Tech Transparency Project

TTP's latest report shows that Grok is just one of *many* apps—easily discoverable on app stores—that are capable of producing this content. techtransparencyproject.org/articles/apple…

While local enforcement catches up, US firms must do their part to stop their products from being abused. OpenAI and Google claimed they “have robust programs in place to proactively disrupt scammers from abusing their tools." Starlink didn't respond to AP requests for comment.

The AP’s review of satellite imagery found scammers working in remote areas of Myanmar, far from where law enforcement typically operates – making it harder to crack down on these scam centers locally.

Last year, a TTP report showed how Meta platforms were awash with scam ads that deployed AI-generated deepfakes to prey on users. Now, a new @AP investigation details how many other US tech products—like AI and Starlink—fit into global scam operations. apnews.com/article/scams-…

It's been close to two years since a TTP investigation found more than 450 ads on Instagram and Facebook selling an array of pharmaceutical and other drugs. Still, #MetaDrugAds are common. This ad, active today on Instagram, clearly promotes pints of codeine -- an opioid.

NEW: Private equity firms are driving up healthcare costs for patients already struggling to afford everyday essentials, according to a new CfA report. CfA's analysis found that PE-owned hospitals netted $669 more per patient compared to other hospitals. campaignforaccountability.org/report-overbil…

Apple and Google removed many of the apps in response to TTP’s findings, but a follow-up months later showed that the problem persisted. Worse, TTP found that the platforms' search and advertising systems were sometimes pointing users straight to the apps. techtransparencyproject.org/articles/apple…

In January, TTP identified dozens of easily downloadable apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play store that were capable of rendering women completely or partially naked. Some of the apps were rated suitable for kids as young as 9. techtransparencyproject.org/articles/nudif…

Reporting on how AI-generated deepfake nudes are harming kids, the @WSJ cites a George Mason University survey revealing “nudification” apps have shockingly wide adoption, and TTP research showing just how easy these apps are to find and download. wsj.com/tech/ai-deepfa…

Until YouTube cleans up this problem, advertisers will be vulnerable to having their ads run on content from individuals and organizations deemed a threat to U.S. national security. techtransparencyproject.org/articles/youtu…

A @CBP rep told @Wired that its ads were placed by “a third-party contractor working with Google.” A spokesperson for CrowdStrike, which had an ad featured on one channel, emphasized to TTP that ad placements "are determined by the platform's automated systems, not [ad buyers]."

NEW: As the Trump administration piles new sanctions on Iran amid the ongoing conflict, YouTube is making money off dozens of channels for U.S.-sanctioned Iranian officials and groups, according to a TTP investigation. techtransparencyproject.org/articles/youtu…

New research suggests that dozens of monetized YouTube channels are run by people and organizations that the US government has sanctioned for their ties to Tehran. wired.com/story/youtube-…

But public sentiment seems to be turning. Earlier this year, the National PTA announced it was cutting ties with Meta, citing "heightened public scrutiny and legal cases.” The announcement followed a 2025 TTP report exposing the partnership. techtransparencyproject.org/articles/natio…

Students now are also dealing with the added distraction of apps like Snapchat and TikTok—which were offered help from the National Parent Teacher Association to “help with sentiment [around Snap]” and “positively raise [TikTok’s] profile among parents.” nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/…

Writing about how tech in schools is undermining education, @jenvalentino reports that some are “re-evaluating their reliance on devices like Chromebooks, the inexpensive laptops made by [Google]." Back in 2019, a TTP report documented the origins of this Google takeover.