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
Islamic Algorithms
This book examines how Islam is digitally mediated at a time of technological change, enhanced digital literacy and proactive engagement in Islamic online conte…
www.bloomsbury.com
The paperback version of my book ‘Islamic Algorithms‘ will be available later this month, and is available to pre-order here or via your local book shop.
Malian TikToker killed by suspected jihadists after pro-army posts
Mali jihadist crisis: TikToker killed by suspected jihadists after pro-army posts
Mariam Cissé, said to be in her 20s, was accused of providing information to the army.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Malian TikToker killed by suspected jihadists after pro-army posts
Another interesting story from @restofworld.org
The bombing of Gaza Sky Geeks
For over a decade, Gaza Sky Geeks built a tech future for the Gaza Strip. Then came war.
restofworld.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Another interesting story from @restofworld.org
“After a devastating attack left almost 100 people injured in an Indonesian school, the country's president is now mulling over the idea of "restricting online games" because they allegedly make "violence a normal thing."” #Indonesia
Indonesia Mulls Video Game Curbs After Jakarta School Blast
President Prabowo Subianto ordered his cabinet to look into such measures after receiving updates about the police investigation into the act, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi told reporters in Jakarta o...
uk.finance.yahoo.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
“After a devastating attack left almost 100 people injured in an Indonesian school, the country's president is now mulling over the idea of "restricting online games" because they allegedly make "violence a normal thing."” #Indonesia
UAE AI chips
Exclusive: Microsoft says UAE AI chip approval ‘first step’ for Emirati access
Other hyperscalers are likely to follow, Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said in an interview.
www.semafor.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
UAE AI chips
The digital landscape is complicated, fragmented and dynamic: rather than following one person’s “ideology”, young people are immersed in a constant stream of content.”
‘Andrew Tate is dead’: inside the minds of 16-year-olds | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
The digital landscape is complicated, fragmented and dynamic: rather than following one person’s “ideology”, young people are immersed in a constant stream of content.”
YouTube Shorts Veo 3 in MENA:
"The Google-owned platform also plans to broaden the reach of its auto-dubbing feature, currently available to about 51,000 Egyptian creators translating Egyptian Arabic to English — an AI-powered translation tool enabling creators to reach global audiences."
"The Google-owned platform also plans to broaden the reach of its auto-dubbing feature, currently available to about 51,000 Egyptian creators translating Egyptian Arabic to English — an AI-powered translation tool enabling creators to reach global audiences."
YouTube to roll out AI video generation model Veo 3 on Shorts in MENA
LONDON: YouTube announced on Thursday that it will begin rolling out Veo 3, Google’s most advanced AI video generation model, on YouTube Shorts — free of charge to selected countries in the MENA regio...
www.arabnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
YouTube Shorts Veo 3 in MENA:
"The Google-owned platform also plans to broaden the reach of its auto-dubbing feature, currently available to about 51,000 Egyptian creators translating Egyptian Arabic to English — an AI-powered translation tool enabling creators to reach global audiences."
"The Google-owned platform also plans to broaden the reach of its auto-dubbing feature, currently available to about 51,000 Egyptian creators translating Egyptian Arabic to English — an AI-powered translation tool enabling creators to reach global audiences."
UAE deepfake AI warnings: "A deepfake scam uses AI to manipulate victims into sending money, revealing sensitive information, or taking other actions beneficial to the scammer."
UAE issues warning over AI deepfake threats | The National
Technology used in scams is 'advancing rapidly', says UAE Cybersecurity Council
www.thenationalnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:09 PM
UAE deepfake AI warnings: "A deepfake scam uses AI to manipulate victims into sending money, revealing sensitive information, or taking other actions beneficial to the scammer."
Excellent from @newlinesmag.bsky.social on an underrepresented subject …
NEW: Buried for 90 years, a cache of Yazidi photographs has become a bridge between the Iraqi community’s past and today, writes William Gourlay for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-f...
newlinesmag.com/essays/the-f...
The Forgotten Photographs of Iraq’s Yazidis
Images of everyday life captured by archaeologists in the 1930s have been rediscovered, reshaping how a persecuted community remembers itself
newlinesmag.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Excellent from @newlinesmag.bsky.social on an underrepresented subject …
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
🇲🇱 Truckers defy death to supply jihadist-hit Mali with fuel
Dozens of Malian truck drivers risk their lives every day to supply the capital, Bamako, with fuel as a blockade by Al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM creates chronic shortages
Dozens of Malian truck drivers risk their lives every day to supply the capital, Bamako, with fuel as a blockade by Al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM creates chronic shortages
November 7, 2025 at 12:20 PM
🇲🇱 Truckers defy death to supply jihadist-hit Mali with fuel
Dozens of Malian truck drivers risk their lives every day to supply the capital, Bamako, with fuel as a blockade by Al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM creates chronic shortages
Dozens of Malian truck drivers risk their lives every day to supply the capital, Bamako, with fuel as a blockade by Al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM creates chronic shortages
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
Allégorie de la situation mondiale depuis janvier 2025...
November 7, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Allégorie de la situation mondiale depuis janvier 2025...
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
BBC really burying the lede there
November 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
BBC really burying the lede there
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
New Prevent data released, and for the first time it includes the ethnicity of those recommended. Of 8,778 referrals in 2025:
65%White
19% Asian
8% Black
8% Other
Musk, Robinson, Lowe etc, are responsible for radicalisation of young white men....
news.sky.com/story/highes...
