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Matthew Champion

@matthewchampion.bsky.social

14K followers 560 following 130 posts

@wired.com | [email protected] | Signal matthewchampion.10 | ex-VICE News and BuzzFeed News

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Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · 1h

Autumn Gardiner started to believe the rejected photos were being caused by her facial difference. The camera system didn’t seem to work for her, she says. “It was humiliating and weird. Here’s this machine telling me that I don’t have a human face."

www.wired.com/story/when-f...

When Face Recognition Doesn’t Know Your Face Is a Face

An estimated 100 million people live with facial differences. As face recognition tech becomes widespread, some say they’re getting blocked from accessing essential systems and services.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Matt Burgess (WIRED) @mattburgess1.bsky.social · 21h

NEW: In the most significant action against brutal scam compounds in Southeast Asia to date, US and UK officials have sanctioned the alleged operators of more than 10 scam centers in Cambodia.

146 entities linked to the Prince Group have been sanctioned—and $15 billion of crypto seized

Feds Seize Record-Breaking $15 Billion in Bitcoin From Alleged Scam Empire

Officials in the US and UK have taken sweeping action against “one of the largest investment fraud operations in history,” confiscating a historic amount of funds in the process.

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · 18h

a Gaza reconstruction plan shared with Trump admin officials features the names and logos of more than two dozen companies, but some told WIRED they had no knowledge they were involved

“This was surprising and new information for us,” an IKEA spokesperson said

www.wired.com/story/a-plan...

A Plan to Rebuild Gaza Lists Nearly 30 Companies. Many Say They're Not Involved

A presentation that has been shared with the Trump administration references Tesla, Ikea, TSMC, and more in its plan to rebuild Gaza. Some of these companies say they had no idea they were mentioned.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Andrew Couts @couts.bsky.social · 4d

NEW: Everything's... fine... @aarianmarshall.bsky.social reports: www.wired.com/story/shutdo...

The Shutdown Is Pushing Air Safety Workers to the Limit

Federal employees say that flying is still safe despite the strain on air traffic controllers. But expect even more airport delays ahead.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Branden Smith @brandens.bsky.social · 5d

ICE has deported over 100,000 people since January, double the rate of the Biden administration in 2024.

In this video @telliotter.bsky.social reports on where exactly the arrests are happening, where people are being detained, and where they’re being deported to.

youtu.be/uD9ETC80HDA?...

Where ICE Has Taken The Most People | On The Grid | WIRED

YouTube video by WIRED

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · 12d

"it seems the correct thing to do, for us to stand in a moment’s silence to honor a great warrior"

not something said at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona for Charlie Kirk's memorial, but in a derelict shed in the town of Boyle in the northwest corner of Ireland

www.wired.com/story/conspi...

At a Conspiracy Conference in Rural Ireland, Charlie Kirk Was the Star

The increasingly tight links between far-right groups in the US and Europe were on full display at the Rebels Across the Pond conference in Ireland. The star of the show? Charlie Kirk.

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · 12d

NEW: the Trump-Epstein 'friendship' statue that was removed from the national mall and broken up has been repaired and is back on the national mall for "a limited time"

trump epstein 'friendship' statue repaired on national mall

trump epstein 'friendship' statue repaired on national mall

plaque on trump epstein 'friendship' statue repaired on national mall

trump epstein 'friendship' statue repaired on national mall

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · 12d

Department of Education employees set out-of-office email responses to inform recipients they'd be unable to respond until after the shutdown

hours later, many people realised their response message had been changed to blame Senate Democrats for the entire shutdown

www.wired.com/story/govern...

Government Workers Say Their Out-of-Office Replies Were Forcibly Changed to Blame Democrats for Shutdown

Some employees at the Department of Education changed their responses back to the more neutral language, only to have it changed yet again to the partisan response, multiple sources tell WIRED.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Reece @thiccreese.bsky.social · 13d

What if deepfakes were entertainment? Not of celebrities and public figures. Deepfakes of you.

That’s the chilling, central question at the heart of OpenAI’s new Sora app.

www.wired.com/story/openai...

OpenAI’s New Sora App Lets You Deepfake Yourself for Entertainment

OpenAI’s latest app encourages users to generate a personal digital avatar and scroll AI-generated videos of themselves and their friends.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 14d

Hello! Just a reminder that if you work for or contract with the federal government and have information you'd like to share securely with a @wired.com reporter, you can use a non-work device to contact me on Signal at timmarchman.01 and I can connect you to someone who covers your area.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Manisha Krishnan @manishakrishnan.bsky.social · 20d

VERY FUNNY SCOOP: The Onion made a 20-minute Epstein/Trump mockumentary called “Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile.” I got a sneak peek and it is gloriously dumb. Read about it/watch the trailer here: www.wired.com/story/the-on...

The Onion Made an Absolutely Unhinged Jeffrey Epstein Mockumentary

"Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile" is a very silly deep dive on a very serious issue. In the current media landscape, it’s a wonder it even got made.

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · 20d

“I kept comparing it to a natural disaster. But it wasn’t natural. Just a stampede of wide-eyed, confused government employees moving files around and looking over their shoulders because they think maybe Elon was creeping behind them with a chain saw.”

www.wired.com/story/oral-h...

The Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal Workers

WIRED spoke with more than 200 federal workers in dozens of agencies to learn what happened as the Department of Government Efficiency tore through their offices.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social · 22d

Throughout the summer, @wired.com reporter Kate Knibbs has been following our campaign.

