Dr Pen
@penworks.bsky.social
Londoner in Malta. Technology & media in society academic. UX, TEL, webdev OS CMS. OS advocate. Emeritus rocknroller. Luddite.
Mostly on Masto, follow me there from here with Bridgy Fed. @DrPen.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Website: https://penworks.net
Mostly on Masto, follow me there from here with Bridgy Fed. @DrPen.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Website: https://penworks.net
Pinned
Dr Pen
@penworks.bsky.social
· Feb 11
The Knowledge Web Problem | penworks.net
There is a huge problem rapidly approaching on the horizon of data society: the authenticity and custodianship of the Knowledge Web. This has been...
penworks.net
A theme that many now discuss: the quality of information on the knowledge web. I first wrote about this on my blog back in June 2023. (I discuss it as part of 2 subsequent academic papers.)
#genai #fakenews #misinformation #knowledgecommons https://penworks.net/blog/the-knowledge-web-problem
#genai #fakenews #misinformation #knowledgecommons https://penworks.net/blog/the-knowledge-web-problem
Reposted by Dr Pen
*Maybe AI is a really strong conservative force that only goes where the convenient Big Data already is
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09922-y
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09922-y
January 17, 2026 at 6:27 AM
*Maybe AI is a really strong conservative force that only goes where the convenient Big Data already is
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09922-y
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09922-y
Reposted by Dr Pen
New year resolutions: Another reason to dump Instagram if you haven't already.
> Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is closing out 2025 with a 20-images-deep dive into what a new era of “infinite synthetic content” means as it all becomes harder and harder to distinguish from reality, and the old […]
> Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is closing out 2025 with a 20-images-deep dive into what a new era of “infinite synthetic content” means as it all becomes harder and harder to distinguish from reality, and the old […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 1, 2026 at 9:24 AM
New year resolutions: Another reason to dump Instagram if you haven't already.
> Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is closing out 2025 with a 20-images-deep dive into what a new era of “infinite synthetic content” means as it all becomes harder and harder to distinguish from reality, and the old […]
> Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is closing out 2025 with a 20-images-deep dive into what a new era of “infinite synthetic content” means as it all becomes harder and harder to distinguish from reality, and the old […]
Reposted by Dr Pen
This may be useful to people.
Being anonymous online.
https://hexshift.medium.com/how-to-stay-anonymous-online-in-2025-without-going-off-the-grid-35a11a327770
#privacy #anonymous #data #surveillance
Being anonymous online.
https://hexshift.medium.com/how-to-stay-anonymous-online-in-2025-without-going-off-the-grid-35a11a327770
#privacy #anonymous #data #surveillance
January 3, 2026 at 8:15 AM
This may be useful to people.
Being anonymous online.
https://hexshift.medium.com/how-to-stay-anonymous-online-in-2025-without-going-off-the-grid-35a11a327770
#privacy #anonymous #data #surveillance
Being anonymous online.
https://hexshift.medium.com/how-to-stay-anonymous-online-in-2025-without-going-off-the-grid-35a11a327770
#privacy #anonymous #data #surveillance
Reposted by Dr Pen
I just got an email from someone who has entered a preprint paper of mine into a chatbot and generated some output from it ('additional ideas'). They did not ask me beforehand to do this. They say in the email the (SocArxiv) CC By-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License allows them to do […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 6, 2026 at 10:45 AM
I just got an email from someone who has entered a preprint paper of mine into a chatbot and generated some output from it ('additional ideas'). They did not ask me beforehand to do this. They say in the email the (SocArxiv) CC By-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License allows them to do […]
Reposted by Dr Pen
Our vision is crystal clear: social spaces should belong to the people, forever. 🏡💙
No ads, no manipulative algorithms, no hidden agendas: a platform governed by and for its community.
Support Mastodon. Keep the internet in the hands of the people: Donate […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
No ads, no manipulative algorithms, no hidden agendas: a platform governed by and for its community.
Support Mastodon. Keep the internet in the hands of the people: Donate […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
January 9, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Our vision is crystal clear: social spaces should belong to the people, forever. 🏡💙
No ads, no manipulative algorithms, no hidden agendas: a platform governed by and for its community.
Support Mastodon. Keep the internet in the hands of the people: Donate […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
No ads, no manipulative algorithms, no hidden agendas: a platform governed by and for its community.
Support Mastodon. Keep the internet in the hands of the people: Donate […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by Dr Pen
@mcp you're totally right. Enshittification has spread into every corner of recent bigtech software. Always move to other alternatives, open source or use old versions!
January 16, 2026 at 4:37 AM
@mcp you're totally right. Enshittification has spread into every corner of recent bigtech software. Always move to other alternatives, open source or use old versions!
