Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
@zeerak.bsky.social
Thinking about content moderation, equity, machine learning, and natural language processing.
Now: Chancellor's Fellow (~Asst. Prof) @technomoralfutures.bsky.social @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social
Past: MBZUAI, SFU, Uni of. {Sheffield, CPH}
Now: Chancellor's Fellow (~Asst. Prof) @technomoralfutures.bsky.social @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social
Past: MBZUAI, SFU, Uni of. {Sheffield, CPH}
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
Leadership teams at the New York Times and Washington Post are captured. If you want to stop fascist military aggression in 2026, you can't go to accommodationist or outright fascist press.
Better off taking your information to ProPublica, Marisa Kabas or some other independent outfit.
Better off taking your information to ProPublica, Marisa Kabas or some other independent outfit.
Imagine being the person brave enough to leak this in the hopes that media attention could stop it and then the media just……buries it.
NEW: Plans for secret U.S. raid to capture Maduro leaked to the Washington Post and New York Times before it happened, but both decided not to publish to protect U.S. troops - Semafor
January 4, 2026 at 5:44 AM
Leadership teams at the New York Times and Washington Post are captured. If you want to stop fascist military aggression in 2026, you can't go to accommodationist or outright fascist press.
Better off taking your information to ProPublica, Marisa Kabas or some other independent outfit.
Better off taking your information to ProPublica, Marisa Kabas or some other independent outfit.
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
You can’t report illegal acts because you don’t want to compromise them being carried out is an interesting take, if true
NYT, WaPo learned of the secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled to begin but held off publishing what they had at the administration's request to avoid endangering US troops
January 4, 2026 at 4:18 AM
You can’t report illegal acts because you don’t want to compromise them being carried out is an interesting take, if true
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
The New York Times has just confirmed that 40 civilians died in President Trump's invasion.
This is the aftermath in one area
This is the aftermath in one area
January 4, 2026 at 3:56 AM
The New York Times has just confirmed that 40 civilians died in President Trump's invasion.
This is the aftermath in one area
This is the aftermath in one area
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
The mayor of New York City is doing more than the senate and house minority leaders
Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City, called President Trump on Saturday to personally object to strikes the U.S. had conducted in Venezuela and to the capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro. Mamdani accused Trump of violating international law.
Zohran Mamdani Called President Trump to Criticize Venezuela Strikes
Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York accused President Trump of violating international law. It was the first time he had criticized the president since their White House meeting.
nyti.ms
January 4, 2026 at 4:09 AM
The mayor of New York City is doing more than the senate and house minority leaders
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assume and exercise all powers and duties inherent to the position of President in order to guarantee the continuity of government and defence of the nation.
January 4, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assume and exercise all powers and duties inherent to the position of President in order to guarantee the continuity of government and defence of the nation.
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
this kinda stuff is prohibited in the EU thanks to all the "red tape" that's "slowing down innovation" that big tech constantly complains about
January 3, 2026 at 10:56 PM
this kinda stuff is prohibited in the EU thanks to all the "red tape" that's "slowing down innovation" that big tech constantly complains about
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
Call your Senators and your Congressperson. Tell them EXACTLY how you feel about what our military and the executive branch are doing in Venezuela.
Do it! Make sure their offices are flooded with calls, whether you have a Rep or Dem rep. It's the weekend and you can leave a message!
You know what to do folks, flood the phones: indivisible.org/resource/cal...
January 4, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Call your Senators and your Congressperson. Tell them EXACTLY how you feel about what our military and the executive branch are doing in Venezuela.
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
Israel is a rogue apartheid state committing genocide.
Palestine WILL be free.
Happy New Year! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸
Palestine WILL be free.
Happy New Year! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸
Israel escalates West Bank demolitions amid illegal settlement expansion https://aje.io/m4zbmq
January 1, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Israel is a rogue apartheid state committing genocide.
Palestine WILL be free.
Happy New Year! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸
Palestine WILL be free.
Happy New Year! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
Begum may be 'distasteful', but it is pretty clear she was a victim of grooming and trafficking. The decision to make her defacto stateless is also clearly incompatibile with the principles of international law. Labour doubling down doesn't change that it is bad. 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Shamima Begum: Home secretary to 'robustly defend' citizenship decision
The ECHR questions whether it was considered if Shamima Begum was a victim of grooming and trafficking.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Begum may be 'distasteful', but it is pretty clear she was a victim of grooming and trafficking. The decision to make her defacto stateless is also clearly incompatibile with the principles of international law. Labour doubling down doesn't change that it is bad. 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Oh this is sad.
