Tesla downsized from 140,000 to 121,000 employees in 2024, cutting at least 14% of workforce and potentially up to 20%. Layoffs hit high performers according to sources. In May 2024, Tesla laid off hundreds from the Supercharger team. California lost 3,332 jobs and Texas lost 2,688 jobs at gigafactory. Some departments saw 20% cuts despite 10% target.
Activity
Incidents and actions from tracked entities.
Cerebral fined $7M by FTC for sharing sensitive mental health data with LinkedIn, Snapchat, and TikTok
Apr 15, 2024FTC issued first-of-its-kind prohibition banning Cerebral from using health information for most advertising purposes after finding the company disclosed sensitive personal health information of nearly 3.2 million consumers to LinkedIn, Snapchat, and TikTok using tracking pixels without proper authorization.
A data harvesting website called Spy.pet scraped messages from 620 million Discord users across more than 14,000 servers, accumulating over 4 billion public messages between November 2023 and April 2024. The site sold access to the database to anyone including law enforcement, AI training companies, and individuals spying on contacts. Discord ultimately took action to shut down Spy.pet, but the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in Discord's platform security that allowed months of large-scale data scraping before detection.
Critical zero-day vulnerability CVE-2024-3400 in Palo Alto firewalls exploited on 6,634 devices, allowing root access
Apr 12, 2024In April 2024, a command injection vulnerability CVE-2024-3400 with CVSS score of 10 allowed unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges on Palo Alto Networks firewalls. The vulnerability impacted the GlobalProtect gateway/portal VPN feature on PAN-OS devices. Shadowserver Foundation scanning found 6,634 devices vulnerable and likely exploited. Additional November 2024 vulnerabilities led to about 2,000 firewalls breached worldwide.
GitLab launched AI Transparency Center with published ethics principles and ISO 42001 certification
Apr 11, 2024In April 2024, GitLab launched its AI Transparency Center, publicly documenting AI ethics principles, AI continuity plans, and details of third-party AI models powering GitLab Duo features. The company committed to avoiding unfair bias, clearly identifying AI model providers, and publishing processes for vendor changes. GitLab also achieved ISO/IEC 42001 certification for AI governance.
OpenAI transcribed over 1 million hours of YouTube videos to train GPT-4 despite terms of service concerns
Apr 7, 2024Reports revealed that OpenAI transcribed more than 1 million hours of YouTube videos using its Whisper speech recognition system to create training data for GPT-4. OpenAI President Greg Brockman assisted with the process. Internal staff discussed whether transcribing YouTube videos violated the platform's terms of service, which prohibit scraping and downloading content.
Lost ₦11 billion ($7M+) in security breach as perpetrators illegally transferred funds
Apr 1, 2024In April 2024, perpetrators illegally transferred ₦11 billion ($7 million) from Flutterwave to several accounts. A second insider claimed the amount was at least ₦20 billion ($13.5 million). This followed a February 2024 incident where Flutterwave was defrauded of up to $24 million through unauthorized POS transactions, with a court order secured to recover funds from over 6,000 Nigerian bank customers.
UK Government gender pay gap data for 2024-25 shows Softcat has a 23% median gender pay gap (32% mean). Women make up only 18% of the highest paid quarter but 35% of the lowest paid quarter. Women's bonus pay was 52% lower than men's. This contrasts with the company's multiple workplace awards for women.
Expanded DEI policy to cover LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity; only Japanese company in WEF DEI report
Apr 1, 2024In April 2024, Hitachi issued a revised Global DEI Policy adding coverage for LGBTQIA+ and disability/neurodiversity with focus on allyship and psychological safety. Hitachi was the only Japanese company included in the World Economic Forum's DEI Lighthouses 2024 Insight Report. The company set targets of 30% women and 30% non-Japanese in executive positions by 2030.
Apple announced support for used genuine parts in iPhone repairs, expanding repairability options
Apr 1, 2024In 2024, Apple announced a new process enabling customers and independent repair providers to use used genuine Apple parts in iPhone repairs. The company said the process maintains privacy, security, and safety while offering more repair options, increasing product longevity, and minimizing environmental impact. This represented a significant shift from Apple's previous stance requiring only new OEM parts.
