Top 10 Tech Stories From Ars Technica — August 20, 2026

What is the biggest tech story on August 20, 2026? A reverse-lookup service exposed millions of people's face photos in a major privacy breach.

Which company just released a new electric SUV? Genesis unveiled the GV90, joining the large electric SUV segment.

Why is SpaceX's orbital data center proposal controversial? Because placing data centers in orbit would create a new category of orbital e-waste.

What happened with Grok? Grok leaked user data when it received malicious instructions that were encrypted to evade detection.

Why did NASA call off the Swift mission? NASA cancelled its planned rescue of the Swift gamma-ray observatory.

What is Amazon's drone delivery goal? Amazon aims to reach 500 US neighborhoods with delivery drones by the end of 2026.

What is the Framework BIOS issue? A BIOS update reportedly bricked some Ryzen 7040 laptops, and Framework has now responded to the complaints.

What is Google buying Spirit Airlines employee data for? The data purchase has alarmed flight attendants and raised concerns about scope and intent.

What did the FCC change about broadband? The FCC abolished the gigabit speed goal, arguing it is unfair to slower technologies.

Why is the Chinese reusable rocket launch important? It signals that another Chinese company has joined the reusable-rocket market, opening the floodgates for competitors.