Impossible to rank but:
Nirvana unplugged
Aha take on me
Paul Simon Call me Al
Lauren Hill Doo Wop (That Thing)
Impossible to rank but:
Nirvana unplugged
Aha take on me
Paul Simon Call me Al
Lauren Hill Doo Wop (That Thing)
MTV is officially ending all of its music channels.
In honor of that, what's your favorite music video?
In honor of that, what's your favorite music video?
December 31, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Oh this is sad.
Impossible to rank but:
Nirvana unplugged
Aha take on me
Paul Simon Call me Al
Lauren Hill Doo Wop (That Thing)
Impossible to rank but:
Nirvana unplugged
Aha take on me
Paul Simon Call me Al
Lauren Hill Doo Wop (That Thing)
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
I’m only 3/4ths through this book, but I’m wrecked. Lots of people have correctly noted that it feels important, but (a) he’s a damn good storyteller, and (b) it’s hard to read this and not constantly see how the attempt to prop up the violence of western hegemony wrecks all our lives
December 28, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I’m only 3/4ths through this book, but I’m wrecked. Lots of people have correctly noted that it feels important, but (a) he’s a damn good storyteller, and (b) it’s hard to read this and not constantly see how the attempt to prop up the violence of western hegemony wrecks all our lives
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
Microplastics are here to stay; that's why we need to eat them responsibly in the classroom
August 3, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Microplastics are here to stay; that's why we need to eat them responsibly in the classroom
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
are you disgruntled by the current safety evaluation landscape? curious about what conceptual clarity, methodological soundness and rigour in AI evaluation might look like? if so, consider coming to dublin and doing a phd with me
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
December 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
are you disgruntled by the current safety evaluation landscape? curious about what conceptual clarity, methodological soundness and rigour in AI evaluation might look like? if so, consider coming to dublin and doing a phd with me
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
No one says to legit business owners, "hey I see there's an underground market selling toxic knock-offs of your product: how will you incorporate the toxic product AND protect your customers against its harms?" But apparently it's fine to make this suggestion to educators with respect to AI.
December 24, 2025 at 7:56 PM
No one says to legit business owners, "hey I see there's an underground market selling toxic knock-offs of your product: how will you incorporate the toxic product AND protect your customers against its harms?" But apparently it's fine to make this suggestion to educators with respect to AI.
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
It is EXHAUSTING not only being made responsible for coming up with new kinds of assignments for our students; it's also tedious reading op-eds that suggest the core problem is a crisis in teaching. But, as Chris and I lay out here, this isn't a crisis in teaching; it's an attack on learning.
"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 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
It is EXHAUSTING not only being made responsible for coming up with new kinds of assignments for our students; it's also tedious reading op-eds that suggest the core problem is a crisis in teaching. But, as Chris and I lay out here, this isn't a crisis in teaching; it's an attack on learning.
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
The most impressive thing about Bari is her ability to violate ethical principles while indignantly claiming to defend them.
Weiss concluded: “We need to be able to make every effort to get the principals on the record and on camera. To me, our viewers come first, not a listing schedule or anything else. And that is my North Star, and I hope it's the North Star of every person in this newsroom.”
December 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The most impressive thing about Bari is her ability to violate ethical principles while indignantly claiming to defend them.
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
I understand your point, although I believe the main issue with all these terms is that they are stuck in binary thinking which itself is a product of the ‘enlightened’ thinking that led to colonialism
December 22, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I understand your point, although I believe the main issue with all these terms is that they are stuck in binary thinking which itself is a product of the ‘enlightened’ thinking that led to colonialism
I really dislike the term "majority world". Like I hate hate it. I think it tries to do something nice but really does something insidious and much worse than many of the other terms.
It reflects accurately that colonisers were always the few, but it betrays a lot for that mission.
It reflects accurately that colonisers were always the few, but it betrays a lot for that mission.
December 22, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I really dislike the term "majority world". Like I hate hate it. I think it tries to do something nice but really does something insidious and much worse than many of the other terms.
It reflects accurately that colonisers were always the few, but it betrays a lot for that mission.
It reflects accurately that colonisers were always the few, but it betrays a lot for that mission.
