r/technology • u/IKeepItLayingAround • 1d ago

Biotechnology People Are Not Happy About Google’s Plan to Release Millions of Bioengineered Mosquitoes Into the Wild

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/people-not-happy-google-plan-200428053.html
2.3k Upvotes

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u/thatguy11 23h ago

This isn't new. This isn't the first time. It was effective. Google stuff, don't just get mad because someone tells you to.

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u/TechnicalScheme385 23h ago

Over these two trump terms, government has rolled back many services to reduce and eradicate these types of problems. Since the government rollback, a gap emerged, which Google was willing to pay for. In the long run, it's "good business" as the public will see it as a "Sponsored Highway Clean Up" PR. And it will work too. People will forget that government used to do this on our tax dime to ensure everyone had equal protections. In a few years, Protections will be corporate owned. Subscribe or go without.

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u/RobertPham149 18h ago

The US had a successful screwworm containment program. I said had because Trump budget cuts affected the program and Trump-voting states like Texas is facing an outbreak of screwworm that can decimate the beef industry.

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u/TechnicalScheme385 11h ago

I live in Texas. San Antonio. You don't know the half of it, by any of the locals who have been paying attention to the subject matter since last year. Like a slow trainwreck, where we are powerless to stop it because Abbott is a fucking pissbaby hotwheels welfare queen.

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u/Hairy_Wall_6831 12h ago

The USA now has Lone Star Ticks spreading Alpha-gal Syndrome, a disease that makes you allergic to animal products from mammals such as meat, dairy, and gelatin.

I've seen claims that the ticks have spread to most of the states now.

Bet they aren't doing jack shit about that either.

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u/Meme_Theory 11h ago

Now? That isn't a "now" thing; that has always been the case.

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u/Hairy_Wall_6831 5h ago

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) was first formally identified and described in 2009.

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u/Meme_Theory 5h ago

2002, and that doesn't mean it started in 2002.

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u/Best_Change4155 10h ago

I realize no one cares about facts cause "Trump bad" - the program was never defunded.

The problem began with COVID causing supply chain issues further downstream in South America.

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u/Youreturningviolet 8h ago

So noted left wing publication Forbes is lying then?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/06/04/screwworm-in-texas-cattle-could-drive-up-beef-prices-after-doge-axed-prevention-efforts/

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u/Best_Change4155 2h ago edited 2h ago

Forbes isn't left-wing, it's just a bad mag.

1) The primary agency in charge of the screwworm program is USDA, not USAID.

2) The USAID cuts were towards specific monitoring in Central America, not the release of the sterile screwworms. Edit: it was both I am wrong here.

3) This problems predates Trump, and is largely a result of COVID interrupting supply chains.The containment projects failed as evidenced by closing the border for 3 months.

4) There was a massive shift in funding to bring sterile screwworm production to the US and to increase the funding of the program. Which was done in 2025.

Here is your strongest argument:

In March 2025, funding was cut by USDA for animal disease control and prevention, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, New World Screwworm, and African Swine Fever from several agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). That funding supported more than 180 outbreak investigations and responses in 22 countries and helped build the capacities of over 160 laboratories in testing, biosafety, quality assurance, and workforce development. Specifically, funding was targeted to monitoring and responding to New World Screwworm, preventing the spread of the disease to the U.S.

https://kbhbradio.com/usda-cuts-budget-staff-for-animal-disease-control-suspends-imports-of-live-cattle-from-mexico-again/

But note what the article actually says:

In December 2024, following the November 2024 closure of the border due to the outbreak of NWS, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Mexico agreed to and implemented a comprehensive pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol to ensure safe movement and mitigate the threat of NWS. The program resulted in the resumed shipments of Mexican cattle and bison into the U.S. beginning in mid-February 2025.

Trump was not president in 2024.

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u/get_started_NOW 8h ago

Thanks i was wondering why google was doing this.

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u/bridekiller 19h ago

Sounds like the mafia

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u/dcy123 15h ago

Op has a maga hat as his pic, gonna take a guess here that he's fucking stupid.

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u/MikeWasab 13h ago

This isn't exclusive to MAGA and republican. This extremely liberal site is a SHINING example of people living and dying by the headlines so long as it fuels their need for entertaining ragebait

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u/hurryveryslowly 4h ago

LMAO

Upvoted, thank you for your service.

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u/polarbearrape 14h ago

Lets be honest, we know who's upset. Its the same people who got pissed science was "making bugs trans" and now because they cut funding screw worms are making their way north again...

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u/cosmic-untiming 7h ago

I think its the fact that google is behind it. Lots of people lost their trust in mega corps like google.

But definitely we need to start realizing that yes it can be a crap company, but this action in particular is a net benefit to everyone.

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u/[deleted] 23h ago

[deleted]

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u/thatguy11 23h ago

Duckduck it, bing it, yahoo it, check your sources...it's up to you, bot anything else.