Alondra Nelson
@alondra.bsky.social
Scholar, author, policy advisor
alondranelson.com
Science, Technology, and Social Values Lab
https://www.ias.edu/stsv-lab
alondranelson.com
Science, Technology, and Social Values Lab
https://www.ias.edu/stsv-lab
Pinned
Alondra Nelson
@alondra.bsky.social
· Jan 15
The mirage of AI deregulation
One of the most interventionist approaches to technology governance in the United States in a generation has cloaked itself in the language of deregulation. In early December 2025, President Donald Tr...
www.science.org
🧵 Trump administration AI policy is widely described as deregulatory. This description is misleading. What's happening is not the absence of governance but its rearrangement--intensive state intervention operating through mechanisms we don't typically call regulation. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
… which is why I stole it from Reagan. (Or Octavia Butler. But I’m betting against Trump being a big reader of… well anything, but Octavia Butler especially.)
Trump: "'Make America Great Again' turns out to be rated not by me, by anybody, by stupid people, frankly -- anybody would rate it -- the number one phrase in the history of politics in America."
February 19, 2026 at 10:58 PM
… which is why I stole it from Reagan. (Or Octavia Butler. But I’m betting against Trump being a big reader of… well anything, but Octavia Butler especially.)
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
Rubio is putting Edward "Big Balls" Coristine in charge of this project, which promises to open a portal to funnel favorite texts of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and loads of kiddie porn to unsuspecting Europeans... all at US taxpayer expense.
February 19, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Rubio is putting Edward "Big Balls" Coristine in charge of this project, which promises to open a portal to funnel favorite texts of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and loads of kiddie porn to unsuspecting Europeans... all at US taxpayer expense.
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
“It is much easier to quantify and qualify the immediate, case-by-case impacts of a set of data centers on the ground, but grasping the full picture of data center impacts requires contending with the entangled, ever-changing, and fundamentally unseeable global flows of materials, capital and power”
Data center fights are hyperlocal but depend on opaque global supply chains + geopolitical resource grabs. How do data centers connect with critical minerals and electronics manufacturing, and what makes these connections palpable? Hannah Lipstein + I wrote about this @techpolicypress.bsky.social
US Critical Mineral Aggression Abroad Connected to Data Center Fights at Home
We must phase out fossil fuels—not endlessly reshuffle environmental sacrifice zones around the planet, write Hannah Lipstein and Tamara Kneese.
www.techpolicy.press
February 19, 2026 at 8:49 PM
“It is much easier to quantify and qualify the immediate, case-by-case impacts of a set of data centers on the ground, but grasping the full picture of data center impacts requires contending with the entangled, ever-changing, and fundamentally unseeable global flows of materials, capital and power”
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
Data center fights are hyperlocal but depend on opaque global supply chains + geopolitical resource grabs. How do data centers connect with critical minerals and electronics manufacturing, and what makes these connections palpable? Hannah Lipstein + I wrote about this @techpolicypress.bsky.social
US Critical Mineral Aggression Abroad Connected to Data Center Fights at Home
We must phase out fossil fuels—not endlessly reshuffle environmental sacrifice zones around the planet, write Hannah Lipstein and Tamara Kneese.
www.techpolicy.press
February 19, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Data center fights are hyperlocal but depend on opaque global supply chains + geopolitical resource grabs. How do data centers connect with critical minerals and electronics manufacturing, and what makes these connections palpable? Hannah Lipstein + I wrote about this @techpolicypress.bsky.social
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
Looking forward to this panel discussing the key findings of the International AI Safety Report at the India AI Impact Summit tomorrow!
I’ll be joined by Josephine Teo, @alondra.bsky.social, Adam Beaumont and Lee Triedrich.
I’ll be joined by Josephine Teo, @alondra.bsky.social, Adam Beaumont and Lee Triedrich.
February 19, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Looking forward to this panel discussing the key findings of the International AI Safety Report at the India AI Impact Summit tomorrow!
I’ll be joined by Josephine Teo, @alondra.bsky.social, Adam Beaumont and Lee Triedrich.
