Ted Palenski
@tedpal.bsky.social
PhD candidate at Glasgow University • Working on ethnographies, data justice, and sociomaterial approaches to research
Reposted by Ted Palenski
Going after everyday citizens and not after the big-tech companies who create the online harms seem like a weird way of using taxpayer money....
The British government admits it is now monitoring VPNs use by UK residents. Regulator Ofcom has contracted with an AI-powered surveillance service to detect the number of citizens using VPNs to evade the Online Safety Act.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
Exclusive: Ofcom is monitoring VPNs following Online Safety Act. Here's how
Ignoring VPNs risks creating ineffective laws, but tracking them threatens people's privacy
www.techradar.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Going after everyday citizens and not after the big-tech companies who create the online harms seem like a weird way of using taxpayer money....
Reposted by Ted Palenski
Character.AI has resources for kids who are about to lose access to their chatbots. One is essentially “consider reading a book.”
support.character.ai/hc/en-us/art...
support.character.ai/hc/en-us/art...
November 3, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Character.AI has resources for kids who are about to lose access to their chatbots. One is essentially “consider reading a book.”
support.character.ai/hc/en-us/art...
support.character.ai/hc/en-us/art...
Reposted by Ted Palenski
I think the term "college and career readiness" is an incredibly well-intentioned shift in education that has left many, many high school students disengaged + disconnected from their learning.
They deserve to learn things that have value + enrich their lives in the present—not just the future.
They deserve to learn things that have value + enrich their lives in the present—not just the future.
November 1, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I think the term "college and career readiness" is an incredibly well-intentioned shift in education that has left many, many high school students disengaged + disconnected from their learning.
They deserve to learn things that have value + enrich their lives in the present—not just the future.
They deserve to learn things that have value + enrich their lives in the present—not just the future.
Unfortunately this is the place that we are at: we as individuals forced to adapt to unregulated tech. So much complacency on the ongoing impacts of gAI (and even outright abuse by the ex-gov of NY against a political rival).
"Criminals increasingly use generative AI to mimic real people’s voices and con their loved ones out of money. There’s a simple solution to this high-tech problem: a code word." www.wsj.com/tech/persona...
Why Every Family Needs a Code Word
Authenticating the voice on the other end of the line is critical in an age of deepfakes.
www.wsj.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Unfortunately this is the place that we are at: we as individuals forced to adapt to unregulated tech. So much complacency on the ongoing impacts of gAI (and even outright abuse by the ex-gov of NY against a political rival).
Reposted by Ted Palenski
Great job alert! 👇
📣 I am hiring a postdoc! aial.ie/hiring/postd...
applications from suitable candidates that are passionate about investigating the use of genAI in public service operations with the aim of keeping governments transparent and accountable are welcome
pls share with your networks
applications from suitable candidates that are passionate about investigating the use of genAI in public service operations with the aim of keeping governments transparent and accountable are welcome
pls share with your networks
October 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Great job alert! 👇
Reposted by Ted Palenski
Given the hunger and fear that this administration is inflicting upon so many children across the country, it has never been a more difficult time for schools to be good places for kids to walk into and it has never been a more important time, too.
And that both/and is overwhelming.
And that both/and is overwhelming.
October 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Given the hunger and fear that this administration is inflicting upon so many children across the country, it has never been a more difficult time for schools to be good places for kids to walk into and it has never been a more important time, too.
And that both/and is overwhelming.
And that both/and is overwhelming.
Reposted by Ted Palenski
Come and work with us in #Sociology at University of Glasgow! #Lecturer in the Sociology of Social Justice and Inequalities, LTS 2 year post. Teach to change societies! #SocialJustice #Inequalities @uofgsociology.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social
Lecturer in the Sociology of Social Justice and Inequalities (LTS)
College of Social Sciences School of Social & Political Sciences Lecturer in the Sociology of Social Justice and Inequalities (LTS) Vacancy Reference: 184933 Salary, Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,04...
www.jobs.gla.ac.uk
October 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Come and work with us in #Sociology at University of Glasgow! #Lecturer in the Sociology of Social Justice and Inequalities, LTS 2 year post. Teach to change societies! #SocialJustice #Inequalities @uofgsociology.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social
I feel the exhaustion. So much wasted teaching time, learning time, research time.
I’d like to imagine a university that devoted 17 workshops to close reading of academic work. Can you imagine? Instead there are workshops like “101 ethical uses for AI to research and write your thesis” and I just—
I’d like to imagine a university that devoted 17 workshops to close reading of academic work. Can you imagine? Instead there are workshops like “101 ethical uses for AI to research and write your thesis” and I just—
I hate that I have to spend so much time dealing w AI. I have to spend the 1st week of class discussing why AI in a 1st year writing class is a bad idea & how this tool is ruining the environment & sucking up all our water & energy. The college has 17 workshops on AI this yr. I can't escape it.
