Jimmy Kimmel Moves James Talarico Interview to YouTube Amid FCC Threats
ABC host joins Stephen Colbert in shifting interviews with the Texas Senate candidate to digital platforms following regulatory pressure.
Sam Whitfield
telecom & connectivity · Tech & Business
Sam has spent years translating carrier fine print into plain English, and the Big Three know her by name — not always fondly.
Drawn to
- hidden fees buried in the bill
- coverage maps that oversell
- the plan that's actually worth switching for
42 stories published
Bylines
The Finnish Fortune: Why Google's AI Billions Should Be a Wake-Up Call for Canada
Opinion: While Alphabet pours billions into Nordic infrastructure, Canadian connectivity remains a stagnant profit center for the Big 3.
The Invisible AI Race: Why 3.2T Interconnects Matter More Than Your Phone Plan
While the Big 3 push overpriced consumer upgrades, a $275 million bet on Celero Communications reveals where the real connectivity battle is being fought.
The Cybercab Safety Gap: Why the Big 3 Telcos Are Already Salivating
Opinion: Tesla's decision to ignore federal safety exemptions for the Cybercab is a red flag—and a golden opportunity for telecom giants to gouge us for 'essential' connectivity.
Corporate Pedigree vs. Public Progress: Will Pichette's New Agency Actually Deliver?
The government taps former Google CFO Patrick Pichette to lead Digital Transformation Canada, but the real test is whether this 'modernization' reaches beyond corporate buzzwords to fix systemic connectivity gaps.
The AI Land Grab: Big Tech and Telcos Pledge 'Responsibility' as Data Centre Surge Hits Canada
Federal government unveils a new framework to ensure hyperscalers and telcos don't pass the electricity bill for their AI ambitions onto Canadian households.
Canadian Pension Funds Bet Big on Indian Telecom Infrastructure
CDPQ leads a wave of Canadian institutional investment into overseas connectivity assets.
Microsoft 365 Outage Disrupts Core Services Following Configuration Error
A multi-day failure involving authentication components impacted Outlook, Teams, and Copilot, forcing Microsoft into a period of extended monitoring.
The AI Security Trap: Why the 'Bug Drought' is a Pretext for Permanent Backdoors
As AI makes software more secure, tech giants and government agencies may use the scarcity of vulnerabilities to demand 'exceptional access' to our devices.
The EU's 'Lawful Access' Gamble: Why Encryption Backdoors Are a Security Nightmare
The European Commission's ProtectEU strategy seeks to grant law enforcement a key to encrypted data, ignoring the reality that a backdoor for the state is a backdoor for everyone.
Privacy Requests Often Lead to Data Deletion Dead Ends
A test of 100 companies reveals that firms frequently ignore data access requests in favor of deleting user information.
Public Support Slumps for License Plate Surveillance
A new survey indicates a reversal in American sentiment toward Flock's network of vehicle-tracking cameras.
Public Backlash Sparks Wave of Flock Camera Destruction
Vigilantes are targeting surveillance devices across the U.S., leading some law enforcement agencies to remove the technology entirely.
DP World Launches Latin America's First Shore Power System at Port of Callao
A new renewable energy investment in Peru allows docked vessels to cut emissions by replacing auxiliary engines with certified green electricity.
ESPN Hikes Subscription and Bundle Rates
New pricing for ESPN standalone plans and Disney Plus bundles will take effect September 17th.
Meta Faces Landmark Trial Over Alleged Predatory Design and Child Privacy Violations
California and 28 other states accuse the social media giant of using a 'hook, hold, harvest, hide' strategy to target children.
The Infrastructure Lie: While the Big 3 Hike Your Bills, AI is Mining the Real Assets
Opinion: Telecom giants claim network upgrades justify rising costs, but the true shift in connectivity is the rise of AI-driven content built on uncredited human labor.
TechCrunch Unveils 2026 Startup Battlefield 200
A curated list of early-stage companies will compete for the Disrupt Cup in San Francisco this October.
Amazon's 'Free' AI Upgrade: A Convenience or a Data Trap?
The tech giant is pushing Alexa Plus to all Fire TV users automatically, but the lack of an opt-in process raises red flags.
Google's Pet Memory Fails to Distinguish Individual Animals in Nest Camera Tests
A review of the Gemini for Home feature reveals that the AI struggles to identify specific pets by name, undermining promised smart home automations.
