Surveillance tech is worming its way into our airports and border crossings, our police stations and even our schools. 

But fortunately, investigative journalists went all out this year. From a deep dive into the dark side of pandemic tech in Singapore’s techno-utopia to an in-depth look at how schools are spending thousands on unreliable “aggression detectors” in the name of student safety, global reporters have been holding Big Tech accountable for its role in fueling authoritarianism worldwide. 

These are a few of the investigations that held our attention this year and continue to have an impact. 

1. If you still hear “Pegasus” and think fictional flying horse, where have you been? 

It’s hard to overestimate the sprawling reach of Pegasus spyware. The tool, made by the Israeli company NSO Group, has been found on phones belonging to dozens of journalists and activists around the world.