Mark Welch
@markwelch.bsky.social
• ex-reporter ex-teacher ex-attorney, he/him
• law, journalism, education, security, privacy, surveillance tech, AI fairness, bias, face recognition, Blue Dot, LFL
• Springfield MO <NorCal <NH <MA <WI
• UC Berkeley JD'89; UMass Amherst BA'83
• law, journalism, education, security, privacy, surveillance tech, AI fairness, bias, face recognition, Blue Dot, LFL
• Springfield MO <NorCal <NH <MA <WI
• UC Berkeley JD'89; UMass Amherst BA'83
Pinned
» Revisiting the Past [Mark Welch's Perspective]
www.markwelchblog.com
I'm continuing to sort through five decades of personal journals, and considering whether to publish excerpts that relate to my growth dealing with the long-lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse by my brother.
Reposted by Mark Welch
I'm continuing to sort through five decades of personal journals, and considering whether to publish excerpts that relate to my growth dealing with the long-lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse by my brother.
» Revisiting the Past [Mark Welch's Perspective]
www.markwelchblog.com
December 28, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I'm continuing to sort through five decades of personal journals, and considering whether to publish excerpts that relate to my growth dealing with the long-lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse by my brother.
Reposted by Mark Welch
Companies are going to conclude it's just easier not to hire people of color.
Which, I assume, is the point
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Which, I assume, is the point
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | Justice Department Using Fraud Law to Target Companies on DEI
Google and Verizon are among those being investigated under the novel interpretation of a law applying to government contractors.
www.wsj.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Companies are going to conclude it's just easier not to hire people of color.
Which, I assume, is the point
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Which, I assume, is the point
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
I'm continuing to sort through five decades of personal journals, and considering whether to publish excerpts that relate to my growth dealing with the long-lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse by my brother.
» Revisiting the Past [Mark Welch's Perspective]
www.markwelchblog.com
December 28, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I'm continuing to sort through five decades of personal journals, and considering whether to publish excerpts that relate to my growth dealing with the long-lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse by my brother.
Reposted by Mark Welch
64 days in Chicago: The story of Operation Midway Blitz. Our team fanned out to cover the before, during and after of the federal government’s months-long raid on an American city. This is worth your time to understand the United States today
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/c...
64 days in Chicago: The story of Operation Midway Blitz
President Donald Trump’s federal immigration enforcement operation led to most surreal autumn in Chicago history. What happened during those 64 days will be remembered for a long time.
www.chicagotribune.com
December 28, 2025 at 2:20 PM
64 days in Chicago: The story of Operation Midway Blitz. Our team fanned out to cover the before, during and after of the federal government’s months-long raid on an American city. This is worth your time to understand the United States today
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/c...
Reposted by Mark Welch
This chart is wild, but if accurate, the main things that stand out to me are:
1. House and utility costs are mostly flat, despite widespread belief that housing is getting too expensive.
2. Grocery costs have gone way, way down. Less time equals more takeaway maybe? Again a surprising stat though.
1. House and utility costs are mostly flat, despite widespread belief that housing is getting too expensive.
2. Grocery costs have gone way, way down. Less time equals more takeaway maybe? Again a surprising stat though.
December 28, 2025 at 6:50 AM
This chart is wild, but if accurate, the main things that stand out to me are:
1. House and utility costs are mostly flat, despite widespread belief that housing is getting too expensive.
2. Grocery costs have gone way, way down. Less time equals more takeaway maybe? Again a surprising stat though.
1. House and utility costs are mostly flat, despite widespread belief that housing is getting too expensive.
2. Grocery costs have gone way, way down. Less time equals more takeaway maybe? Again a surprising stat though.
Reposted by Mark Welch
The Known Consequences of Fetal Personhood Laws
periodismoinvestigativo.com/2025/12/feta...
periodismoinvestigativo.com/2025/12/feta...
The Known Consequences of Fetal Personhood Laws
Reports from several U.S. states show that laws similar to Puerto Rico’s Senate Bill 504 have led to the criminalization of medical emergencies, the denial of essential health care, and increased stat...
periodismoinvestigativo.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:38 AM
The Known Consequences of Fetal Personhood Laws
periodismoinvestigativo.com/2025/12/feta...
periodismoinvestigativo.com/2025/12/feta...
