Mark Vanderbeeken
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vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Mark Vanderbeeken
@vanderbeeken.bsky.social
220 followers 220 following 800 posts
International customer insight, market research and digital innovation expert. And some more.

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vanderbeeken.eu

All posts are personal
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
brynntannehill.bsky.social
In 2019, Fiona Hill testified that the Russian government was “signaling very strongly that they wanted to somehow make some very strange swap agreement between Venezuela and Ukraine.” (Search: Venezuela) i.e. we get Venezuela, they get Ukraine. - via Dave Troy

s3.documentcloud.org/documents/6543…
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/6543…
January 3, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
greenmirandahere.bsky.social
Brilliant piece on cognitive biases and blind spots from Gilliant Tett - drawing on, of all things, a manual from the Swiss intelligence service - www.ft.com/content/d8b2...
Why we should know what we don’t know
Cognitive blind spots are undermining our ability to see the world as it is, rather than as we would like it to be
www.ft.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
cristinacaffarra.bsky.social
Ruffling a few feathers for the New Year… the takes out there on #EuroStack are typically terrible, so here goes some weekend read…
Again: EuroStack is an Industrial Project
Among so many “bad takes”, let’s go back to base with a restatement of what the most urgent “mission” should be.
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
ft.com.web.brid.gy
Europe has ‘lost the internet’, warns Belgium’s cyber security chief
EU law enforcement too dependent on digital infrastructure from US tech companies, Miguel De Bruycker says
www.ft.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:54 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
The EU is a “digital colony of the US”. This Italian is trying to change that, with some success.
lemmy.world/post/41040949
www.reddit.com/r/eurostack/...

DeepL translation of NRC article

@cristinacaffarra.bsky.social @francescabria.bsky.social @karlitschek.bsky.social @berthubert.bsky.social
January 2, 2026 at 10:25 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
"We were looking for a term to describe the thin layer of life on the surface of plastic and we named it plastisphere in reference to the biosphere which is the thin layer of life at the outside of the earth."
Can they be pathogenic?
[English subtitles can be enabled]
@niozsearesearch.bsky.social
January 1, 2026 at 11:06 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Kids are smarter than regulators
December 31, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
anthropunk.bsky.social
New Article Alert 🚨
By me @fastcompany.com
"Digital surveys may have hit the #AI point of no return. New study shows bots can be indistinguishable from humans in survey responses," in which I remind people that Qual exists, so HIRE ANTHROPOLOGISTS. I'm available!
www.fastcompany.com/91467125/dig...
Digital surveys may have hit the AI point of no return
A new study shows bots can be indistinguishable from humans in survey responses
www.fastcompany.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:45 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Steve Rosenberg's Russian press review: Russian media have no doubts where Donald Trump's true sympathies lie. And they also report on the serious pressures the Russian economy is facing.
bbcstever.bsky.social Steve Rosenberg @bbcstever.bsky.social · 5d
How does Moscow view Donald Trump at the end of 2025? One Russian paper today: “The US leader’s philosophy is closer to the values of Russia’s president, not the politicians of the Old World…he sees Europe as a liberal stronghold to be destroyed…” #ReadingRussia youtu.be/7EwZNk6KgHU
"Russian industry has entered a perfect storm" warns Russian paper.
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
youtu.be
December 29, 2025 at 10:29 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Excellent series of four articles (a fifth one is forthcoming) by Derin Sonmez on the Chinese automotive industry and the automotive outlook in Europe.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/chines...
Chinese Wheels, European Roads - Pt 1: Automotive Outlook in Europe, A Poly-Crisis
After spending a decade working directly within the Chinese automotive industry, I am frequently asked for my perspective on the current market shift. From fielding general inquiries to advising decis...
www.linkedin.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
heidykhlaaf.bsky.social
A significant amount of safety research has existed for decades on Human Machine Interfaces proving exactly this. It's exhausting to watch money and effort wasted in a tech hype cycle to constantly undo and redo what we already know in safety engineering.
wired.com WIRED @wired.com · 7d
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its senses.
Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its…
wrd.cm
December 28, 2025 at 10:44 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
"The point of AI companions is to take away bad feelings — of alienation, inadequacy, doubt and all the things that make us fear actual company. They promise the pleasures of society without the risk of being with others. AI “friends” are to companionship what pornography is to sexual intimacy."
December 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Social networks are not "trusted" communication protocols (where not losing messages is the top priority), but media consumption protocols that delegate media creation and users don't worry too much about what they do or don't see.
by @ploum.mamot.fr.ap.brid.gy
ploum.net/2025-12-15-c...
How We Lost Communication to Entertainment
How We Lost Communication to Entertainment par Ploum - Lionel Dricot.
ploum.net
December 28, 2025 at 8:36 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Quite an astonishing map by @monde-diplomatique.fr on media ownership in France.
monde-diplomatique.fr Le Monde diplomatique @monde-diplomatique.fr · 16d
Elle est de retour.
La 20ᵉ mise à jour de notre carte :
« Médias français : qui possède quoi ?
✍️ Quelques mouvements remarquables, en 4 points. ↓
December 27, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
politico.eu
COMMENTARY: Russia’s war on Ukraine seems likely to end next year — and on terms highly unfavorable for Kyiv.

