Vian Bakir

“A kick in the teeth” - 13% pay rise for the VC while jobs are on the line is inexcusable.

Thank you to every student, staff member, and community ally who stood in solidarity with @bangorucu.bsky.social yesterday.

We will keep fighting. ✊

Indeed. The uni will be viewed as one in 'managed decline'. Or perhaps 'mismanaged decline'.

“Universities are in crisis and this inquiry couldn’t come soon enough.” @drjogrady.bsky.social

After sustained pressure from UCU, The Education Committee has launched an inquiry into university finances.

We’ll be submitting evidence. Full statement here: www.ucu.org.uk/article/1405...

Bangor university boss gets pay rise while staff jobs cut A trade union says vice chancellor's pay rise could have saved multiple university staff jobs.

Bangor university gives its vice chancellor a 13% pay rise then cuts dozens of jobs.

Handing out massive pay rises while frontline staff face the sack is indefensible. @bangorucu.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Have a look at our new journal article in AI & Society - Move fast and break people? Ethics, companion apps, and the case of Character.ai. lnkd.in/ebhNBqNX

We identify unresolved ethical issues in companion-based AI tech.

Also flagging the relevance of our edited book on tackling disinformation: www.routledge.com/Routledge-Ha...

Just flagging the relevance of our open access book to the q. of how to address misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

Pleased to have delivered a Keynote 'Confronting the Threat: emerging trends & issues in the spread of misinformation & deepfakes’' to Westminster Media Forum conference on Priorities for Tackling Disinformation and Deepfakes in UK. 93 policymakers, regulators, third sector & tech industry present.

A third of Brits have tried an AI ‘companion’, survey data suggests 36 per cent of people in the UK have used an AI companion and a further 23 per cent are interested in trying one, suggests data released in…

Would you be in a relationship with an AI?

1/3 Brits have used an AI 'Companion', data from a survey by Andrew McStay & @vianbakir.bsky.social suggests.

I wrote about it here, and asked @aishasobey.bsky.social why men are more likely to use AI companions than women...

medium.com/p/a-third-of...

YouTube video by UCU - University and College Union Highlights from Westminster Hall debate, 'Impact of university finances on jobs in higher education'

Watch highlights from the Westminster Hall debate on the 'Impact of university finances on jobs in Higher Education' 👇

It's clear that we need urgent action to #FundHENow

youtu.be/LTBBp6IG0xU?...

‘We’re here today because the crisis in higher education is a crisis caused by government policy and the solution has to come from government’

@vthuppil.bsky.social from @bangoruniversity.bsky.social advocating for change at the UCU #StoptheCuts rally

Q. The paper asks if organisations/nations/the powerful can avoid being propagandistic in their organised comms designed to persuade and influence.
A. Yes - if they avoid deception, incentivisation and coercion.

Data protection bill leaves room for governmental abuse, campaigners warn Ministerial revision of privacy rules could allow targeting of voters with political messaging, rights groups fear

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

🔴 Henry VIII powers in the Data Bill could threaten electoral integrity.

🔴 ORG's joint letter, signed by civil society groups and academics, warns that a government could change how Political Parties use the public’s data WITHOUT passing a new law.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

My first post after approx 1 year of social media digital detox (well worth it, my friends!)... I lead with a plug (no pun intended). Having read that the field of mis/disinformation lacks grounding in propaganda theory, I remind the world of this little piece: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...