I’ll be joined by Josephine Teo, @alondra.bsky.social, Adam Beaumont and Lee Triedrich.
"AI Safety at the Global Level: Insights from Digital Ministers & Officials," February 20 at 11:30am IST. Stream: www.youtube.com/live/EEQdcNv...
February 19, 2026 at 10:55 AM
"AI Safety at the Global Level: Insights from Digital Ministers & Officials," February 20 at 11:30am IST. Stream: www.youtube.com/live/EEQdcNv...
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
DNA science has helped solve criminal cases for decades. But increasingly, investigative genetic genealogy — which was first used for cold cases — is helping to solve active cases as well. n.pr/4kGO4RG
How a recent shift in DNA sleuthing might help investigators in the Nancy Guthrie case
DNA science has helped solve criminal cases for decades. But increasingly, investigative genetic genealogy — which was first used for cold cases — is helping to solve active cases as well.
n.pr
February 19, 2026 at 10:29 AM
DNA science has helped solve criminal cases for decades. But increasingly, investigative genetic genealogy — which was first used for cold cases — is helping to solve active cases as well. n.pr/4kGO4RG
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
WHERE IS CONGRESS?!?!?
U.S. Military Moves Into Place for Possible Strikes in Iran www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
U.S. Military Moves Into Place for Possible Strikes in Iran www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
U.S. Military Moves Into Place for Possible Strikes in Iran
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2026 at 7:53 AM
WHERE IS CONGRESS?!?!?
U.S. Military Moves Into Place for Possible Strikes in Iran www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
U.S. Military Moves Into Place for Possible Strikes in Iran www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
Modi offers his MANAV (or human) Vision for AI @ #AIImpactSummit
M: moral and ethical AI systems
A: accountable AI governance
N: national AI + data sovereignty
A: accessible and inclusive AI
V: AI should be valid and verifiable
What these principles mean in practice in India remains to be seen.
M: moral and ethical AI systems
A: accountable AI governance
N: national AI + data sovereignty
A: accessible and inclusive AI
V: AI should be valid and verifiable
What these principles mean in practice in India remains to be seen.
Honored to have served on the #UN High-level Advisory Board on AI. Today @ #AIImpactSummit three of our recommendations are advancing: an International Scientific Panel and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance are just underway and a new Global Fund for AI was announced www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtSR...
PM Modi & Global Leaders arrive at AI Impact Summit | Shaping the Future of AI Together
YouTube video by IndiaAI
www.youtube.com
February 19, 2026 at 5:53 AM
Modi offers his MANAV (or human) Vision for AI @ #AIImpactSummit
M: moral and ethical AI systems
A: accountable AI governance
N: national AI + data sovereignty
A: accessible and inclusive AI
V: AI should be valid and verifiable
What these principles mean in practice in India remains to be seen.
M: moral and ethical AI systems
A: accountable AI governance
N: national AI + data sovereignty
A: accessible and inclusive AI
V: AI should be valid and verifiable
What these principles mean in practice in India remains to be seen.
Yet more voluntary commitments from Big Tech w/ the New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments: anonymized, aggregated insights to support evidence-based policymaking, and multilingual, contextual AI evaluations. No enforcement mechanisms, and past ones haven't served society well. #AIActionSummit
President Macron at #AIActionSummit with a shoutout to www.currentai.org and announcing that France will dedicate its G7 presidency to the protection of children on social media and in AI deployment.
Current AI | Building Public Interest AI Technology Together
Join a global initiative building open, fair AI technology that serves the public interest. Through collaboration and local action, we're creating AI solutions that benefit everyone.
www.currentai.org
February 19, 2026 at 5:29 AM
Yet more voluntary commitments from Big Tech w/ the New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments: anonymized, aggregated insights to support evidence-based policymaking, and multilingual, contextual AI evaluations. No enforcement mechanisms, and past ones haven't served society well. #AIActionSummit
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
So, the US govt approach is:
*We are going to scan tourists social media accounts and deny visas because of content we dislike, like mocking Trump
and
*We are going to allow foreigners a work-around to consume social media content their governments have banned, including hate speech
*We are going to scan tourists social media accounts and deny visas because of content we dislike, like mocking Trump
and
*We are going to allow foreigners a work-around to consume social media content their governments have banned, including hate speech
Exclusive: The US State Department is developing an online portal to enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, sources told Reuters reut.rs/4cySsA6
Exclusive: US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere
The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal that will enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propagan...
