Media Bits and Bytes — May 26, 2026
- Big Tech Super PACs
- AI and Dictatorship in Africa
- Takeaways from Cannes 2026
- AI World Domination
- Press Freedom and Misogyny
- Bye Bye Google Search
- CBS Follies
- Protection from Spyware
- Bezos’s Fashion Oligarchy
- Give It Up for Colbert
By Jacqueline Munis, Fortune
From the presidential inauguration to high-profile dinners to a documentary screening, Big Tech leaders have become a fixture at the White House. And it looks like it’s spreading to Capitol Hill as well—their representatives are expanding their influence in Washington by spending millions on lobbying Congress.
By Khalid Bencherif, Global Visions
The Institute of Development Studies and the African Digital Rights Network found that 11 African governments had collectively spent more than USD 2 billion on AI-powered surveillance systems. The kit includes high-definition CCTV, plate readers, facial recognition, biometric identity layers, and a control room where the feeds converge.
By Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter
Cannes 2026 functioned less as a showcase of immediate hits than as a seismic map of the indie film industry, revealing shifting tectonic plates in the transformation of the indie sector, the changing role of studios on the festival circuit, and the accelerating impact of AI across production and marketing.
By John P. Ruehl, Z
AI-driven automation is already shaping core government functions tied to state authority and legitimacy, including the use of military force. Reports on the Pentagon’s Maven Smart System, deployed in the 2026 Iran conflict, offer a glimpse into how far the use of such technologies has advanced.
By Juliette Garside, The Guardian
Trolling and other forms of online violence against female journalists have also triggered offline attacks, harassment and abuse. Some reporters have paid with their lives.
By Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo
Google is turning Search into a fully AI-infused experience. Powered by the company’s latest Gemini model, the new AI-infused search box will allow users to put images, files, videos, or even Chrome tabs as input. The rise of generative and agentic AI has already significantly disrupted the internet.
CBS Follies
Anderson Cooper Quits “60 Minutes” By Christopher Wiggins, The Advocate
CBS Radio Signs Off By Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter
By Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, TechCrunch
Spyware gives its operators virtually full access to the target’s device and data. In response, tech giants now provide their users with better defenses. In particular, Apple, Google, and Meta offer opt-in features specifically designed to counter targeted spyware attacks. These features have been proven effective.
By Hannah Marriott, The Guardian
The Met Gala has recently become a magnet for anti-excess protests, but this was its most controversial yet, owing to the $10m patronage of Jeff Bezos. This year’s event came at a moment of soaring inequality, as Bezos’s personal wealth has mushroomed and his Trump-appeasing decisions have made him less popular than ever with New York City’s left-leaning fashion and arts crowd.
By Sophia A. McClennen, The Conversation
The best satirists do more than entertain. They influence public discourse and leave lasting marks on political life. This group includes towering writers such as Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain, alongside performers like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin. In my view, Stephen Colbert has earned a spot in the top tier. Here are five reasons why.