Geoffrey A. Fowler

San Francisco

Technology columnist based in San Francisco

Education: Harvard University, B.A. in Anthropology and Afro-American Studies; Cambridge University, Trinity College, M.Phil in Social Anthropology

Geoffrey A. Fowler is The Washington Post’s technology columnist, writing from San Francisco about how to navigate the confusing, occasionally scary and deeply personal world of tech. He joined The Post in 2017 after 16 years with the Wall Street Journal writing about consumer technology, Silicon Valley, national affairs and China. He won the 2020 Gerald Loeb Award for commentary.
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Latest from Geoffrey A. Fowler

AI is changing Google search: What the I/O announcement means for you

A guided tour of the new Google Search Generative Experience, or SGE, coming first to people who sign up — and eventually to everyone.

May 10, 2023

Google promised to delete sensitive data. It logged my abortion clinic visit.

Our investigation finds Google still retains location data about users who visit clinics, hospitals and other ‘particularly personal’ locations, despite Google’s commitment to delete it.

May 9, 2023

    Post-Roe, Google can put those seeking abortions in danger

    We conducted a series of tests on Google Maps to see if the tech giant is living up to its promise to delete data when users visit abortion clinics.

    May 9, 2023

    How to pick a trustworthy VPN

    Want to view blocked sites or hide your online activity? Mullvad, Mozilla VPN and IVPN emphasize privacy and security.

    May 8, 2023

    Apple and Google team up to fight AirTag stalking

    The makers of iOS and Android say they’re working on software that will alert you when you’re being followed by a Bluetooth tracker — regardless of what kind of phone you use.

    May 2, 2023

    To become an Amazon Clinic patient, first you sign away some privacy

    You agreed to what? The ‘HIPAA authorization’ for Amazon's new low-cost Clinic offers the tech giant more control over your health data.

    May 1, 2023

    The AI bot has picked an answer for you. Here’s how often it’s bad.

    The Post tested the reliability of Microsoft’s Bing AI chatbot by asking it 47 tough questions and then evaluating its sources.

    April 13, 2023

    We tested a new ChatGPT-detector for teachers. It flagged an innocent student.

    Five high school students helped our tech columnist test a ChatGPT detector coming from Turnitin to 2.1 million teachers. It missed enough to get someone in trouble.

    April 3, 2023

    TikTok and you: Should you delete the app now?

    Our tech columnist examines what TikTok knows about you after its CEO gets a grilling from Congress about ties to China.

    March 23, 2023

    Say what, Bard? What Google’s new AI gets right, wrong and weird.

    Our tech columnist asks Bard, Google’s answer to ChatGPT, questions from Post readers to test what the AI might be useful for.

    March 21, 2023