Reposted by Dr Pen
Educational intervention about AI deepfakes. This follows on from previous posts about deepfake mis- and disinformation. I have a good collection of these kinds of papers.
free PDF > **https://faculty.washington.edu/.../articles/AIDeepfakes.pdf**
**https://www.wordnik.com/words/intervention** […]
free PDF > **https://faculty.washington.edu/.../articles/AIDeepfakes.pdf**
**https://www.wordnik.com/words/intervention** […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 12, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Educational intervention about AI deepfakes. This follows on from previous posts about deepfake mis- and disinformation. I have a good collection of these kinds of papers.
free PDF > **https://faculty.washington.edu/.../articles/AIDeepfakes.pdf**
**https://www.wordnik.com/words/intervention** […]
free PDF > **https://faculty.washington.edu/.../articles/AIDeepfakes.pdf**
**https://www.wordnik.com/words/intervention** […]
Reposted by Dr Pen
Propietarios de grandes medios, redes, plataformas y productoras.
Extrema derecha trumpista.
Extrema derecha trumpista.
January 14, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Propietarios de grandes medios, redes, plataformas y productoras.
Extrema derecha trumpista.
Extrema derecha trumpista.
Reposted by Dr Pen
Apple killed U2s career with this, they never managed to repair the damage of being in bed with a corporate platform. But outrage forced Apple to allow people to delete the album. It's a key issue of AI into OS and software, you cannot fully remove it. At […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
January 15, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Apple killed U2s career with this, they never managed to repair the damage of being in bed with a corporate platform. But outrage forced Apple to allow people to delete the album. It's a key issue of AI into OS and software, you cannot fully remove it. At […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by Dr Pen
Welcome to the super capitalistic smart city machine. You must comply. The UK has used CCTV for decades, but it is not CCTV on steroids. This is (maybe London ULEZ is this?)
Two of the city's largest parking garages are now using artificial intelligence to recognize your car
The city and the new operator, Metropolis, promise a smooth experience from the technology, but customers in other cities have filed class-action lawsuits over the system.
www.cvilletomorrow.org
December 20, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Welcome to the super capitalistic smart city machine. You must comply. The UK has used CCTV for decades, but it is not CCTV on steroids. This is (maybe London ULEZ is this?)
Reposted by Dr Pen
"Any school adopting these [tutorbot] applications tacitly accepts that learning can largely be reduced to a narrow range of behavioral responses and tacitly rejects more complex child-centered understandings of learning."
Time for a Pause: Without Effective Public Oversight, AI in Schools Will Do More Harm Than Good.
Ignoring their own well-publicized calls to regulate AI development and to pause implementation of its applications, major technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Meta are racing to fend o...
nepc.colorado.edu
January 12, 2026 at 4:25 PM
"Any school adopting these [tutorbot] applications tacitly accepts that learning can largely be reduced to a narrow range of behavioral responses and tacitly rejects more complex child-centered understandings of learning."
Reposted by Dr Pen
I curate the history series at public media's trade journal Current. We're looking for pieces on the history of NPR, PBS and its affiliates, with some space to imagine public media's future. We accept academic articles repurposed for wide readership. Plus, we pay. Please circulate!
Rewind: The Roots of Public Media
This series features scholars of media history looking back at both familiar and lesser-known chapters in public broadcasting’s evolution. “Rewind” is presented in partnership with the Radio Preservat...
current.org
January 11, 2026 at 9:42 PM
I curate the history series at public media's trade journal Current. We're looking for pieces on the history of NPR, PBS and its affiliates, with some space to imagine public media's future. We accept academic articles repurposed for wide readership. Plus, we pay. Please circulate!
Reposted by Dr Pen
Readers ask, "aren't you afraid of speaking out against AI?"
Ask yourself if that is normal. That one should be concerned about permanent career damage for pointing out problems.
It's just software. I'll eat humble pie if I end up being wrong. But this language of "fear" is political, ideological.
Ask yourself if that is normal. That one should be concerned about permanent career damage for pointing out problems.
It's just software. I'll eat humble pie if I end up being wrong. But this language of "fear" is political, ideological.
When you hear "better than nothing," ask whose responsibility the "nothing" is, and whether the "better than nothing" solution simply lets them abdicate that responsibility & check the box.
AI is the ultimate "better than nothing" technology. Don't negate this argument — reject the whole framing.
AI is the ultimate "better than nothing" technology. Don't negate this argument — reject the whole framing.
The incredible value of "nothing"
"Better than nothing" rhetoric hides the opportunity costs behind the bare minimum. Reject this framing.
productpicnic.beehiiv.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Readers ask, "aren't you afraid of speaking out against AI?"
Ask yourself if that is normal. That one should be concerned about permanent career damage for pointing out problems.
It's just software. I'll eat humble pie if I end up being wrong. But this language of "fear" is political, ideological.
Ask yourself if that is normal. That one should be concerned about permanent career damage for pointing out problems.
It's just software. I'll eat humble pie if I end up being wrong. But this language of "fear" is political, ideological.
Reposted by Dr Pen
The German Research Foundation, possibly the most important funding body for academic research in Germany, is now not only allowing the use of AI to write applications, they‘ll also allow it to evaluate said applications. Only prerequisite is that one makes this transparent. It‘s a farce.
