Max Eddy is a Senior Staff Writer at Wirecutter specializing in technology’s societal impacts, with emphases on digital privacy, election security, and ethical platform design. Based in New York City, his work blends technical analysis with investigative rigor, often exposing systemic flaws in corporate and governmental tech systems.
Max Eddy has carved a niche at the intersection of technology, privacy, and media integrity. Beginning as a Junior Software Analyst at PCMag, he honed his expertise in Android app ecosystems while developing a sharp focus on cybersecurity threats. His transition to Wirecutter as a Senior Staff Writer marked a shift toward investigative deep dives into digital privacy, election security, and the societal impacts of social media platforms. Eddy’s work consistently bridges technical analysis with accessible storytelling, making complex topics like encryption and data monetization relatable to broad audiences.
This Entrepreneur piece dissects Facebook’s failure to curb election interference despite public commitments to transparency. Eddy traces ad-targeting loopholes and algorithmic biases that enable misinformation campaigns, citing internal documents and whistleblower accounts. The article’s methodology combines policy analysis with case studies from the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections, highlighting how platform incentives prioritize engagement over democratic integrity. Its impact resonated in policy circles, influencing congressional testimony on Section 230 reforms.
Published on his personal platform, this guide demystifies decentralized social media as a privacy-focused alternative to Twitter. Eddy evaluates Mastodon’s user experience, moderation challenges, and federation protocols through hands-on testing. The analysis contrasts corporate platform governance with community-driven models, reflecting his broader advocacy for ethical tech ecosystems. This work has become a primer for journalists and activists migrating to Fediverse platforms.
In this PCMag exposé, Eddy reveals systemic issues in the VPN sector, including false anonymity claims and affiliate marketing scams. Through undercover interviews with industry insiders and data leak analysis, he documents how some providers compromise user trust for profit. The article sparked renewed FTC scrutiny of VPN advertising practices and remains a benchmark for consumer tech accountability journalism.
Eddy prioritizes stories exposing structural vulnerabilities in digital systems. Successful pitches might explore AI bias in public-sector algorithms or gaps in IoT device regulation. His VPN industry critique demonstrates appetite for investigations that blend technical audits with corporate accountability angles.
Concrete examples of surveillance overreach or data monetization schemes resonate strongly. The Mastodon migration guide shows his interest in actionable tools for digital self-defense—consider pitching case studies of encrypted communication adoption in high-risk communities.
While Eddy occasionally reviews security software, he avoids routine gadget journalism. Pitches about novel applications of blockchain for voting systems or biometric authentication failures would align better than standard product launches.
“Digital encryption is probably the single most important technology of the digital age, which is probably why everyone is constantly trying to destroy it.”
As a leader in the Wirecutter Union, Eddy has championed labor rights in digital media while maintaining rigorous reporting standards. His election security reporting was cited in the 2022 Congressional Review of the Electoral Count Act, underscoring his influence at the policy-journalism nexus.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Tech, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