reut.rs
February 19, 2026 at 2:38 AM
So, the US govt approach is:
*We are going to scan tourists social media accounts and deny visas because of content we dislike, like mocking Trump
and
*We are going to allow foreigners a work-around to consume social media content their governments have banned, including hate speech
*We are going to scan tourists social media accounts and deny visas because of content we dislike, like mocking Trump
and
*We are going to allow foreigners a work-around to consume social media content their governments have banned, including hate speech
President Macron at #AIActionSummit with a shoutout to www.currentai.org and announcing that France will dedicate its G7 presidency to the protection of children on social media and in AI deployment.
Current AI | Building Public Interest AI Technology Together
Join a global initiative building open, fair AI technology that serves the public interest. Through collaboration and local action, we're creating AI solutions that benefit everyone.
www.currentai.org
February 19, 2026 at 4:56 AM
President Macron at #AIActionSummit with a shoutout to www.currentai.org and announcing that France will dedicate its G7 presidency to the protection of children on social media and in AI deployment.
Honored to have served on the #UN High-level Advisory Board on AI. Today @ #AIImpactSummit three of our recommendations are advancing: an International Scientific Panel and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance are just underway and a new Global Fund for AI was announced www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtSR...
PM Modi & Global Leaders arrive at AI Impact Summit | Shaping the Future of AI Together
YouTube video by IndiaAI
www.youtube.com
February 19, 2026 at 4:47 AM
Honored to have served on the #UN High-level Advisory Board on AI. Today @ #AIImpactSummit three of our recommendations are advancing: an International Scientific Panel and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance are just underway and a new Global Fund for AI was announced www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtSR...
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
Under the Government Use License, NIH-funded authors have the right to submit an AAM to PMC without an embargo, contrary to any publisher assertion or requirement that an author publish under an open access license and pay an APC.
February 18, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Under the Government Use License, NIH-funded authors have the right to submit an AAM to PMC without an embargo, contrary to any publisher assertion or requirement that an author publish under an open access license and pay an APC.
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
The license provides the necessary permissions for NIH to legally make federally funded AAMs publicly available through PMC without embargo upon the official date of publication, contrary to any publisher assertion or requirement to publish open access.
February 18, 2026 at 7:13 PM
The license provides the necessary permissions for NIH to legally make federally funded AAMs publicly available through PMC without embargo upon the official date of publication, contrary to any publisher assertion or requirement to publish open access.
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
Submitting the AAM to PMC does not require payment to the publisher or publishing open access. Federal agencies have, by law, certain rights to products resulting from federal funding under the “Government Use License” (or “Federal Purpose License).
February 18, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Submitting the AAM to PMC does not require payment to the publisher or publishing open access. Federal agencies have, by law, certain rights to products resulting from federal funding under the “Government Use License” (or “Federal Purpose License).
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
Under the updated Policy, Author Accepted Manuscripts (AAM) accepted for publication in a journal on or after July 1, 2025, must be submitted to PubMed Central (PMC) upon acceptance for publication and be made publicly available without an embargo upon the official date of publication.
February 18, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Under the updated Policy, Author Accepted Manuscripts (AAM) accepted for publication in a journal on or after July 1, 2025, must be submitted to PubMed Central (PMC) upon acceptance for publication and be made publicly available without an embargo upon the official date of publication.
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
I highly recommend reading this thread all the way through. Learned a ton about Ramadan and there’s a great little story toward the end - one that will be recognizable to people of all faith traditions.
Ramadan Mubarak, friends!
Ramadan Mubarak, friends!
It's almost time for Ramadan, as Muslims tonight peered to the crescent moon to see if the month of Ramadan starts tonight or the day after. As with every year, I'm starting this thread so that people can ask questions, and learn about Ramadan from one person's perspective of it.