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
thanks for the question william b fuckley.
if some rando deployed an AI chatbot into a Discord channel we wouldn't cover it. this is an Anthropic exec, and here's what he said in his justification to push Claude into this Discord for gay gamers:
read now: www.404media.co/anthropic-ex...
if some rando deployed an AI chatbot into a Discord channel we wouldn't cover it. this is an Anthropic exec, and here's what he said in his justification to push Claude into this Discord for gay gamers:
read now: www.404media.co/anthropic-ex...
December 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
thanks for the question william b fuckley.
if some rando deployed an AI chatbot into a Discord channel we wouldn't cover it. this is an Anthropic exec, and here's what he said in his justification to push Claude into this Discord for gay gamers:
read now: www.404media.co/anthropic-ex...
if some rando deployed an AI chatbot into a Discord channel we wouldn't cover it. this is an Anthropic exec, and here's what he said in his justification to push Claude into this Discord for gay gamers:
read now: www.404media.co/anthropic-ex...
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
Encryption isn't hostile. It's a bedrock of our cybersecurity 🔐
The UK's national security laws join a long line of attempts to frame encrypted messaging as something to be broken into pieces.
Without it, we're more open to threats from hackers and criminals.
www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
The UK's national security laws join a long line of attempts to frame encrypted messaging as something to be broken into pieces.
Without it, we're more open to threats from hackers and criminals.
www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
Creating apps like Signal or WhatsApp could be 'hostile activity,' claims UK watchdog
It's the latest blow to encryption in the UK
www.techradar.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Encryption isn't hostile. It's a bedrock of our cybersecurity 🔐
The UK's national security laws join a long line of attempts to frame encrypted messaging as something to be broken into pieces.
Without it, we're more open to threats from hackers and criminals.
www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
The UK's national security laws join a long line of attempts to frame encrypted messaging as something to be broken into pieces.
Without it, we're more open to threats from hackers and criminals.
www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
Announcements for #FAccT2026! 📣
#FAccT2026 will be on June 27-30 at the Hotel Bonaventure in Montréal!
Keep reading for important information about submitting papers! ⬇️
1/n
#FAccT2026 will be on June 27-30 at the Hotel Bonaventure in Montréal!
Keep reading for important information about submitting papers! ⬇️
1/n
December 17, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Announcements for #FAccT2026! 📣
#FAccT2026 will be on June 27-30 at the Hotel Bonaventure in Montréal!
Keep reading for important information about submitting papers! ⬇️
1/n
#FAccT2026 will be on June 27-30 at the Hotel Bonaventure in Montréal!
Keep reading for important information about submitting papers! ⬇️
1/n
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
New preprint! @marentierra.bsky.social @irisvanrooij.bsky.social & I have been working on what CAIL means to showcase & propagate the idea of thinking very differently to tech industry norms on "artificial intelligence"
Towards Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacies doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
1/
Towards Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacies doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
1/
December 2, 2025 at 6:58 AM
New preprint! @marentierra.bsky.social @irisvanrooij.bsky.social & I have been working on what CAIL means to showcase & propagate the idea of thinking very differently to tech industry norms on "artificial intelligence"
Towards Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacies doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
1/
Towards Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacies doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
1/
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
"We live in hell, and the rapacious need for growth in every industry, unrelenting, forever and ever, is decimating all of our institutions and our way of life."
Amanda Dobbins, on fire
Amanda Dobbins, on fire
December 10, 2025 at 10:20 PM
"We live in hell, and the rapacious need for growth in every industry, unrelenting, forever and ever, is decimating all of our institutions and our way of life."
Amanda Dobbins, on fire
Amanda Dobbins, on fire
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
The Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to work with Andy Guess (Politics/SPIA), Brandon Stewart (Sociology), and me (CS).
puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/app...
Please apply before Sunday, the 13th of December!
puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/app...
Please apply before Sunday, the 13th of December!
December 9, 2025 at 8:51 PM
The Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to work with Andy Guess (Politics/SPIA), Brandon Stewart (Sociology), and me (CS).
puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/app...
Please apply before Sunday, the 13th of December!
puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/app...
Please apply before Sunday, the 13th of December!
Reposted by Zeerak Talat زیرک طلعت (they/them)
All travelers from ESTA countries (yes the ones on visa waiver programs) will have to disclose 5 years of social media + huge amounts of personal data to enter the US now. All US academic associations should now meet outside the US if we want to meet our international colleagues.
December 10, 2025 at 4:27 AM
All travelers from ESTA countries (yes the ones on visa waiver programs) will have to disclose 5 years of social media + huge amounts of personal data to enter the US now. All US academic associations should now meet outside the US if we want to meet our international colleagues.