Gary R. Bunt
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garyrbunt.bsky.social
Gary R. Bunt
@garyrbunt.bsky.social
Digitally distracted Professor. Researcher/author on Islam, Muslims and the internet. Emoji-free zone. Posting does not imply endorsement, etc. Based in Wales. X antidote. https://virtuallyislamic.com
Pinned
(Another) Commercial Break:

The ‘Islamic Algorithms’ paperback is out now @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social. If you want to tap into my research on cyber-Islamic environments and AI this is the place to start. Drop me a comment if you have read it. More info: www.virtuallyislamic.com/books/islami...
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
An intelligence report says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has prepared a contingency plan to flee to Moscow if nationwide unrest escalates and security forces begin to defect or disobey orders.
Ayatollah Khamenei plans to flee to Moscow if Iran unrest intensifies
The republic’s supreme leader has plotted an exit route out of Tehran should his forces fail to quell dissent, an intelligence report reveals
www.thetimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
🇮🇷 Mass protests are taking place across Iran, including people burning effigies Khamenei.

The active phase of the protests has been ongoing for several days and is spreading to an increasing number of cities and provinces.
January 4, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
From repurposed footage filmed years ago in different parts of the world, to AI images and videos of Maduro's arrest, social media platforms like X, Instagram and TikTok were flooded with disinformation within minutes of America's assault on #Venezuela

www.wired.com/story/disinf...
Disinformation Floods Social Media After Nicolás Maduro's Capture
From seemingly AI-generated videos to the recirculation of old footage, TikTok, Instagram, and X did little to stop the onslaught of misleading posts in the wake of the US invasion of Venezuela.
www.wired.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
⚠️ Confirmed: Metrics show a loss of internet connectivity in parts of #Caracas, Venezuela, corresponding to power cuts during the US military operation which landed strikes on the capital and captured and removed President Maduro from the country #3Ene
January 3, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Data centre implications …
Billion-Dollar Data Centers Are Taking Over the World
The battle for AI dominance has left a large footprint—and it’s only getting bigger and more expensive.
www.wired.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:54 AM
I’ve seen several examples of AI images from #Iran protests. BBC Verify are covering it here:
BBC Verify Live: AI images among real footage being shared of Iran protests
Latest updates from the BBC's specialists in fact-checking, verifying video and tackling disinformation.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 2, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Digital themes here - looking at AI use in newsrooms and podcast production
arab.news/g6b5p
A look back at how Arab News marked its 50th anniversary
RIYADH: In 2025, the global news agenda was crowded with headlines concerning wars, elections and rapid technological change. Inside the newsroom of Arab News, the year carried additional weight: Saud...
arab.news
January 2, 2026 at 10:44 AM
AI browsers anybody? I’ve started tentatively using them. This article explores implications of Comet ++
Why This Controversial AI Browser Will Change the Way You Use the Internet | Gear Patrol
Like it or not, the next watershed moment in how we interact with the world is no longer theoretical.
www.gearpatrol.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
UNICEF estimates that nearly one million children in Gaza require psychosocial assistance ⬇️
Virtual reality is helping Gaza’s children briefly escape war
"There was no shelling and no screaming […] I wanted to stay there longer," 10-year-old Mahmoud Abu Sabha remarked.
www.newarab.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Egyptian dissident apologises for tweets as Tories push for UK deportation www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Home secretary urged to strip activist of British citizenship
Shabana Mahmood is facing growing calls to revoke the citizenship of British-Egyptian dual national Alaa Abdel Fattah after the emergence of social media posts.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 29, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Government condemns Egyptian activist’s ‘abhorrent’ social media posts www.lbc.co.uk/article/gove...
Government condemns Egyptian activist’s ‘abhorrent’ social media posts | LBC
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced backlash after originally celebrating Mr Abd El-Fattah’s return to the UK on Boxing Day
www.lbc.co.uk
December 28, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Her husband's kidnapping became Malaysia's biggest mystery. Then came a stunning confession www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Susanna Liew: The pastor's wife who took on Malaysia's government over her missing husband Raymond Koh
Nine years after her husband disappeared, Susanna Liew had a stunning legal win in one of Malaysia's biggest mysteries.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 27, 2025 at 12:31 AM
US launches strikes against Islamic State in Nigeria www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
US launches strikes against Islamic State in Nigeria
President Donald Trump has previously accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from jihadist groups.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 10:41 AM
@lbc.co.uk British online campaigner vows to fight US deportation threat
British online campaigner vows to fight US deportation threat | LBC
Imran Ahmed, who leads the Centre for Countering Digital Hate and has close links to the Labour Party, has been hit by US sanctions.
www.lbc.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 12:04 AM
There’s plenty to take away from this interesting case from Turkey …
Turkish court rules man liking women’s posts may erode marital trust, prompts debate
Judges rule against husband who ogled at ‘seductive’ and ‘suggestive’ photos of women online; lawyers say actions may be grounds for divorce.
www.scmp.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:31 PM