THE BIG STORY

They’re watching you

Clearview AI, a facial recognition software startup, built a database of over three billion photos by scraping social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Its customers use it to quickly identify who is in a photo, by running it against Clearview’s database.

Now we know who those customers are. Clearview has signed paid contracts with government customers including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, according to internal documents seen by BuzzFeed News.

The tool is also being used at some of America’s largest corporations, including retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and Macy’s. It’s also been used at 46 different financial institutions, including Wells Fargo and Bank of America.

The use of Clearview by ICE is particularly concerning, said Jacinta González of Mijente, a Latinx advocacy group. “This tool goes way beyond anything that is legal,” she said. “They could walk into a supermarket, scan people, see if it matches up, and deport them immediately.”

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

How racism, meth and sex are destroying queer black lives

Two black men were found dead in the LA home of Ed Buck, a major donor to Democratic politicians. Both had died of meth overdoses.

The story got some attention, and Buck was eventually arrested in September 2019 after a black man fled his house and called the police. But Patrick Strudwick went to LA to investigate, and found a story that goes far, far beyond Buck.

“Innumerable black and Latino men are being subjected to unimaginable cruelty by white men on meth, but their experiences and distress are never heard,” Strudwick reports. Here is the first installment of his three-part series.

Ed Buck appears in Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles. Sept. 19, 2019. Damian Dovarganes / AP

SNAPSHOTS

Terabytes of videos and pictures have leaked from adult site OnlyFans. The company says no breach occurred; adult performers who host their content there are angry.

3,200 Amazon delivery drivers will lose their jobs this spring. The company is ending its relationships with a number of large delivery providers as part of a shift to smaller contractors.

Harry and Meghan will no longer be protected by the Canadian police after they officially step down as working royals. They’ll still be protected by the UK police though — even in Canada.

The race to replace Nancy Pelosi has already begun. One small issue: Pelosi isn’t going anywhere. But aside from that it’s all systems go.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

We’re going to try something new for the foreseeable future: a daily update on what’s going on with the coronavirus, and what you need to know. What would you like me to focus on here? Let us know.

What should regular people be doing right now to prepare? We asked public health experts, who gave us the answers to these six frequently asked questions. And if you're thinking about preparations, here's what to keep in your preparedness kit.

Thursday’s biggest story: Whistleblower Says Federal Employees Flown From Coronavirus Sites Didn’t Follow Safety Protocols (WSJ)

New York is making its own coronavirus test because the CDC one doesn’t work. Being able to run large numbers of tests will be crucial if the virus reaches the US in a big way.

Today’s tip: There’s still no reason to freak out. But it’s a good time to practice habits that will come in useful — both for flu seasons in general, and if things do get serious with coronavirus! The most important thing, everyone agrees, is to regularly wash your hands — and do it properly, not a half-assed job. Here’s a guide from WebMD on exactly what that means.

For important information and updates, check the CDC’s dedicated coronavirus site

A WEEKEND LONG READ

“Once a source of shame, but I now say it proudly: bad English is my heritage. I share a literary lineage with writers who make the unmastering of English their rallying cry—who queer it, twerk it, hack it, Calibanize it, other it by hijacking English and warping it to a fugitive tongue. To other English is to make audible the imperial power sewn into the language, to slit English open so its dark histories slide out.”

“Bad" English Is Part Of My Korean American Heritage, by Cathy Park Hong

MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

A Jungle Cruise boat sank at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Orlando

The catastrophe was first reported by Blog Mickey, but soon passengers on the doomed vessel were sharing photos from its final voyage.

Everyone got out of the boat safely, Disney told BuzzFeed News.

This weekend is going to be a good one, I can feel it,

Tom