Ryan Williams
@activationlayer.org
Creating the Global Disinformation Policy Database. https://disinfo-policy.org
I have a Pug.
Democracy, technology, and collective sensemaking.
PhD student @ the University of Texas.
I have a Pug.
Democracy, technology, and collective sensemaking.
PhD student @ the University of Texas.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
Super important work.
October 23, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Super important work.
This seems bad.
NEW: ICE is planning to hire a team of nearly 30 people to surveil social media 24/7, build dossiers on people, and flag them for arrest and deportation. @dell.bsky.social has the scoop: www.wired.com/story/ice-so...
ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team
Documents show ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.
www.wired.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This seems bad.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
No way to run a railroad
Pardon, *a global hegemon
Pardon, *a global hegemon
👀 👀 👀
Steve Witkoff doesn't read his email, doesn't read intelligence briefings and "isn’t consistently engaged. He will pop in for a visit to Vladimir Putin, say a bunch of stuff, not tell anyone what really happened and then just fuck off to his life again."
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
Steve Witkoff doesn't read his email, doesn't read intelligence briefings and "isn’t consistently engaged. He will pop in for a visit to Vladimir Putin, say a bunch of stuff, not tell anyone what really happened and then just fuck off to his life again."
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
August 29, 2025 at 6:57 PM
No way to run a railroad
Pardon, *a global hegemon
Pardon, *a global hegemon
Reposted by Ryan Williams
Today was a great day because I found out there is a Bluesky feed just for pugs.
Today is a hard day because my wife took fern to work.
Today is a hard day because my wife took fern to work.
October 18, 2024 at 3:41 PM
Today was a great day because I found out there is a Bluesky feed just for pugs.
Today is a hard day because my wife took fern to work.
Today is a hard day because my wife took fern to work.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
Game Changer pride stickers are out now 🎉 (with massive thanks to @samreich.bsky.social for giving me permission to sell them!)
UK: canopyrobin.sumupstore.com/product/game...
International: canopyrobin.etsy.com/listing/4333...
UK: canopyrobin.sumupstore.com/product/game...
International: canopyrobin.etsy.com/listing/4333...
July 26, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Game Changer pride stickers are out now 🎉 (with massive thanks to @samreich.bsky.social for giving me permission to sell them!)
UK: canopyrobin.sumupstore.com/product/game...
International: canopyrobin.etsy.com/listing/4333...
UK: canopyrobin.sumupstore.com/product/game...
International: canopyrobin.etsy.com/listing/4333...
Reposted by Ryan Williams
delighted to announce that my new zine "The Secret Rules of the Terminal" is out today!!
You can get it for $12 USD here: wizardzines.com/zines/terminal
You can get it for $12 USD here: wizardzines.com/zines/terminal
June 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
delighted to announce that my new zine "The Secret Rules of the Terminal" is out today!!
You can get it for $12 USD here: wizardzines.com/zines/terminal
You can get it for $12 USD here: wizardzines.com/zines/terminal
Reposted by Ryan Williams
This is the lede. There is a woman on camera in charge of a lot of people with guns. She says they are going to liberate a domestic population center from democratically elected officials and violate too many laws to count in the process. I have zero time for anything else.
Every elected Republican should be asked if they think the president has the power to send in military in to “liberate” a state or city from its elected government.
June 12, 2025 at 8:16 PM
This is the lede. There is a woman on camera in charge of a lot of people with guns. She says they are going to liberate a domestic population center from democratically elected officials and violate too many laws to count in the process. I have zero time for anything else.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
This is a four alarm fire for democracy.
The Homeland Security secretary is vowing to "liberate" Los Angeles with the U.S. military as a U.S. Senator is dragged away, tackled and handcuffed.
The Homeland Security secretary is vowing to "liberate" Los Angeles with the U.S. military as a U.S. Senator is dragged away, tackled and handcuffed.
June 12, 2025 at 7:14 PM
This is a four alarm fire for democracy.
The Homeland Security secretary is vowing to "liberate" Los Angeles with the U.S. military as a U.S. Senator is dragged away, tackled and handcuffed.
The Homeland Security secretary is vowing to "liberate" Los Angeles with the U.S. military as a U.S. Senator is dragged away, tackled and handcuffed.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
COME ON. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE.
June 12, 2025 at 7:02 PM
COME ON. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
"Liberate this city from socialists and burdensome leadership." If that's not regime change, I don't know what to tell you.
The inflection point is now.