I had 9 meetings about students using Chat GPT/LLMs on their papers today.
If you want to know why professors burn out, ask anyone trying to teach critical thinking and writing skills to Freshmen....
If you want to know why professors burn out, ask anyone trying to teach critical thinking and writing skills to Freshmen....
October 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I feel the exhaustion. So much wasted teaching time, learning time, research time.
I’d like to imagine a university that devoted 17 workshops to close reading of academic work. Can you imagine? Instead there are workshops like “101 ethical uses for AI to research and write your thesis” and I just—
I’d like to imagine a university that devoted 17 workshops to close reading of academic work. Can you imagine? Instead there are workshops like “101 ethical uses for AI to research and write your thesis” and I just—
Reposted by Ted Palenski
A good short thread. #resistAI
From a report by Oxford University Press, "Teaching the AI-Native Generation," comes this quote about a 17-year-old unable to find the right words. There are many things to be sad about in this world, but this one sticks with me.
1. This is being passed off as a benefit of generative AI.
1/x
1. This is being passed off as a benefit of generative AI.
1/x
October 27, 2025 at 7:46 PM
A good short thread. #resistAI
Reposted by Ted Palenski
🧵: struggling to find up with the right words, and even getting it wrong sometimes, leads to self reflection and growth.
From a report by Oxford University Press, "Teaching the AI-Native Generation," comes this quote about a 17-year-old unable to find the right words. There are many things to be sad about in this world, but this one sticks with me.
1. This is being passed off as a benefit of generative AI.
1/x
1. This is being passed off as a benefit of generative AI.
1/x
October 27, 2025 at 7:53 PM
🧵: struggling to find up with the right words, and even getting it wrong sometimes, leads to self reflection and growth.
From a report by Oxford University Press, "Teaching the AI-Native Generation," comes this quote about a 17-year-old unable to find the right words. There are many things to be sad about in this world, but this one sticks with me.
1. This is being passed off as a benefit of generative AI.
1/x
1. This is being passed off as a benefit of generative AI.
1/x
October 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
From a report by Oxford University Press, "Teaching the AI-Native Generation," comes this quote about a 17-year-old unable to find the right words. There are many things to be sad about in this world, but this one sticks with me.
1. This is being passed off as a benefit of generative AI.
1/x
1. This is being passed off as a benefit of generative AI.
1/x
Reposted by Ted Palenski
I wish they said explicitly that there's $5 billion in emergency reserves they're refusing to use instead they're happy to let people - mostly children, the disabled, and elderly, starve.
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month reut.rs/3WohHMk
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Saturday that food benefits under one of the country's biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
reut.rs
October 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I wish they said explicitly that there's $5 billion in emergency reserves they're refusing to use instead they're happy to let people - mostly children, the disabled, and elderly, starve.
Reposted by Ted Palenski
If you have it please donate cash to the food banks. $10 in their hands will feed more people than the $10 worth of canned goods you can buy for retail prices. Also check on your elders. Many of them will not admit they rely on these programs so grocery gift cards or a surprise bag of staples
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month reut.rs/3WohHMk
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Saturday that food benefits under one of the country's biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
reut.rs
October 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
If you have it please donate cash to the food banks. $10 in their hands will feed more people than the $10 worth of canned goods you can buy for retail prices. Also check on your elders. Many of them will not admit they rely on these programs so grocery gift cards or a surprise bag of staples
This comes as the US government is continuing to eviscerate health research funding -- in addition to funding for education -- yet is 'all in' on AI.
Surely Fortune has an obligation to situate Porat's outlandish claim with the very material gain Google stands to make from such claims? No?
Surely Fortune has an obligation to situate Porat's outlandish claim with the very material gain Google stands to make from such claims? No?
October 26, 2025 at 1:59 PM
This comes as the US government is continuing to eviscerate health research funding -- in addition to funding for education -- yet is 'all in' on AI.
Surely Fortune has an obligation to situate Porat's outlandish claim with the very material gain Google stands to make from such claims? No?
Surely Fortune has an obligation to situate Porat's outlandish claim with the very material gain Google stands to make from such claims? No?
see also: “engagement” and “learning”
it's good to say aloud that "content" is not a synonym for "literature"
October 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
see also: “engagement” and “learning”
An important detail left out of the Guardian story: the student handcuffed was Black. Pretty damning case, AI or not, in a country where racial hierarchies are so determinative of which technologies are quite literally weaponised against you and the consequences you are likely to face.