January 11, 2026 at 7:19 PM
The German Research Foundation, possibly the most important funding body for academic research in Germany, is now not only allowing the use of AI to write applications, they‘ll also allow it to evaluate said applications. Only prerequisite is that one makes this transparent. It‘s a farce.
Reposted by Dr Pen
The Swedish government is pushing to get digital tech out of classrooms ... listen to me talk with Dr. Ingrid Forsler about why this is, and what it means for digital education around the world: www.buzzsprout.com/1301377/epis...
January 11, 2026 at 7:10 AM
The Swedish government is pushing to get digital tech out of classrooms ... listen to me talk with Dr. Ingrid Forsler about why this is, and what it means for digital education around the world: www.buzzsprout.com/1301377/epis...
Reposted by Dr Pen
Video clip of the infamous Iranian girl with cigarette burning the image of the Iranian leader. https://www.facebook.com/reel/2461292674265808
For those curious about GenAI, fake content and political (mis)messaging, the image shared in socmed does NOT […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
For those curious about GenAI, fake content and political (mis)messaging, the image shared in socmed does NOT […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
January 11, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Video clip of the infamous Iranian girl with cigarette burning the image of the Iranian leader. https://www.facebook.com/reel/2461292674265808
For those curious about GenAI, fake content and political (mis)messaging, the image shared in socmed does NOT […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
For those curious about GenAI, fake content and political (mis)messaging, the image shared in socmed does NOT […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by Dr Pen
"The media has largely let [tech companies] set the terms of the debate, right down to the terminology used in any discussion of these systems."
From @nannainie.bsky.social & me in @techpolicypress.bsky.social on how to spot and resist anthropomorphizing language about so-called "AI".
From @nannainie.bsky.social & me in @techpolicypress.bsky.social on how to spot and resist anthropomorphizing language about so-called "AI".
We Need to Talk About How We Talk About 'AI' | TechPolicy.Press
We share a responsibility to create and use empowering metaphors rather than misleading language, write Emily M. Bender and Nanna Inie.
www.techpolicy.press
January 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
"The media has largely let [tech companies] set the terms of the debate, right down to the terminology used in any discussion of these systems."
From @nannainie.bsky.social & me in @techpolicypress.bsky.social on how to spot and resist anthropomorphizing language about so-called "AI".
From @nannainie.bsky.social & me in @techpolicypress.bsky.social on how to spot and resist anthropomorphizing language about so-called "AI".
Reposted by Dr Pen
Reposted by Dr Pen
Can’t stress enough how major media outlets are continually failing (or aligned with the owner of Twitter) when reporting on this. “Grok” didn’t do anything. The owner of grok made the CSAM generator into a premium service.
Grok limits image generator after backlash over sexualized AI images
Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot faced backlash for creating images of undressed women and children. The image-generating function will now be available only to paying subscribers.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Can’t stress enough how major media outlets are continually failing (or aligned with the owner of Twitter) when reporting on this. “Grok” didn’t do anything. The owner of grok made the CSAM generator into a premium service.
Reposted by Dr Pen
X Is a Power Problem, Not a Platform Problem
my analysis of current events
connectedplaces.online/reports/a-po...
my analysis of current events
connectedplaces.online/reports/a-po...
January 9, 2026 at 3:17 PM
X Is a Power Problem, Not a Platform Problem
my analysis of current events
connectedplaces.online/reports/a-po...
my analysis of current events
connectedplaces.online/reports/a-po...
Reposted by Dr Pen
I agree with the point that it is MEN who are undressing women, girls and children on X, not "Grok." That isn't just the users of the service. We need to resist the idea that models are uncontrollable: Musk and the engineers at his companies are also responsible. www.techpolicy.press/why-musk-is-...
Why Musk is Culpable in Grok's Undressing Disaster | TechPolicy.Press
Grok’s functionality is not a black box, but the result of specific design decisions made by executives and engineers at xAI, writes Eryk Salvaggio.
www.techpolicy.press
January 9, 2026 at 6:08 PM
I agree with the point that it is MEN who are undressing women, girls and children on X, not "Grok." That isn't just the users of the service. We need to resist the idea that models are uncontrollable: Musk and the engineers at his companies are also responsible. www.techpolicy.press/why-musk-is-...
Reposted by Dr Pen
Some more thoughts on ICE protests and the tools described in this 404 article: www.404media.co/inside-ices-...
Inside ICE’s Tool to Monitor Phones in Entire Neighborhoods
404 Media has obtained material that explains how Tangles and Webloc, two surveillance systems ICE recently purchased, work. Webloc can track phones without a warrant and follow their owners home or t...
www.404media.co
January 9, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Some more thoughts on ICE protests and the tools described in this 404 article: www.404media.co/inside-ices-...
Reposted by Dr Pen
Another image that sums up the protest.
January 8, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Another image that sums up the protest.
Reposted by Dr Pen
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola: “The world is once again witnessing the brave people of Iran stand up.
“Europe stands by their side.”
“Europe stands by their side.”
January 8, 2026 at 8:13 PM
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola: “The world is once again witnessing the brave people of Iran stand up.
“Europe stands by their side.”
“Europe stands by their side.”