Reposted by Mark Welch
My biggest conspiracy theory is that school photos and the fingerprints for lunch payments and the entire edtech ecosystem all exist to provide a social credit score system like in China.
There is no other way school photos and edtech are viable business models. They don’t make enough money.
There is no other way school photos and edtech are viable business models. They don’t make enough money.
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
Should facial analysis help determine whom companies hire?
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
econ.st
December 28, 2025 at 9:33 AM
My biggest conspiracy theory is that school photos and the fingerprints for lunch payments and the entire edtech ecosystem all exist to provide a social credit score system like in China.
There is no other way school photos and edtech are viable business models. They don’t make enough money.
There is no other way school photos and edtech are viable business models. They don’t make enough money.
Reposted by Mark Welch
In a new paper in the journal Violence Against Women, researcher Kaylee Williams examines a set of “nudify” apps through the lens of tech-facilitated gender-based violence, evaluating their affordances, marketing material, and policies. Tim Bernard unpacks the findings:
New Study Examines Features and Policies for 29 AI ‘Undressing’ Apps | TechPolicy.Press
Tim Bernard looks at findings from a new paper by Kaylee Williams published in the journal Violence Against Women.
www.techpolicy.press
December 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
In a new paper in the journal Violence Against Women, researcher Kaylee Williams examines a set of “nudify” apps through the lens of tech-facilitated gender-based violence, evaluating their affordances, marketing material, and policies. Tim Bernard unpacks the findings:
Reposted by Mark Welch
Incredibly cool series of photographs showing how infrared tech enables surveillance systems
PHOTO ESSAY: Invisible infrared surveillance technology and those caught in its digital cage
When you unlock a phone, step into view of a security camera or drive past a license plate reader at night, beams of infrared light - invisible to the naked eye — shine onto the unique contours of you...
apnews.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Incredibly cool series of photographs showing how infrared tech enables surveillance systems
Reposted by Mark Welch
Reposted by Mark Welch
So not only are energy industries deregulating for AI, risking catastrophic accidents, but they're accelerating the use of the most polluting energy sources during a climate collapse. This is a death spiral.
www.ft.com/content/8deb...
www.ft.com/content/8deb...
Data centres turn to aircraft engines to avoid grid connection delays
Supply chain shortages drive developers to use smaller and less efficient power sources to fuel AI power demand
www.ft.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM
So not only are energy industries deregulating for AI, risking catastrophic accidents, but they're accelerating the use of the most polluting energy sources during a climate collapse. This is a death spiral.
www.ft.com/content/8deb...
www.ft.com/content/8deb...
Reposted by Mark Welch
Finally caught up with Benn Jordan's 2nd Flock video and holy shit how do we allow Flock Safety to keep existing. youtu.be/vU1-uiUlHTo?...
This Flock Camera Leak is like Netflix For Stalkers
YouTube video by Benn Jordan
youtu.be
December 28, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Finally caught up with Benn Jordan's 2nd Flock video and holy shit how do we allow Flock Safety to keep existing. youtu.be/vU1-uiUlHTo?...
Reposted by Mark Welch
Tell me you have an unhealthy obsession without telling me you have an unhealthy obsession.
December 27, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Tell me you have an unhealthy obsession without telling me you have an unhealthy obsession.
Reposted by Mark Welch
HHS is trying to force Seattle Children's into doing a Sophie's choice of abandoning trans youth or see kids with cancer or other serious illness have their coverage and care disrupted. That's what this is about.
Hopefully, the courts put a quick stop to this like the subpoenas.
Hopefully, the courts put a quick stop to this like the subpoenas.
December 27, 2025 at 12:40 AM
HHS is trying to force Seattle Children's into doing a Sophie's choice of abandoning trans youth or see kids with cancer or other serious illness have their coverage and care disrupted. That's what this is about.
Hopefully, the courts put a quick stop to this like the subpoenas.
Hopefully, the courts put a quick stop to this like the subpoenas.