SpaceX injury rates 2.7x industry average - ~600 unreported injuries since 2014, multiple OSHA citations
Apr 1, 2024SpaceX facilities have injury rates significantly above industry averages. Starbase (Texas) had a Total Recordable Incident Rate of 4.27 per 100 workers in 2024 vs. industry average of 1.6. A Reuters investigation found ~600 previously unreported workplace injuries since 2014, including 100+ cuts/lacerations, 29 broken bones, 17 crushed hands/fingers, and 9 head injuries. Employees alleged Musk pressured workers to skip safety procedures to meet deadlines. In November 2025, a worker was crushed by metal support from a crane.
In 2023, CEO Nikesh Arora's total compensation was $151.4 million, up 1,355% from the previous year, representing a CEO-to-median worker pay ratio of 735-to-1, making him the fourth highest paid CEO in the U.S. that year. For 2024, his total compensation was $58 million.
NLRB regional director found Tesla 'promulgated and maintained' workplace technology policies in 2023 meant to discourage employees from forming or joining a union. Tesla faces the longest strike in Sweden since 1938 (ongoing since Oct 2023) over refusal to sign collective bargaining agreements. The NLRB had 24 open investigations into Musk's companies as of January 2025.
Two Chairs built a hybrid mental health provider model employing 500+ licensed therapists as W2 employees (not gig workers) across 22 states covering 75% of US population. Their research-backed matching process achieves 98% first-match success rate. The company expanded from 3 to 22 states while maintaining quality through measurement-based care.
UK operations showed 17.4% gender pay gap with women comprising only 11.2% of highest-paid employees
Apr 1, 2024ARM's 2024-25 UK Gender Pay Gap Report revealed women earned 83p for every £1 that men earned (17.4% median pay gap). Women made up only 11.2% of employees in the highest paid quarter, while comprising 28.6% of the lowest paid quarter. Women's bonus pay was 30.2% lower than men's. ARM acknowledged it will take time to address the gap but is committed to offering fair, equal and unbiased recruitment, promotion, and reward systems.
Framework raised $18 million from community investors through Regulation CF crowdfunding
Apr 1, 2024In 2024, Framework Computer conducted a community investment round using Regulation CF crowdfunding, raising $18 million from individual investors. This allowed the company's user community to become financial stakeholders, aligning consumer and investor interests around the right-to-repair mission.
Proton restructured ownership under Swiss nonprofit Proton Foundation to protect privacy mission
Apr 1, 2024In 2024, Proton AG transferred its ownership to the Proton Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit entity. This restructuring was designed to ensure that Proton's privacy-first mission could not be compromised by future investors or acquirers, similar to how Mozilla Foundation governs Mozilla Corporation.
Spotify introduced 1,000-stream minimum threshold, cutting an estimated $47M from small artists
Apr 1, 2024On April 1, 2024, Spotify implemented a policy requiring tracks to have at least 1,000 streams in the prior 12 months from a minimum number of unique listeners to generate royalties. An estimated 87% of all tracks on Spotify (out of 202 million+) fall below this threshold. Disc Makers CEO Tony van Veen estimated indie musicians lost $46.9 million in royalties in 2024. Spotify argued the policy would deter artificial streaming and redirect ~$1 billion to emerging and professional artists.
Mandiant exposed major state-sponsored cyber threats including Russia's Sandworm attacks on critical water infrastructure
Apr 1, 2024In 2023-2024, Mandiant's 500+ threat intelligence analysts across 22 countries uncovered tactics of sophisticated state-sponsored groups: Russia's APT29, North Korea's 3CX supply chain attack, and Russia's Sandworm group breaching water infrastructure. Mandiant also exposed a critical vulnerability in Microsoft's Azure Kubernetes Service. Named a Leader in Forrester Wave for External Threat Intelligence, receiving the highest possible score in 15 of 29 criteria. The M-Trends 2024 report showed global median intrusion dwell time dropped to 10 days in 2023 from 16 days in 2022, indicating improved defensive capabilities.
Claimed £433M+ in UK tax relief while paying £0 corporation tax and sending £132M dividends overseas
Mar 31, 2024Rockstar North has claimed over £433 million in UK Video Games Tax Relief since the scheme began, despite paying £0 in corporation tax between 2009-2019 according to TaxWatch UK. In 2024, the company claimed £73m in tax relief while simultaneously paying £132m in dividends to Take-Two Interactive in the US. TaxWatch director George Turner called it 'a drive-by assault on the British taxpayer,' noting the relief was designed for small studios with cultural content, not billion-dollar franchises like GTA.
Intel's Chandler, Arizona manufacturing operations use 9 million gallons (34 million liters) of water daily in an area experiencing high or extremely high water stress. The Verde and Salt rivers supplying Intel's Arizona operations recorded record-low water levels, raising questions about expanding semiconductor facilities in areas where water access is likely to be a permanent problem.