Why the prediction? Because of the EU’s failure last week to agree to use Russia’s money.

🔗 politi.co/3MSmMuQ
December 25, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
restofworld.org
“‘DeepSeek is more humane,’ my mother told me. ‘Doctors are more like machines.’”

Why some patients — including our reporter's mom — are embracing AI chatbots, despite knowing that their advice may be flawed or even dangerous
https://restofworld.org/2025/ai-chatbot-china-sick/
My mom and Dr. DeepSeek
In China and around the world, the sick and lonely turn to AI.
restofworld.org
December 24, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
hennavirkkunen.bsky.social
The European Commission strongly condemns the travel restrictions imposed by the US.

Our digital legislation has been democratically decided by the European Parliament and our Member States.
December 24, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
brusselstimes.com
Over half the toys and electronics inspected failed EU safety tests. Customs reforms target dangerous goods flooding Europe through online shopping.
EU custom checks find most outside e-commerce goods ‘dangerous’
EU custom checks find most outside e-commerce goods 'dangerous'
www.brusselstimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:34 PM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Missed this gem.
"The transatlantic alliance will be far better off when the EU is consigned to the dustbin of history."

www.heritage.org/europe/comme...
Western Civilization Can Only Be Saved if the EU Is Abolished
Three cheers for Elon Musk for standing up to the European Commission and calling for the end of the EU. In Musk’s own words, “the EU should be abolished and sovereignty returned to individual countri...
www.heritage.org
December 23, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by Mark Vanderbeeken
rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social
Pleased to see this piece. Personally, I find these uses of synthetic data v concerning and I find the traction and endorsements that this work has to be quite baffling, esp given the well-storied role of algorithmic targeting in undermining democracy
December 22, 2025 at 8:21 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Excellent article by Le Monde's Rome correspondent Allan Kaval which aims to contradict "the idea that this former professional activist, who came from a minor political family rooted in fascism, would be moderated by contact with the venerable institutions of the Italian Republic".
December 21, 2025 at 7:13 PM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Not a single positive reaction. Not in the replies. Not in the quotes. Starts off well.
December 21, 2025 at 6:56 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Top Dutch Brussels correspondent on how the Americans have put incredible pressure on EU government leaders to ensure that they do not touch Russian assets at Euroclear.
(English translation of key paragraph attached.)
Insiders say that in recent weeks the Americans have put incredible pressure on European government leaders to ensure that they do not touch Russian assets at Euroclear – not even as collateral for loans to Ukraine. Although the Europeans have started exploring the Euroclear route because Trump pulled the financial rug out from under Ukraine and they now have to take care of Ukraine's maintenance on their own, the Americans resorted to crude threats to dissuade them. Washington would push countries that have money at Euroclear (from Hungary to BRICS countries such as Saudi Arabia and Brazil) to withdraw it and even to stop using the euro as a reserve currency. The exodus from Euroclear is already underway. Washington also threatened to cut off European countries and companies from American clouds, satellite systems or access to Wall Street. Some EU countries, which saw no merit in the plan, were fine with the Americans taking such a hard line. But the fact remains: these are blatant extortion tactics by an ally that has ensured security in Europe for eighty years. Now it is throwing Europe under the bus. Compared to this, the Greek crisis was child's play.
December 20, 2025 at 9:49 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
The Francesca Albanese effect.
@franceskalbs.bsky.social
politico.eu POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 17d
Lawmakers in the European Parliament have called on the institution to change its travel booking software amid fears their travel plans could be spied on or disrupted by U.S. government interests, in a letter obtained by POLITICO.
Lawmakers ask EU Parliament to change travel software amid US meddling concerns
Travel booking platform ‘exposes MEPs and Parliament staff to the real and present danger of US sanctions,’ 64 lawmakers say in letter obtained by POLITICO.
www.politico.eu
December 17, 2025 at 11:58 AM
vanderbeeken.bsky.social
Malware on Italian GNV passenger ferry "capable of allowing the vessel's operating systems to be controlled remotely".
December 17, 2025 at 11:48 AM