Trial

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How Meta’s Victim-Blaming Failed To Sway Jurors in Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial (Maria)

The author writes, “When Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, sought to defend itself in the landmark social media addiction lawsuit alleging its products caused personal injury to a young user, it went on the offensive. The mental health problems that a 20-year-old known as KGM suffered since childhood were not the result of exposure to harm on Instagram, Meta’s lawyers argued. … Their tactics did not resonate with jurors, who decided 10-2 in favor of the plaintiffs, found that Meta deliberately designed an addictive product, and awarded millions in damages.”

DOJ Confirms FBI Director Kash Patel’s Personal Email Was Hacked (DonkeyHotey)

The author writes, “Iran-linked hackers successfully broke into FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email, the Department of Justice confirmed to Reuters on Friday. Reuters could not authenticate the leaked emails themselves but noted that the Gmail address matched an email account ‘linked to Patel in previous data breaches ⁠preserved by the dark web intelligence firm District 4 Labs.’ The DOJ suggested the emails appeared to be authentic.”

US Battled Drone Incursions Over Key Bases at Home After Launch of Epic Fury (Dana)

From The War Zone: “Multiple recent drone incursions over U.S. bases housing strategic military assets amplify concerns The War Zone has been documenting for years about highly worrisome drone flights over these installations and critical capabilities. These incidents, as we’ve noted, present a risk to national and local security.”

Homeless and Stateless: Deportees From US Are Trapped in Mexico (Reader Steve)

From the Los Angeles Times: “Nearly 13,000 third-country nationals have been deported to Mexico under Trump, many with no connection to the country. The largest group of such deportees: immigrants from Cuba. Banished from the U.S., undocumented in Mexico and unable to go home, deportees are stuck in ‘a quasi-stateless limbo.’”

Is the FBI Investigating Environmental Activists? (Laura)

From Inside Climate News: “A recent visit by an FBI agent to a climate activist hints at a broadening Trump administration effort to target political opponents.”

Atacama Surprise: The World’s Driest Desert Is Teeming With Hidden Life (Mili)

The author writes, “Even in the ultra-dry Atacama Desert, tiny soil-dwelling nematodes are thriving in surprising diversity. Scientists found that biodiversity increases with moisture and altitude shapes which species survive. In the most extreme zones, many nematodes reproduce asexually — a possible survival advantage. The discovery suggests that life in arid regions may be far richer, and more fragile, than once believed.”

Your Salted Caramel Mocha Latte Is Destroying Society (Russ)

The author writes, “According to the National Coffee Association, last year, 46 percent of Americans had some ‘specialty’ coffee (42 percent, sensibly, still had a regular one) in the past day. Simultaneously, 54 percent of U.S. adults feel isolated and half of them feel bereft of companionship ‘often or some of the time,’ according to the American Psychological Association. As specialty coffee consumption has surged (84 percent since 2011), so has the loneliness epidemic. Just a correlation? Consider what your coffee order reveals.”