Kate Starbird

IFCN statement on U.S. visa restrictions targeting fact-checkers - Poynter New visa directives wrongly conflate journalism with censorship.

In the Trump administration’s war on truth, they have attempted to silence and intimidate those who stand in their way. In their latest attack, they try to strategically frame fact-checking as “censorship.” But fact-checking isn’t censorship, it’s speech.
www.poynter.org/news-release...

Seeking nominations: The CIP Award for Impact & Excellence recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements that advance civic health and promote an informed society by helping individuals, communities, and institutions navigate complex information challenges.

The UW Center for an Informed Public's logo on a graphic that reads "CIP Award for Impact & Excellence," with a night-time view of UW's Red Square with the Broken Obelisk sculpture illuminated.

We're currently seeking nomination materials for the @cip.uw.edu Award for Impact & Excellence. The submission deadline is January 15, 2026.

Complete information: www.cip.uw.edu/cip-award-im...

Tweet by Jay Bhattacharya: It's the height of irony that the European Commission fined @elonmusk 's @x for not being transparent. The old Twitter handed out blue checks to cronies with no transparency whatsoever. The purpose of the old Twitter blue check system was to suppress dissidents and censor speech. Quote tweets himself saying: Twitter 1.0 placed me on a blacklist & denied me a blue check on the grounds that I am not noteworthy enough. Meanwhile, Twitter 1.0 gave blue checks to every covid alarmist, whatever their credenitals and lack of notoriety. The EU is silencing political opposition.

Imagine you're overseeing the termination of clinical trials, the destruction of people's livelihoods, the dismantling of scientific research in the US, and you're complaining that Twitter didn't give you a blue check 4 years ago.

The EU has slapped a fine on Musk's X because it is untransparent and supports deceptive practices. Nothing to do with "censorship."

Wait, I was told (repeatedly, by the Xinfluencers and their brigades of information warriors) that there is no greater crime than content moderation (aka "CENSORSHIP"). The scandal of our times, they said.

Most discussions about “misinformation” treat the problem as if people simply don’t have good enough critical-thinking skills. It sounds intuitive, but it’s not entirely accurate. The problem isn’t just individual ignorance, it’s the structure of the information environment people are placed into.

Rachel Harlow, her hair pulled back in a chignon, in an Oscar de la Renta dress in 1972

A very important thread. When I was probably no more than 10, I saw this picture of the woman known as Harlow in the Philly Inquirer. A little babygay, I was shocked that such a glamour queen could live in my hometown and even more shocked to see her described as "a former man."

The Psychological Impact of Digital Isolation: How AI-Driven Social Interactions Shape Human Behavior and Mental Well-Being Felix Eling 3697-3705 Apr 30, 2025 Education The Psychological Impact of Digital Isolation: How AI-Driven Social Interactions Shape Human Behavior and Mental Well-Being Felix Eling Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Gulu College of Health Sciences, Gulu City, Northern Uganda DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.90400265 Received: 13 March 2025; Revised: 22 March 2025; Accepted: 25 March 2025; Published: 30 April 2025 ABSTRACT The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in social interactions has transformed how humans experience companionship, communication, and mental well-being. This review examines the psychological impact of AI-driven social interactions, focusing on virtual assistants, AI chatbots, and digital companions. It explores the benefits, risks, and ethical concerns associated with AI companionship. A systematic review methodology was employed, detailing inclusion criteria, databases searched, and analysis techniques. Findings suggest that while AI can offer emotional relief and support, over-reliance may disrupt real-world social bonding. Ethical concerns such as data privacy, emotional manipulation, and regulatory gaps are highlighted. The study underscores the need for balanced AI integration in human socialization. The study also addresses gaps in previous literature by examining AI’s influence on different demographic groups and cultural contexts.

Let me tell you a story. Perhaps you can guess where this is going... though it does have a bit of a twist.

I was poking around Google Scholar for publications about the relationship between chatbots and wellness. Oh how useful: a systematic literature review! Let's dig into the findings. 🧵

I'm so lucky to get to work with such amazing colleagues — and especially junior scholars (students and postdocs). Their courage and conviction are awe-inspiring.

Same with humans, it seems.

As Bongino Celebrates Arrest in Pipe Bomb Case, Others on the Right Remain Skeptical

Sensemaking on right re: the arrest of the alleged DC pipe bomber (Trump supporter who believed his stolen election lies) is fascinating. Bongino, FBI deputy director, walks back from past conspiracy theorizing. Others, including KY Rep Massie, refuse to give it up: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...

