Surveillance
Always watching: How ICEās plan to monitor social media 24/7 threatens privacy and civic participation
Always watching: How ICEās plan to monitor social media 24/7 threatens privacy and civic participation ICE is seeking private contractors to launch a 24/7 social media monitoring program, which would involve analyzing public posts on various platforms to identify potential threats or enforcement leads. The program would use AI-powered software to correlate social media data […]
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The rise of “catch a cheater” apps exploits our worst human tendencies
The rise of “catch a cheater” apps exploits our worst human tendencies Popular “catch a cheater” apps like Cheaterbuster and CheatEye use facial recognition technology to trace dating profiles, often without users’ knowledge or consent. These apps charge a one-time fee to locate a Tinder profile with just a name or photo of the person’s […]
š» Technology
ICE is building a social media panopticon
ICE is building a social media panopticon ICE is expanding an online surveillance system to track millions of users on social media platforms. The agency has paid $5.7 million for an AI-powered platform called Zignal Labs, which can ingest and analyze vast amounts of publicly available data. The platform provides “real-time intelligence” that could potentially […]
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OpenAI slipped shopping into 800 million ChatGPT usersā chats ā hereās why that matters
OpenAI slipped shopping into 800 million ChatGPT usersā chats ā hereās why that matters OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol allows users to buy things instantly from Etsy within ChatGPT conversations, marking a significant shift in how people shop since smartphones arrived. The protocol represents the beginning of three phases of AI shopping assistants: “on-demand AI” (answering […]
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In defense of āsurveillance pricingā: Why personalized prices could be an unexpected force for equity
In defense of āsurveillance pricingā: Why personalized prices could be an unexpected force for equity Surveillance pricing, which uses personal data to set individualized prices, has sparked controversy but may have benefits that could make markets more efficient and equitable. The practice, also known as price discrimination, can lead to wealthy customers paying more for […]
šļø Politics
Trumpās targeting of āenemiesā like James Comey echoes FBIās dark history of mass surveillance, dirty tricks and perversion of justice under J. Edgar Hoover
Trumpās targeting of āenemiesā like James Comey echoes FBIās dark history of mass surveillance, dirty tricks and perversion of justice under J. Edgar Hoover Donald Trump’s administration has launched a “Weaponization Working Group” to investigate perceived enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey, and has already indicted him on charges brought by a Trump loyalist […]
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When the government can see everything: How one company ā Palantir ā is mapping the nationās data
When the government can see everything: How one company ā Palantir ā is mapping the nationās data Palantir’s Gotham platform is a powerful tool used by government agencies to connect the dots on individuals, mapping their social networks, tracking their movements, and identifying their physical characteristics. The U.S. government has awarded Palantir billions of dollars […]
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Trump administrationās lie detector campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and could divert energy from national security priorities
Trump administrationās lie detector campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and could divert energy from national security priorities The Trump administration’s polygraph campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and may divert energy from national security priorities. Polygraphs are considered pseudo-scientific, as they measure physiological responses that can be influenced by fear, anger, or […]
šļø Politics
How Internet of Things devices affect your privacy ā even when theyāre not yours
How Internet of Things devices affect your privacy ā even when theyāre not yours The Internet of Things (IoT) devices are collecting an increasing amount of information about individuals, even when they’re not owned by them, raising concerns about privacy. IoT devices can generate a lot of data in contexts that have typically produced little […]
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Trumpās first 100 days: DOGE, tariffs, TikTok, and more
Trumpās first 100 days: DOGE, tariffs, TikTok, and more Trump’s first 100 days have been marked by significant policy changes, including the ongoing tariff situation that has thrown a wrench into the global economy and led to unpredictability. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under Brendan Carr has become a tool for censorship, with Adi Robertson […]
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