The inflection point is now.
Kristi Noem: "We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city."
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
June 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
"Liberate this city from socialists and burdensome leadership." If that's not regime change, I don't know what to tell you.
The inflection point is now.
The inflection point is now.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
I am simply horrified by this footage. Shame on Noem. Shame on the FBI.
Sitting US Senator Alex Padilla forcibly wrestled to the ground and arrested by the FBI for attempting to ask a question of DHS secretary Kristin Noem.
June 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I am simply horrified by this footage. Shame on Noem. Shame on the FBI.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
NEW: The Trump admin has plans to send thousands of foreigners to Guantanamo beginning as early as this week, including citizens of close allies UK & France, with no intention of notifying their home governments in advance, per sources and documents
June 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM
NEW: The Trump admin has plans to send thousands of foreigners to Guantanamo beginning as early as this week, including citizens of close allies UK & France, with no intention of notifying their home governments in advance, per sources and documents
Reposted by Ryan Williams
(Reuters) - Food rations that could supply 3.5 million people for a month are mouldering in warehouses around the world because of U.S. aid cuts and risk becoming unusable, according to five people familiar with the situation.
www.reuters.com/world/us-aid...
www.reuters.com/world/us-aid...
Exclusive: US aid cuts leave food for millions mouldering in storage
The food stocks have been stuck inside four U.S. government warehouses since the Trump administration's decision in January to cut global aid programs.
www.reuters.com
May 16, 2025 at 11:23 AM
(Reuters) - Food rations that could supply 3.5 million people for a month are mouldering in warehouses around the world because of U.S. aid cuts and risk becoming unusable, according to five people familiar with the situation.
www.reuters.com/world/us-aid...
www.reuters.com/world/us-aid...
@reckless.bsky.social next time you get one of these guys on decoder can you pask them how they can possibly justify doing a photo op with a murderer?
is there anything they *wouldn’t* do to gain an edge? Can they articulate it? Can “democratic ai” be developed in collab with a dismember-er?
is there anything they *wouldn’t* do to gain an edge? Can they articulate it? Can “democratic ai” be developed in collab with a dismember-er?
May 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
@reckless.bsky.social next time you get one of these guys on decoder can you pask them how they can possibly justify doing a photo op with a murderer?
is there anything they *wouldn’t* do to gain an edge? Can they articulate it? Can “democratic ai” be developed in collab with a dismember-er?
is there anything they *wouldn’t* do to gain an edge? Can they articulate it? Can “democratic ai” be developed in collab with a dismember-er?
Reposted by Ryan Williams
When I give talks about information technology and collective behavior, I mention what I call the Iron Law of Information Technology.
The business model that supports a technology (advertising, mostly, for the web) shapes the UX/affordances of the tech, which in turn shapes its quality and value.
The business model that supports a technology (advertising, mostly, for the web) shapes the UX/affordances of the tech, which in turn shapes its quality and value.
May 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM
When I give talks about information technology and collective behavior, I mention what I call the Iron Law of Information Technology.
The business model that supports a technology (advertising, mostly, for the web) shapes the UX/affordances of the tech, which in turn shapes its quality and value.
The business model that supports a technology (advertising, mostly, for the web) shapes the UX/affordances of the tech, which in turn shapes its quality and value.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will direct federal health agencies to explore potential new treatments for measles as the U.S. faces its largest outbreak in 25 years. Experts fear the decision could have grave consequences, as studies show the existing vaccine is 97% effective in preventing infection.
RFK Jr. Orders Search for New Measles Treatments Instead of Urging Vaccination
Decades of research have turned up no miracle treatment for measles, but studies show the M.M.R. shot is 97 percent effective in preventing the disease.
www.nytimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will direct federal health agencies to explore potential new treatments for measles as the U.S. faces its largest outbreak in 25 years. Experts fear the decision could have grave consequences, as studies show the existing vaccine is 97% effective in preventing infection.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
Reposted by Ryan Williams
found your posts
April 20, 2025 at 12:35 AM
found your posts
Reposted by Ryan Williams
Alarming state of affairs. In past 3 months, Trump has:
1. Closed FBI Foreign Influence Task Force
2. Closed State Dept Global Misinformation office
3. Ordered CISA to no longer address misinfo
4. Redirected Cyber Command away from Russian disinfo
5. Fired NSA Director
6. Sacked 6 NSC officials
1. Closed FBI Foreign Influence Task Force
2. Closed State Dept Global Misinformation office
3. Ordered CISA to no longer address misinfo
4. Redirected Cyber Command away from Russian disinfo
5. Fired NSA Director
6. Sacked 6 NSC officials
Under Trump, National Security Guardrails Vanish
America’s adversaries have more room to operate, at least in the disinformation space, cybersecurity experts say.