The most devout believers (and strategic bullshitters) of the "censorship" myth have been calling for the jailing of researchers for a few years now...

White House 'Censorship' Grievance Fantasy Kicks Into High Gear | TechPolicy.Press Three related stories are each part of the larger geopolitical contest which now defines transatlantic relations, writes Dean Jackson.

Dean Jackson does a great job here connecting three major stories from this week to the now years-long "'censorship' greivance fantasy" crafted by right-wing conspiracy theorists and embraced by the Trump regime and its supporters: www.techpolicy.press/white-house-...

Don’t fret, Renee, they’ll figure out a way to wrap this new development into their grand conspiracy theory in short order.

From what I’ve read from the DSA experts, there are three elements: one about transparency for researchers, one about transparency around ads, and the other about allowing deception through their verified account program. Nothing about content moderation or anything resembling “censorship”.

Don't let anyone tell you that the Commission's DSA enforcement against X is about speech or censorship. https://lnkd.in/g3Cyeeyk That would, indeed, be interesting! But this is just the EU… ... Don't let anyone tell you that the Commission's DSA enforcement against X is about speech or censorship. https://lnkd.in/g3Cyeeyk That would, indeed, be interesting! But this is just the EU enforcing...

Don't fall for the manipulative "censorship" framing of EU's fines against X for DSA violations. The EU is trying to enforce their laws. X is breaking them. And the U.S. government is defending big tech, billionaries, & bullshitters rather than protecting users. www.linkedin.com/posts/daphne...

As predicted, the Trumpian U.S. government is defending the tech platforms that have lined up behind it, accusing the EU of “censorship”, even though its fine of X has nothing to do with anything remotely resembling censorship, even with their twisted definitions of the term.

LIVE SOON: Lawfare Live: The EU Fines X 120 M Euros - What Comes Next? Starting Dec 5 at 11:00 AM EST

At 11am, watch @klonick.bsky.social and @noupside.bsky.social discuss the European Commission's announcement that they are fining X 120 million Euros for impersonation scams with “verification,” broken advertising transpaency system, and blocking researchers from its platform.

bsky.app/profile/lawf...

Join me and @noupside.bsky.social *IN FIVE MINUTES* to talk about what the European Commission's decision means for X's pocket book, Europe's ongoing access to X, JD Vance's tweets, and whether this decision really is about censoring American tech companies.

bsky.app/profile/kate...

We saw a similar situation in Brazil. When X/Twitter was fined & subsequently suspended, it was not an act of censorship; rather, the Supreme Court was enforcing a law passed in 2014- a widely known and long-standing piece of legislation that platforms have been required to follow for over a decade.

For those following the news re: EU fining X for DSA violations, this thread explains that (despite how we may see the right and the U.S. gov frame things), it isn’t about “censorship” or even content moderation, but about X failing to follow laws about platform transparency and deception. A thread:

Don't let anyone tell you that the Commission's DSA enforcement against X is about speech or censorship.

That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/

Alien of the gaps: How 3I/ATLAS was turned into a spaceship online When we reach the frontier of current knowledge, we’re tempted to insert a higher power into the space where answers aren’t yet satisfying for all.

In the latest from @cip.uw.edu, Mert Can Bayar @mertcanbayar.bsky.social analyzes how knowledge gaps can lead to the spread of speculative theories, such as those shared by a Harvard astrophysicist that the comet known as 3l/ATLAS might be an alien "mothership." (1/3)

www.cip.uw.edu/2025/12/03/3...

Ressa grew up in the U.S. and might have dual citizenship. But so many other people (and their families) are at risk. And, even if they don’t enforce it, the risk creates a profound chilling effect… and that’s the point.

If you were a tech company employee who moderated content overseas — say, trying to prevent a repeat of the Myanmar genocide! or maybe policing CSAM! Or hate speech illegal in your country! — you are a “censor” under the definitions of the Republicans in power.

www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

bsky.app/profile/kate...

The cable, sent to all U.S. missions on December 2, orders U.S. consular officers to review resumes or LinkedIn profiles of H-1B applicants - and family members who would be traveling with them - to see if they have worked in areas that include activities such as misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance and online safety, among others.

Holy shit.

Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.

www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...