From right-wing attacks to our mutual aid work to the 20 bottles of hot sauce in the campaign office, here’s what she saw: www.wired.com/story/kat-ab...

She Fought the Far Right Online for Years. Now She Wants to Do It in Congress

Kat Abughazaleh, 26, made her name swatting down right-wing talking points on social media. Now she’s hoping internet fame can propel her to Congress.

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · 23d

I Thought I Knew Silicon Valley. I Was Wrong

Tech got what it wanted by electing Trump. A year later, it looks more like a suicide pact.

featuring art by the one and only @coldwarsteve.bsky.social

www.wired.com/story/silico...

I Thought I Knew Silicon Valley. I Was Wrong

Tech got what it wanted by electing Trump. A year later, it looks more like a suicide pact.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Natasha Bernal @natashabernal.bsky.social · 27d

I covered the protests in London against Trump for @wired.com. Protesters aren't convinced by the AI deal from US tech giants: They want to know what the UK is giving them in exchange for up to $45bn in investment and where the power for data centers will come from www.wired.com/story/climat...

Anti-Trump Protesters Take Aim at ‘Naive’ US-UK AI Deal

Thousands marched in London to protest President Donald Trump’s second state visit. Among them were many environmental activists unhappy with Britain’s new AI deal with the US.

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · 28d

Trump UK state visit update (Paul Grover -WPA Pool/Getty Images)

King Charles III and U.S President Donald Trump during the carriage procession through the Windsor Estate at Windsor Castle during the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England.

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales during the carriage procession through the Windsor Estate at Windsor Castle during the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. (Paul Grover - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Queen Camilla and U.S First Lady Melania Trump during the carriage procession through the Windsor Estate at Windsor Castle during the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. (Paul Grover - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Natasha Bernal @natashabernal.bsky.social · 28d

Spent some time with Jensen Huang this morning and let's just say some stuff came up a lot
www.wired.com/story/jensen...

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Is Bananas for Google Gemini’s AI Image Generator

The Nvidia CEO reveals his consuming love for Google’s image generator, the artsy side of Grok, and what exactly he uses Perplexity, Gemini, and ChatGPT for right now.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · Sep 15

Some personal news:

I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.

Thread incoming.

substack.com/@karenattiah...

The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced.

I spoke out against hatred and violence in America — and it cost me my job.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Michael Calore @snackfight.bsky.social · Sep 10

If you live in Vegas, you can get a free ride in a Zoox self-driving toaster starting today
www.wired.com/story/here-c...

Here Come the Robotaxis: Zoox and Lyft Both Launch Driverless Ride Sharing

Two new self-driving car services—one in Atlanta from Lyft and May Mobility, another in Las Vegas from Amazon subsidiary Zoox—prove that the robotaxi race is still on. Now comes the hard part.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Jake Lahut @jakelahut.writes.news · Sep 10

There’s still a lot we don’t know about her Melania Trump’s new AI initiative, but I did learn about an important figure guiding her through the technology: her longtime agent (who also happens to be a big NFT guy, among other things). Oh, and his wife is her designer..
www.wired.com/story/melani...

Melania Trump’s AI Era Is Upon Us

The ever elusive first lady has emerged with a brief to exert thought leadership over AI, for the children. Some insiders are excited; others won't touch the subject with a 10-foot pole.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Reece @thiccreese.bsky.social · Sep 9

Every time the Apple event cut back to Tim Cook, I couldn’t help but think about his recent visit to the White House and the utter sycophancy of his demeanor, as well as all the other tech CEOs.

www.wired.com/story/tech-c...

All the President’s Tech CEOs

At a White House dinner Thursday night, America’s tech executives put on an uncanny display of fealty to Donald Trump.

Reposted by Matthew Champion

Leah Feiger @leahfeiger.bsky.social · Sep 4

“Amen, stop the application of poison given to our precious children.”

“F yah! About time. Let the revolution begin.”

“Hopefully more will follow Florida’s lead.”

Anti-vaxxers are THRILLED about Florida's plan to end vaccine mandates. Important context from @davidgilbert.bsky.social here:

Anti-Vaxxers Rejoice at Florida’s Scheme to End Vaccine Mandates for Kids and Everyone Else

As experts warn about possible outbreaks of diseases like polio and measles in Florida, anti-vaxxers declare “freedom.”

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · Aug 20

figures show that over the past three months, CBP officials have been searching more phones and other devices than ever before

scoop by @mattburgess1.bsky.social

www.wired.com/story/phone-...

Phone Searches at the US Border Hit a Record High

Customs and Border Protection agents searched nearly 15,000 devices from April through June of this year, a nearly 17 percent spike over the previous three-month high in 2022. "The real issue is the c...

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · Aug 19

"Across Europe’s biggest democracies, organised crime groups are slowly gathering power."

How the mafia infiltrated Germany - by the one and only @maxdaly.bsky.social

unherd.com/2025/08/how-...

How the mafia infiltrated Germany

Matthew Champion @matthewchampion.bsky.social · Aug 13

"The decision to demonize government surveillance while making Big Tech the passive victims ultimately waters down the film’s message—making it more of a near-90-minute commercial for brands like Amazon and Microsoft than food for thought."

✍️ @alanayzola.com

www.wired.com/story/war-of...

'War of the Worlds' Isn’t Just Bad. It’s Also Shameless Tech Propaganda

By making Big Tech the hero in a movie about government surveillance, the dismally rated remake feels more like an ad for Amazon than anything else.