On March 23, 2024, Emad Mostaque resigned as CEO of Stability AI following months of pressure from investors including Lightspeed and Coatue. Investor Lightspeed said Mostaque's mismanagement had 'severely undermined' confidence. The company was spending $8 million monthly with no path to profitability, faced unpaid bills nearing $100 million, and key researchers who developed Stable Diffusion resigned in a 'mass exodus.' By October 2024, Mostaque gave up his controlling shares.
DOJ filed antitrust lawsuit alleging Apple maintained illegal smartphone monopoly through App Store restrictions
Mar 21, 2024In March 2024, the DOJ filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Apple, alleging the company maintained an illegal monopoly over performance smartphones (70% market share) by restricting third-party developers and limiting interoperability. Cook had previously testified to Congress that Apple treated all developers equally, claims that congressional investigators disputed as arbitrary and self-serving.
Co-founded Inflection AI while serving on Microsoft board, creating conflict of interest in acqui-hire deal
Mar 19, 2024Reid Hoffman co-founded Inflection AI in 2022 while simultaneously serving as a Microsoft board director. When Microsoft hired most of Inflection's staff and paid approximately $650 million in licensing fees in March 2024, Hoffman's dual role raised significant conflict of interest concerns. The FTC investigated the deal as a potentially illegal acqui-hire. Hoffman promised all Inflection investors would have a 'good outcome.' He left the Microsoft board in March 2023 but remained a co-founder of Inflection.
Steve Huffman received $193.2 million compensation package while Reddit's volunteer moderators remain unpaid
Mar 19, 2024In anticipation of Reddit's IPO, it was revealed that CEO Steve Huffman's 2023 compensation package was worth $193.2 million, including salary of $341,346, stock awards of $98.3 million and stock options valued at $93.8 million. Reddit lists volunteer moderators as a risk factor in its IPO filing, stating results could be harmed if unable to keep sufficient numbers of unpaid moderators. Huffman defended the package saying 'If the company does well, I will do well,' but avoided justifying his salary in context of unpaid moderators who provide essential platform moderation.
Worldcoin iris-scanning project banned or investigated in 14+ countries for privacy violations
Mar 18, 2024Sam Altman co-founded Worldcoin (rebranded to 'World' in 2024), a cryptocurrency project that scans people's irises in exchange for crypto tokens. The project faced massive global regulatory backlash: banned in Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia; fined in South Korea ($830K) and Argentina ($200K); ordered to delete millions of biometric records in Germany, Kenya, and Thailand. Violations included: scanning minors' irises, failing to obtain informed consent, targeting vulnerable low-income populations with cash incentives, storing biometric data improperly, and deceptive marketing practices. A 2022 MIT Technology Review investigation found the company used deceptive practices and 'collected more personal data than it acknowledged.'
Musk directed xAI to open-source Grok AI models, though critics noted incomplete openness
Mar 17, 2024In March 2024, xAI released Grok-1 model weights under the Apache 2.0 license, and in August 2025 open-sourced Grok 2.5, with a promise to open-source Grok 3 within six months. Musk positioned this as fulfilling his commitment to open AI development, consistent with his earlier criticism of OpenAI for becoming closed-source. However, AI experts including Bruce Perens (creator of the Open Source Definition) noted that xAI released only model weights, not the training data or training process, making the 'open source' label disputed.
On March 17, 2024, xAI released the complete weights and architecture of Grok-1, their 314 billion parameter Mixture-of-Experts model, under Apache 2.0 license. Musk stated the decision aimed to 'foster innovation and promote accountability and public evaluation' in response to growing demand for transparency in AI. Unlike many proprietary models, Grok-1 provided complete transparency by releasing raw base model weights and network architecture.
The Federal Trade Commission launched a non-public inquiry into Reddit's sale, licensing, and sharing of user-generated content with third parties to train AI models. The inquiry was disclosed on March 14, 2024, just days before Reddit's planned IPO. Reddit stated it was 'not surprised' by the FTC's interest given the novel nature of these agreements.
Gave evasive and contradictory answers about Sora AI video model's training data sources
Mar 13, 2024In a March 2024 WSJ interview, OpenAI CTO Mira Murati gave evasive responses about whether Sora was trained on YouTube or Instagram data, saying she was 'not sure' about publicly available data sources. She later confirmed off-camera that Shutterstock data was used. The incident raised concerns about OpenAI's transparency regarding intellectual property and training data provenance.