Forget Big Brother. Companies and countries are discovering that algorithms programmed to scour vast quantities of data can be much more powerful. They can predict your next purchase, forecast car thefts and maybe even help cure cancer. But there is a down side. By Martin U. Müller, Marcel Rosenbach and Thomas Schulz more... [ Forum ]
Vietnamese companies have been ruthlessly taking advantage of Laotian locals and their environment to create vast rubber plantations. The "rubber lords" are also getting support for the land grabs from Germany's Deutsche Bank, which is violating its ethics and sustainability policies, critics say. By Martin Hesse, Jörg Schmitt and Wieland Wagner more... [ Forum ]
A German court ruled Tuesday that Google's "Autocomplete" feature on search terms violates privacy laws in some cases. The company has been ordered to remove any suggestions that violate the rules. An entrepreneur sued after the algorithm linked him with Scientology. more...
Despite being a polarizing figure, Wolfgang Bernhard was long considered the heir to the throne at Daimler. But now the Stuttgart-based automaker is applying the brakes on his career and blaming him for its most recent public-relations debacle. By Dietmar Hawranek more... [ Forum ]
Due to a series of glitches, German electronics giant Siemens has once again been unable to deliver trains on time. Instead of assuming responsibility for the problems, management is trying to pin the blame on suppliers and government agencies. By Dinah Deckstein more... [ Forum ]
Past warnings about how technological innovation threatens jobs have proved exaggerated. Yet the digital revolution now has many scholars warning that this time things are different, and that the breakneck speed of automation could wreak havoc on the global labor market. By Thomas Schulz more... [ Forum ]
For years, economists have posited that prosperity requires growth, with environmental damage as the regrettable but unavoidable consequence. A growing number of critics are now challenging this equation, though, calling for a radical revamping of the economic system. By Nils Klawitter more... [ Forum ]
A flourishing garden gnome industry spared an entire region around the town of Nowa Sól in western Poland from economic ruin. With the decorations now out of style, the industry is branching out to plastic tigers, dinosaurs and even churros. By Jan Puhl more... [ Forum ]
Russia's successful Facebook clone VKontakte has long been a thorn in the Kremlin's side. Now, Moscow appears to be increasing pressure on the company, and CEO Pavel Durov has left the country. By Benjamin Bidder more... [ Forum ]