Privacy as a Weapon: Apple's 'Dark Patterns' Exposed
A German regulator's crackdown on Apple's consent prompts reveals how the tech giant uses design to bully third-party developers and manipulate users.
The Accessory Tax: Paying Premium to Hold Your Oversized Phone
OhSnap's new $50 Snap Grip Stand promises convenience, but it's just another cost for consumers struggling with unmanageable handsets.
Meta Releases Open-Weight AI Model Glimmer
Mark Zuckerberg argues AI should be accessible to all, though Meta maintains a proprietary lock on its most powerful model.
Microsoft Consolidates Copilot Apps, Axes Unsuccessful AI Features
The tech giant is merging its consumer and business AI assistants into a single interface while retiring several failed tools.
Google's New 'Tap-to-Share' is a Win for Users, but a Windfall for Greedy Carriers
Opinion: While Google is finally making Android connectivity intuitive, the seamless exchange of files only highlights how the Big 3 overcharge us for the data that powers these experiences.
The FCC’s New Republican Supermajority is a Green Light for Telecom Greed
Opinion: By breaking historical norms to stack the FCC, President Trump is clearing the path for the Big 3 to dismantle consumer protections and hike your bills.
Amazon’s AI Ambitions are Fueling a Climate Disaster in Texas
Opinion: By investing in a massive gas-burning power plant in Pecos County, Amazon is prioritizing corporate scale over the public good and its own carbon neutrality promises.
The Cost of Greed: Why GoDaddy's Legal Woes Matter to the Little Guy
A law firm is investigating potential securities violations at GoDaddy after a pricing shift tanked the stock. Sam Whitfield explains why this corporate chaos is a symptom of a larger problem.
The Golden Handcuffs: Apple's Trade-In Bump is a Calculated Ecosystem Trap
By padding trade-in values and targeting new Android hardware, Apple is making it easier for users to surrender to the ecosystem just as prices skyrocket.
The Illusory Growth of Cogent: Why Shareholders Aren't the Only Victims
As lawyers fight over a securities fraud class action, the real story is the gap between Cogent's promised 'strong demand' and the reality of its failing wireline business.
SES Expands Multi-Orbit Satellite Connectivity for LATAM Airlines
The space solutions company will equip over 60 Airbus and Embraer aircraft with high-speed inflight internet.
Verizon's Billion-Dollar AI Pivot is a Slap in the Face to Every Monthly Bill Payer
Opinion: While CEO Dan Schulman brags about massive dark fiber deals for Google, the average consumer is left fighting for fair pricing on basic connectivity.
Opinion: Amazon's Satellite Grab: Another Tech Giant Coming for Your Airwaves
The e-commerce behemoth wants 5,000+ satellites to beam data directly to your phone. Here is why this expansion is a red flag for consumers.
Extreme Heat Strains Central US Power Grids
Rising temperatures from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf Coast are driving energy demand and testing regional infrastructure.
US Power Grid Giant PJM Faces 'Grave Legitimacy Crisis' Over Capacity and Costs
Federal regulators and White House officials warn that America's largest power grid operator is failing to meet surging AI-driven demand while lacking transparency in decision-making.
Opinion: WordPress Flaws Expose a Fragile Ecosystem
Critical vulnerabilities leave millions of websites at risk.
LG ThinQ Terms of Use Raise Privacy and Legal Concerns
Analysis of LG's updated service terms reveals broad data rights and restricted legal recourse for users.
Greenworks Recalls Over 550,000 Kobalt Batteries Over USB-C Fire Risk
More than half a million power tool batteries are being pulled after reports of sparking and smoke during charging.
The Green Debt Mirage: How Data Center Giants Mask Grid Strain
Industry leaders are leveraging 'sustainable' loans to quiet public outcry, even as their massive AI buildouts threaten local utility costs and resources.
The AI Power Grab: New York is Right to Stop the Data Center Drain
Opinion: As tech companies chase AI fantasies, New York's bold moratorium exposes the parasitic relationship between hyperscale data centers and the average consumer's utility bill.
Dumb Co Attempts to Bridge the Gap Between Smartphones and Digital Detox
Dumb Co is modifying low-cost flip phones to offer a middle ground for users seeking to reduce screen time without sacrificing essential apps.
The Great Disconnect: Why the 'Dumb Phone' is a Necessary Act of Rebellion
As consumers choke on the frictionless, high-anxiety ecosystems of the Big 3, a new wave of 'dumb' tech is offering a desperate escape route.
A public prediction record for Sam Whitfield’s calls is coming soon.