February 18, 2026 at 10:05 PM
I highly recommend reading this thread all the way through. Learned a ton about Ramadan and there’s a great little story toward the end - one that will be recognizable to people of all faith traditions.
Ramadan Mubarak, friends!
Ramadan Mubarak, friends!
“We have data centres going up all over the place and we still have no regulation . . . we literally have reports across the nation where people have married an AI... We’re headed in a really bad direction very, very quickly if we don’t have some regulation on this.”
"'I voted for this administration and didn’t really think about [AI] until it started to affect me,' said Lisa Garrett, who lives beside the site of a rapidly greenlit $6.6bn, 400-acre data centre development... just east of Kansas City."
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Donald Trump’s AI push fuels revolt in Maga heartlands
Republicans fear backlash against White House agenda could undermine support in this year’s midterm elections
giftarticle.ft.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:27 PM
“We have data centres going up all over the place and we still have no regulation . . . we literally have reports across the nation where people have married an AI... We’re headed in a really bad direction very, very quickly if we don’t have some regulation on this.”
"'I voted for this administration and didn’t really think about [AI] until it started to affect me,' said Lisa Garrett, who lives beside the site of a rapidly greenlit $6.6bn, 400-acre data centre development... just east of Kansas City."
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Donald Trump’s AI push fuels revolt in Maga heartlands
Republicans fear backlash against White House agenda could undermine support in this year’s midterm elections
giftarticle.ft.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:23 PM
"'I voted for this administration and didn’t really think about [AI] until it started to affect me,' said Lisa Garrett, who lives beside the site of a rapidly greenlit $6.6bn, 400-acre data centre development... just east of Kansas City."
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
"It was not clear what advantages the U.S. government portal would offer users that are not available from commercial VPNs."
Exclusive: The US State Department is developing an online portal to enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, sources told Reuters reut.rs/4cySsA6
Exclusive: US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere
The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal that will enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propagan...
reut.rs
February 18, 2026 at 11:12 PM
"It was not clear what advantages the U.S. government portal would offer users that are not available from commercial VPNs."
"Meta is preparing to spend $65 M this year to boost state politicians who are friendly to the AI industry...To do that, Meta is quietly starting two new super PACs... The new PACs join two others already started by Meta, one of which is focused on California" www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/t...
Meta Begins $65 Million Election Push to Advance A.I. Agenda
www.nytimes.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:08 PM
"Meta is preparing to spend $65 M this year to boost state politicians who are friendly to the AI industry...To do that, Meta is quietly starting two new super PACs... The new PACs join two others already started by Meta, one of which is focused on California" www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/t...
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
Great read! @alondra.bsky.social has some real bars:
"What [the Trump administration] has advanced is not the absence of AI regulation but its rearrangement, often by caprice..."
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
"What [the Trump administration] has advanced is not the absence of AI regulation but its rearrangement, often by caprice..."
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
The mirage of AI deregulation
One of the most interventionist approaches to technology governance in the United States in a generation has cloaked itself in the language of deregulation. In early December 2025, President Donald Tr...
www.science.org
February 18, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Great read! @alondra.bsky.social has some real bars:
"What [the Trump administration] has advanced is not the absence of AI regulation but its rearrangement, often by caprice..."
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
"What [the Trump administration] has advanced is not the absence of AI regulation but its rearrangement, often by caprice..."
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Alondra Nelson
Spent today talking to just a few of the Black women who credit Jesse Jackson with their start in national politics. By inviting them in, he ensured they would help shape democracy for years to come. My latest on the coalition he built as part of his towering legacy: 19thnews.org/2026/02/jess...
‘He gave me my wings’: Jesse Jackson opened doors for Black women in politics
Jackson, who died Tuesday, worked to diversify the electorate and brought Black women into Democratic politics who ascended to positions of power.
19thnews.org
February 17, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Spent today talking to just a few of the Black women who credit Jesse Jackson with their start in national politics. By inviting them in, he ensured they would help shape democracy for years to come. My latest on the coalition he built as part of his towering legacy: 19thnews.org/2026/02/jess...