www.nytimes.com
April 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Alarming state of affairs. In past 3 months, Trump has:
1. Closed FBI Foreign Influence Task Force
2. Closed State Dept Global Misinformation office
3. Ordered CISA to no longer address misinfo
4. Redirected Cyber Command away from Russian disinfo
5. Fired NSA Director
6. Sacked 6 NSC officials
1. Closed FBI Foreign Influence Task Force
2. Closed State Dept Global Misinformation office
3. Ordered CISA to no longer address misinfo
4. Redirected Cyber Command away from Russian disinfo
5. Fired NSA Director
6. Sacked 6 NSC officials
Reposted by Ryan Williams
The last one is entirely expected but deeply disappointing.
The NSF has bought into Jim Jordan's attempt to equate misinformation research with violating free speech and censoring Americans.
Rather, this work helps us adapt to the most radical shift of information environment in human history.
The NSF has bought into Jim Jordan's attempt to equate misinformation research with violating free speech and censoring Americans.
Rather, this work helps us adapt to the most radical shift of information environment in human history.
April 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
The last one is entirely expected but deeply disappointing.
The NSF has bought into Jim Jordan's attempt to equate misinformation research with violating free speech and censoring Americans.
Rather, this work helps us adapt to the most radical shift of information environment in human history.
The NSF has bought into Jim Jordan's attempt to equate misinformation research with violating free speech and censoring Americans.
Rather, this work helps us adapt to the most radical shift of information environment in human history.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
NSF has posted an “update on priorities.”
They’re canceling all “DEI and misinformation/disinformation” grants.
And the guidance on how to fulfill the longstanding, legally mandated Broadening Participation requirement is utterly incoherent.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
They’re canceling all “DEI and misinformation/disinformation” grants.
And the guidance on how to fulfill the longstanding, legally mandated Broadening Participation requirement is utterly incoherent.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
Updates on NSF Priorities
www.nsf.gov
April 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
NSF has posted an “update on priorities.”
They’re canceling all “DEI and misinformation/disinformation” grants.
And the guidance on how to fulfill the longstanding, legally mandated Broadening Participation requirement is utterly incoherent.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
They’re canceling all “DEI and misinformation/disinformation” grants.
And the guidance on how to fulfill the longstanding, legally mandated Broadening Participation requirement is utterly incoherent.
www.nsf.gov/updates-on-p...
Reposted by Ryan Williams
It took Peter Staley two weeks to build 200 full-sized coffins.
The longtime AIDS activist, with a group of volunteers, fashioned them out of styrofoam, tape and velcro. On Thursday, the volunteers stacked coffins 10 layers deep outside the State Department to protest cuts to global AIDS relief.
The longtime AIDS activist, with a group of volunteers, fashioned them out of styrofoam, tape and velcro. On Thursday, the volunteers stacked coffins 10 layers deep outside the State Department to protest cuts to global AIDS relief.
Activists pile 200 coffins outside State Department to protest cuts to global AIDS relief
Cuts to PEPFAR, the country’s emergency plan for HIV and AIDS relief, have resulted in an estimated 40,000 deaths overseas, analysis shows.
19thnews.org
April 17, 2025 at 7:54 PM
It took Peter Staley two weeks to build 200 full-sized coffins.
The longtime AIDS activist, with a group of volunteers, fashioned them out of styrofoam, tape and velcro. On Thursday, the volunteers stacked coffins 10 layers deep outside the State Department to protest cuts to global AIDS relief.
The longtime AIDS activist, with a group of volunteers, fashioned them out of styrofoam, tape and velcro. On Thursday, the volunteers stacked coffins 10 layers deep outside the State Department to protest cuts to global AIDS relief.
Reposted by Ryan Williams
April 17, 2025 at 7:50 PM
this new Kamasi Washington soundtrack is awesome for writing: music.apple.com/us/album/laz...
Lazarus (Adult Swim Original Series Soundtrack) by Kamasi Washington on Apple Music
Album · 2025 · 11 Songs
music.apple.com
April 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
this new Kamasi Washington soundtrack is awesome for writing: music.apple.com/us/album/laz...