Reposted by Mark Welch
Federal judge blocks ICE from arresting immigrants who show up for court appointments in Northern California courts www.latimes.com/california/s... Finally!!!!
Federal judge blocks ICE from arresting immigrants who show up for court appointments in Northern California
Judge P. Casey Pitts issued a ruling that would block Immigration and Customs Enforcement from detaining immigrants who show up to court hearings in Northern California.
www.latimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Federal judge blocks ICE from arresting immigrants who show up for court appointments in Northern California courts www.latimes.com/california/s... Finally!!!!
Reposted by Mark Welch
"We envision a resistance that is...a repudiation of the efficiencies that automated algorithmic education falsely promises: a resistance comprising the collective force of small acts of friction."
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Four Frictions: or, How to Resist AI in Education - Public Books
We are calling for resistance to the AI industry’s ongoing capture of higher education.
www.publicbooks.org
December 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"We envision a resistance that is...a repudiation of the efficiencies that automated algorithmic education falsely promises: a resistance comprising the collective force of small acts of friction."
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Reposted by Mark Welch
Neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post published stories about Trump writing 200 unhinged posts on Christmas Day
You almost have to feel bad for an ugly old man with no family or friends to keep him company on Christmas Day that he makes 200 crazy posts ranting about everything under the sun.
Almost.
Almost.
December 26, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post published stories about Trump writing 200 unhinged posts on Christmas Day
Reposted by Mark Welch
The anti-disinformation profession is a growing entity. Americans will step up to ensure there is no void.
Judge grants injunction blocking US from detaining British anti-disinformation activist
Imran Ahmed sued officials over an entry ban for his role in what Washington argues is online censorship.
www.reuters.com
December 26, 2025 at 6:01 AM
The anti-disinformation profession is a growing entity. Americans will step up to ensure there is no void.
Reposted by Mark Welch
This is fascinating
Cool stuff from @washumedicine.bsky.social about how stimulant medications work. Not by activating attention, but rather, reward (dopamine). The stimulant provides MOTIVATION to focus. 🧪 🩺 #MedSky #PsychSky
This is your brain on Ritalin. Got your attention? Stimulant medications like Ritalin (methylphenidate) do, but not in the way you might think. They don't act directly on the brain’s attention systems! Find out what's really happening in @cellpress.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
December 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
This is fascinating
Reposted by Mark Welch
Don’t be like authoritarian regimes and imagine the world as yours for the taking. Be a gift to the world. #merrychristmas
December 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Don’t be like authoritarian regimes and imagine the world as yours for the taking. Be a gift to the world. #merrychristmas
Reposted by Mark Welch
ICE Documents Expose Plan to Hold 80,000 People in Warehouses www.commondreams.org/news/inside-...
'Beyond Dehumanizing': ICE Docs Expose Plan to Hold 80,000 People in Warehouses | Common Dreams
ICE's plan to warehouse tens of thousands of immigrants in massive storage facilities is "beyond dehumanizing."
www.commondreams.org
December 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
ICE Documents Expose Plan to Hold 80,000 People in Warehouses www.commondreams.org/news/inside-...
December 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Mark Welch
Sounds like Gov. Healey has a ticket on the Scare Tactic Express when it comes to rent control.
Let's be clear: The first thing rent control does is stop wild speculation of multifamilies that drives high sales prices, which translate to higher rents.
www.masslive.com/politics/202...
Let's be clear: The first thing rent control does is stop wild speculation of multifamilies that drives high sales prices, which translate to higher rents.
www.masslive.com/politics/202...
Mass. Gov. Healey: I’m a ‘no’ on rent control ballot initiative for 2026
"I’m a ‘no’ because, if you look at the studies, you effectively halt [housing] production," Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday.
www.masslive.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Sounds like Gov. Healey has a ticket on the Scare Tactic Express when it comes to rent control.
Let's be clear: The first thing rent control does is stop wild speculation of multifamilies that drives high sales prices, which translate to higher rents.
www.masslive.com/politics/202...
Let's be clear: The first thing rent control does is stop wild speculation of multifamilies that drives high sales prices, which translate to higher rents.
www.masslive.com/politics/202...