65%White
19% Asian
8% Black
8% Other
Musk, Robinson, Lowe etc, are responsible for radicalisation of young white men....
news.sky.com/story/highes...
Highest ever number of referrals to anti-extremism Prevent programme
The highest number of people on record were referred to the UK's anti-extremism scheme in the year to March - with a 37% rise in right-wing extremism concerns, the latest data shows.
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
New Prevent data released, and for the first time it includes the ethnicity of those recommended. Of 8,778 referrals in 2025:
65%White
19% Asian
8% Black
8% Other
Musk, Robinson, Lowe etc, are responsible for radicalisation of young white men....
news.sky.com/story/highes...
65%White
19% Asian
8% Black
8% Other
Musk, Robinson, Lowe etc, are responsible for radicalisation of young white men....
news.sky.com/story/highes...
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
A newly identified Android spyware targeted Galaxy devices for close to a year, including users in the Middle East, researchers exclusively tell TechCrunch.
'Landfall' spyware abused zero-day to hack Samsung Galaxy phones | TechCrunch
A newly identified Android spyware targeted Galaxy devices for close to a year, including users in the Middle East, researchers exclusively tell TechCrunch.
techcrunch.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:07 AM
A newly identified Android spyware targeted Galaxy devices for close to a year, including users in the Middle East, researchers exclusively tell TechCrunch.
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
The FBI has subpoenaed the domain registrar of archive.today, demanding information about the owner.
FBI Tries to Unmask Owner of Infamous Archive.is Site
The FBI has subpoenaed the domain registrar of archive.today, demanding information about the owner.
www.404media.co
November 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The FBI has subpoenaed the domain registrar of archive.today, demanding information about the owner.
"From ransomware and credential stealing to new malware strains, even posing as capture-the-flag (CTF) participants to manipulate chatbots, threat actors are officially embracing AI tools like never before, enhancing all stages of the cyberattack lifecycle, Google threat intelligence warns."
Cybercriminals stepping up AI use to “enhance all stages” of attacks, Google intel warns
From malware to credential stealing, threat actors are officially embracing AI tools to enhance all stages of the cyberattack lifecycle, Google threat intelligence warns.
cybernews.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
"From ransomware and credential stealing to new malware strains, even posing as capture-the-flag (CTF) participants to manipulate chatbots, threat actors are officially embracing AI tools like never before, enhancing all stages of the cyberattack lifecycle, Google threat intelligence warns."
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
Meta's fraud problem: The social media giant projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, documents seen by @Reuters show reut.rs/4qJTpdH
November 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Meta's fraud problem: The social media giant projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, documents seen by @Reuters show reut.rs/4qJTpdH
“Vibe coding”, an emerging software development that turns natural language into computer code using AI, has been named Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2025.
'Vibe coding' named Word of the Year by Collins Dictionary
“Vibe coding”, an emerging software development that turns natural language into computer code using AI, has been named Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2025.
l.euronews.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Interesting reflections on the dynamics of politics in Bradford (and beyond) from @politicshome.bsky.social
“It’s like everything’s gone out of the window"
Labour is hoping that the Gaza ceasefire will help it recover support in Muslim communities. But some party figures fear these voters aren't coming back, reports Tom Scotson
Labour is hoping that the Gaza ceasefire will help it recover support in Muslim communities. But some party figures fear these voters aren't coming back, reports Tom Scotson
After Gaza: How Muslim Independents Are Reshaping The Political Map
Labour is hoping that the ceasefire in the Middle East will help it recover support in Muslim communities. Tom Scotson visits Bradford to explore p...
www.politicshome.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Interesting reflections on the dynamics of politics in Bradford (and beyond) from @politicshome.bsky.social
Important work and findings from @skynewsrss.bsky.social with methodological details
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Important work and findings from @skynewsrss.bsky.social with methodological details
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
Mamdani’s victory is a rebuke to the failed strategies of the Democratic party | Moira Donegan
Mamdani’s victory is a rebuke to the failed strategies of the Democratic party | Moira Donegan
The Democratic party appears listless and unprincipled, unwilling to fight because they do not believe in anything. Zohran Mamdani is the opposite of this
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Mamdani’s victory is a rebuke to the failed strategies of the Democratic party | Moira Donegan
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
Left-wing European politicians are celebrating this morning after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won New York City’s mayoral election.
Zohran Mamdani’s New York election win fires up the European left wing
“Hope won,” declares London Mayor Sadiq Khan after socialist candidate triumphs in America’s largest city.
www.politico.eu
November 5, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Left-wing European politicians are celebrating this morning after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won New York City’s mayoral election.
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
Mamdani sends four-word message to Trump in victory speech
Mamdani sends four-word message to Trump in victory speech
Mamdani sends four-word message to Trump in victory speech
www.independent.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Mamdani sends four-word message to Trump in victory speech
Alex de Waal writing on BBC News on #Sudan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo:
‘He made his money selling camels and gold. Now this warlord controls half of Sudan‘
‘He made his money selling camels and gold. Now this warlord controls half of Sudan‘
Sudan conflict: Who is RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagolo?
Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo will either lead a breakaway state or seek to take control of the whole country, Sudanese say.
www.bbc.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Alex de Waal writing on BBC News on #Sudan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo:
‘He made his money selling camels and gold. Now this warlord controls half of Sudan‘
‘He made his money selling camels and gold. Now this warlord controls half of Sudan‘