“An artificial intelligence system apparently mistook a high school student’s bag of Doritos for a firearm and called local police to tell them the pupil was armed.”
US student handcuffed after AI system apparently mistook bag of chips for firearm
Baltimore county high schools have gun detection system that alerts police if it sees what it deems suspicious
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
An important detail left out of the Guardian story: the student handcuffed was Black. Pretty damning case, AI or not, in a country where racial hierarchies are so determinative of which technologies are quite literally weaponised against you and the consequences you are likely to face.
And then, of course, all the vile examples of racist and sexist outputs. There’s one example of a young Black girl unable to prompt an image generator to output a Black character, and YET some ppl go to such lengths to defend it all: “the worst it will ever get.”
And Now With Sexting ™️
And Now With Sexting ™️
This technology is so clearly designed to profit off cheating and struggling students--its insidious. And yet universities keep announcing how they're allowing this company into its midst, to exploit and incapacitate our students even more
October 14, 2025 at 9:42 PM
And then, of course, all the vile examples of racist and sexist outputs. There’s one example of a young Black girl unable to prompt an image generator to output a Black character, and YET some ppl go to such lengths to defend it all: “the worst it will ever get.”
And Now With Sexting ™️
And Now With Sexting ™️
Reposted by Ted Palenski
New research job alert! Come and join the amazing @braiduk.bsky.social team, working with me and @shannonvallor.bsky.social. The post is exploring the social return of AI investments. Feel free to reach out, and apply here - www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPA010/r...
Research Associate at The University of Edinburgh
An opportunity for an academic position as a Research Associate is available, as advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Apply now and explore other academic job openings.
www.jobs.ac.uk
October 13, 2025 at 8:21 AM
New research job alert! Come and join the amazing @braiduk.bsky.social team, working with me and @shannonvallor.bsky.social. The post is exploring the social return of AI investments. Feel free to reach out, and apply here - www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPA010/r...
Reposted by Ted Palenski
After Trump got his Covid shot, he chose to fire the scientists protecting the rest of us from diseases.
October 11, 2025 at 4:05 PM
After Trump got his Covid shot, he chose to fire the scientists protecting the rest of us from diseases.
Reposted by Ted Palenski
you'd think a prominent news outlet like the New York Times might mention that "antifa" isn't an actual organization in a long story about antifa, but nope!
and the subhead helps props up a false claim this professor was up to something seedy as something up for debate
and the subhead helps props up a false claim this professor was up to something seedy as something up for debate
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
you'd think a prominent news outlet like the New York Times might mention that "antifa" isn't an actual organization in a long story about antifa, but nope!
and the subhead helps props up a false claim this professor was up to something seedy as something up for debate
and the subhead helps props up a false claim this professor was up to something seedy as something up for debate
Reposted by Ted Palenski
I was part of a working group on AI and Fraternity assembled by the Vatican. We met in Rome and worked on this over two days. I am happy to share the result of that intense effort: a Declaration we presented to the Pope and other government authorities
coexistence.global
coexistence.global
September 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I was part of a working group on AI and Fraternity assembled by the Vatican. We met in Rome and worked on this over two days. I am happy to share the result of that intense effort: a Declaration we presented to the Pope and other government authorities
coexistence.global
coexistence.global
Reposted by Ted Palenski
This is the truest statement I’ve seen about AI harms
it's less "AI drives people to kill themselves" and more that "tech companies do it, and are indifferent about it". and, bleakly, some journalists seem determined to convince you that the focal point of this story is a high point of engineering rather than a low point of humanity
September 17, 2025 at 8:21 PM
This is the truest statement I’ve seen about AI harms
Reposted by Ted Palenski
"In Europe, we have a law that says there can be no more than six minutes of advertising per hour on television. Why the hell can’t we regulate social media advertising and say that not more than 10% of your feed can be ads?" 💯 english.elpais.com/technology/2...
Max Schrems, jurist: ‘The promise of the cloud was that everything would be much cheaper, but it turns out that it functions as a monopoly’
The Austrian activist who won data protection guarantees for Europeans believes the EU must achieve true digital autonomy
english.elpais.com
September 16, 2025 at 3:00 PM
"In Europe, we have a law that says there can be no more than six minutes of advertising per hour on television. Why the hell can’t we regulate social media advertising and say that not more than 10% of your feed can be ads?" 💯 english.elpais.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Ted Palenski
has someone written about the limits of individual refusal in the face of large scale technology adoption in the dominant culture?
September 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
has someone written about the limits of individual refusal in the face of large scale technology adoption in the dominant culture?