Digital Civics

"...according to The Objective there is “growing unrest” in the National Police and Guardia Civil over the Chinese company’s involvement with sensitive systems."
#Privacy #DigitalEthics #DigitalCivics

Of interest to those in #AI #Law #digitalcivics #digitalethics #techethics #legalethics

YouTube video by CBC News: The National Your next job interview could be with an AI bot

From CBC News: The National
"Companies are using AI hiring bots to screen, shortlist and talk to job candidates."

Indicator Indicator is your essential guide to understanding and investigating digital deception.

Free newsletter available from @mantzarlis.com &
@craigsilverman.bsky.social offering a weekly briefing of the latest news & research about digital deception, plus links to new and updated OSINT tools and techniques.
#EduSky #DigitalCivics #Data #Privacy #disinformation #EdTech
indicator.media

Of interest to those in #DigitalEthics #Ethics #Information #Disinformation #Privacy #Surveillance

Anthropic’s new AI model didn’t just “blackmail” researchers in tests — it tried to leak information to news outlets Last week, Anthropic dropped its latest batch of AI models, including Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4. Over the weekend, the release was followed by a string of headlines detailing how, in safety te...

"This didn’t play out in your average Claude usage, but in a highly manufactured scenario ...Some critics have also labeled Anthropic’s recent safety disclosures as spin, aimed at bolstering the perception of its newest model’s capabilities"
www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/anth...

Tesco shoppers mock 'VAR'-style cameras at self-checkout The supermarket's latest use of technology to crack down on shoplifting has led to both jokes and complaints.

"...How on earth can the average person understand the extent of the tracking? Are children even kept out of the dataset? Who can access this data? Is it shared with police? Is my data being sold? We need answers to these questions!"
Good Questions #DataPrivacy #Privacy
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Wikipedia legally challenges 'flawed' online safety rules It argues the regulations could threaten the privacy and safety of Wikipedia's volunteer contributors.

"It's thought this is the first judicial review to be brought against the new online safety laws - albeit a narrow part of them - but experts say it may not be the last."
#Wikipedia

Unmasking MrDeepFakes: Canadian Pharmacist Linked to World’s Most Notorious Deepfake Porn Site - bellingcat Double life: open source investigation reveals Canadian hospital pharmacist's links to MrDeepFakes, the most notorious deepfake porn website in the world.

Exclusive: Bellingcat in partnership with @tjekdet.dk , @politiken.dk and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) can reveal the identity of a key administrator behind MrDeepFakes, one of the world’s largest providers of non-consensual deepfake pornography. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/05...

YouTube video by CBC News: The National 3 sneaky ways you could be influenced this election

With Canada's Election April 28, here's a timely CBC report from @farahnasser.bsky.social exploring "3 sneaky ways you could be influenced this election"
#canada #technology #news #DigitalEthics #DigitalCivics #Civics #Information #Education #EduSky #Disinformation

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWBp...

Attorney General Bonta Urgently Issues Consumer Alert for 23andMe Customers Californians have the right to direct the company to delete their genetic data OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing ...

“Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company.”
#DataProtection #privacy #DataEthics
oag.ca.gov/news/press-r...

Facebook to stop targeting ads at UK woman after legal fight Tanya O'Carroll says her case opens a "gateway" for others wanting to stop personalised adverts.

"I knew that this kind of predatory, invasive advertising is actually something that we all have a legal right to object to," Ms O'Carroll told Radio 4's Today Programme.
#dataprivacy #surveillance #SurveillanceCapitalism #data
www.bbc.com/news/article...

"Civic Learning Week
unites students, educators, policymakers, and private sector leaders to energize the movement for #civiceducation across the nation."
civiclearningweek.org

#democracy #K12 #highereducation #civicseducation #CivicLearningWeek #instructionaldesign

Apple takes legal action in UK data privacy row The tech giant is appealing a government order for access to customers' private data, the BBC understands.

"The BBC understands that the US technology giant has appealed to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent court with the power to investigate claims against the Security Service."

Hegseth orders pause in offensive US cyber operations against Russia The reported directive from the defence secretary comes during an American push to end the war in Ukraine.

"The reasoning for the instruction has not been publicly stated, and it is not clear how long the halt might last. The defence department has declined to comment.
The directive reportedly came before Trump ended up in a televised row with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House..."

Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row There has been a fierce backlash to the request from privacy campaigners and US politicians.

"Prof Alan Woodward - a cyber-security expert at Surrey University - said it was a "very disappointing development"...
"All the UK government has achieved is to weaken online security and privacy for UK based users""
#Privacy www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Published last year, this might be of interest, it discusses what they can do with that data when they start analysing it and applying psychological techniques, and how they can fill in the blanks when the data sets are high quality. Specific focus on the body politic publicera.kb.se/jdsr/article...

YouTube video by The Royal Society Brian Cox School Experiments teaser | The Royal Society

"Each of the six new topics features a classroom experiment aimed at 11-14 year olds, followed by interviews with STEM professionals working in academia or industry."
#EduSkyUK #EduSky #BrianCoxSchoolExperiments
www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Aw...

The article gives more detail but that seems the indication. There also seems to be a suggestion that use of this particular technology to support students needs to be explored more holistically as part of a program: a short term support while building the necessary skills, not a long term solution.

Audiologists raise concern over headphone use in young people More young people are presenting to audiology teams in England with difficulty processing sound.

"Noise-cancelling headphones do have their benefits" BUT "there is a possibility the brain can "forget" to filter out the noise" AND "more research is needed". "Treatment [including mobile apps] for APD can make a significant positive difference"
#edusky #keeplistening
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Fingerprinting: Critics say Google rules put profits over privacy Google is allowing advertisers to collect more personal information, which is harder for users to control.

"The UK's data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), says "fingerprinting is not a fair means of tracking users online because it is likely to reduce people's choice and control over how their information is collected.""
#Privacy
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For civic technologists in the Federal government who want to stay in the space even if you’re taking jobs elsewhere, the @civictechallies.bsky.social is recruiting volunteers and organizers for locally focused volunteer groups. #civictech

#BeMine Democracy

No, thank you. Your posts remind me that I'm not the only one approaching the challenges this way.
I try to think that living in times like these means we have been somehow called on to carry vital responsibility... other times I think there is not enough coffee and chocolate in all the world...

If it helps, I don't think its just Americans. There are certain similarities between the setup of US & UK education systems that seem to appreciate the value of civics, but fall down on its everyday practicalities, global interconnectedness, and inclusivity. Socioeconomics (poverty) a major factor

You're right.
Increased attacks on the idea of national level career politicians may also play a role? We've seen that over here in the UK, but once many career politicians were pushed out it suddenly became apparent that those skilled & experienced politicians were important, and sorely missed.

London’s first Roman basilica found under office basement The discovery has been described as one of the most important pieces of Roman history in the City of London.

"Archaeologists have found a substantial piece of the ancient city's first basilica - a 2,000 year old public building where major political, economic and administrative decisions were made." #history #Archaeology #skystorians #London #RomanBritain
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...