Surveillance vendors caught abusing access to telcos to track people’s phone locations, researchers say
TechCrunch·60-word summary·1 min read
Researchers from Citizen Lab uncovered that two surveillance vendors exploited cellular network infrastructure to track individuals globally. The vendors abused telco access to monitor phone locations without authorization. The investigation highlights ongoing concerns over privacy violations and the misuse of telecom data by surveillance companies, raising calls for stricter regulation and oversight of such vendors.
Artisan’s founder emphasizes the importance of hiring the right talent over simply hiring humans, countering their “Stop Hiring Humans” campaign. The message highlights that successful scaling depends on selecting suitable team members rather than avoiding human hires altogether. The campaign, launched by Artisan, aims to challenge traditional hiring practices, stressing quality over quantity in team building.
OpenAI has launched GPT-5.5, featuring new benchmarks in coding, science, and knowledge work, aiming to boost productivity through automation of complex workflows. The update, announced in April 2026, could significantly impact multiple industries by enhancing AI-driven tasks and processes. This release marks a notable advancement in AI technology, emphasizing OpenAI’s focus on improving AI capabilities for professional applications.
Tencent released Hy3, a new AI model that excels in coding, reasoning, and search, built in under three months. It is open-sourced and is considered the most efficient Chinese large language model (LLM). The model's capabilities and quick development highlight China's growing AI competitiveness, though it remains under the radar.
Figma's stock dropped 8.7% to $17.51 after Anthropic launched Claude Design, a competitor to Figma's design tools. The stock has fallen nearly 80% from its 2025 IPO peak. Despite the decline, Figma's Q4 revenue rose 40.1% to $303.8M, beating estimates, though CEO Dylan Field sold 250,000 shares amid the stock slump.
Microsoft announced a voluntary retirement buyout offer for U.S. employees where those with combined years of service and age totaling 70 or more are eligible. The program aims to reduce staff by up to 7%, encouraging long-serving employees to consider early retirement, with the offer available as of April 2026.
Palantir employees are increasingly questioning their company's role, with internal Slack messages and interviews revealing internal turmoil. The unrest reflects growing concerns among staff about the company's activities, though specific details or dates are not provided. The situation highlights internal tensions within Palantir as employees grapple with ethical considerations related to their work.
