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jenraso.bsky.social
Jen Raso
@jenraso.bsky.social
1.8K followers 590 following 120 posts
Assistant Prof at McGill's Faculty of Law | McCAIS leadership team | Researching digital government, AI systems, and other socio-legal-technical things | www.jenraso.com
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jenraso.bsky.social
Jen Raso @jenraso.bsky.social · Mar 26
Thrilled that this piece by @victoriaadamant.bsky.social and I is finally out! Thanks to so many, including my @mcgill.ca law colleagues who generously shared comments early on, and to the @datasociety.bsky.social Keywords of the Digital State collection which planted early seeds for this paper.
victoriaadamant.bsky.social Victoria Adelmant @victoriaadamant.bsky.social · Mar 26
How does the design of digital govt infrastructure impact decision-making & accountability? @jenraso.bsky.social & I argue that data-sharing arrangements underlying digital govt programs are dispersing responsibilities within decision-making, generating what we call 'bureaucratic disempowerment' 1/4
Data Entry and Decision Chains: Distributed Responsibility and Bureaucratic Disempowerment in the UK’s Universal Credit Programme
Abstract. Digitalising public programmes creates new accountability challenges, many of which are under-theorised. Using Universal Credit to illustrate its
academic.oup.com
Reposted by Jen Raso
tjheffernan.bsky.social
Canada is also falling for AI industry hype, which is threatening to escalate the environmental crisis and derail democracy.

"policymakers have a duty to serve the citizens and not cater to the whims of tech CEOs."

@mark-carney.bsky.social
abeba.bsky.social Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.bsky.social · 1d
Europe’s policy makers continue to echo corporate hype and tech CEOs' speculations about “AGI” and “superintelligence”. In this piece, @krisshrishak.bsky.social & I call on our policy makers to be grounded in empirical evidence

www.techpolicy.press/ai-hype-is-s...
AI Hype Is Steering EU Policy Off Course | TechPolicy.Press
Kris Shrishak and Abeba Birhane say policymakers should stop peddling in unscientific discourse about "AGI" and "superintelligence."
www.techpolicy.press
November 18, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Reposted by Jen Raso
sonjadrimmer.bsky.social
As Langdon Winner put so well 40 years ago, don't fall into the trap of accepting "RISK" as a good framework for these conversations. Business interests love framing their violence in terms of "risks & rewards" bc as a society, we love to heroize & reward risk-takers. Talk instead about "HAZARD."
But from the point of view I've described here, the risk debate is one that certain kinds of social interests can expect to lose by the very act of entering. In our times, under most circumstances in which the matter is likely to come up, deliberations about risk are bound to have a strongly conservative drift. The conservatism to which I refer is one that upholds the status quo of production and consumption in our industrial, market-oriented society, a status quo supported by a long history of economic development in which countless new technological applications were introduced with scant regard to the possibility that they might cause harm. Thus, decades of haphazard use of industrial chemicals provide a background of expectations for today's deliberations on the safety of such chemicals. Pollution of the air, land, and water are not the exception in much of
November 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Jen Raso
danielthibault.bsky.social
Le salaire minimum, c'est bien beau, mais il devrait y avoir un débat sur le salaire maximum.
ledevoir.com Le Devoir @ledevoir.com · 3d
Il devrait y avoir un plafond. Un clapet. Une carte que tu reçois à ton premier milliard. La chronique de Léa Stréliski.
Que faire des milliardaires?
www.ledevoir.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by Jen Raso
elea.fyi
I don’t want to formulate words yet, but my friend Alice Wong, @sfdirewolf.bsky.social of the Disability Visibility Project, has passed.

Here are the words she left behind:
www.instagram.com/p/DREMDNBjnq...
Alice Wong on Instagram: "ID: Yellow background with black text "This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it ...
423 likes, 73 comments - alicatsamurai on November 14, 2025: "ID: Yellow background with black text "This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the t...
www.instagram.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Reposted by Jen Raso
cyn-k.bsky.social
This is a particularly blatant example of sthg at the core of a dynamic /attitude I've always sensed & hated but couldn't put my finger on, until Ed Ongweso Jr named it in this fantastic article: incuriosity. Never trust people who don't care, and want you not to care, about the why & how of things.
November 12, 2025 at 8:26 PM
jenraso.bsky.social
On today's soundtrack, Julie Doiron's Snowfalls in November:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTup...
Snowfalls in November
YouTube video by Julie Doiron - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
jenraso.bsky.social
Twenty centimetres and still falling ❤️❄️
A cat looks upward out the window at huge snowflakes falling down Twenty centimetres of snow blankets a back courtyard in Montreal, hushing the city noise.
November 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
jenraso.bsky.social
Inquiring minds would like to know what all this white fluffy stuff is doing.
A cat stares out a window at a Montreal alley as it quickly succumbs to heavy November snow.
November 11, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Reposted by Jen Raso
sarahseeandersen.bsky.social
Four panel comic. Comic panel one shows an otter peeking its head above water, raising a hand. Comic panel two shows the otter diving back under the waves with a splash. Comic panel three shows a cat on on some rocks by the water. The cat thinks “holy crap.” Comic panel three zooms into the cat’s face. The cat thinks, “A MERMAID”.
August 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Jen Raso
sarahseeandersen.bsky.social
“A.I. makes art accessible.” Art has always been accessible. There was like a six month period where I drew all the sketches for my comics with a lined notebook from the grocery store and a random green marker.
April 2, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Reposted by Jen Raso
ali-alkhatib.com
caliper-wielding eugenicist freaks are gonna keep saying this, keep circling the toilet bowl talking about predicting someone's sexuality or personality or ethnicity or whatever else w/AI

and it being bullshit won't matter; it being a pretext for state/admin/other violence will be all that matters
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Jen Raso
histoftech.bsky.social
“authors & publishers who filed a lawsuit against the Sam Altman-led firm have secured access to internal Slack messages… discussing the mass deletion of a pirated books dataset… A NY district court ordered OpenAI to hand over the communications regarding data deletion”
futurism.com/artificial-i...
OpenAI in Danger After Authors Suing It Gain Access to Its Internal Slack Messages
Authors and publishers, who are suing OpenAI, secured access to internal Slack messages and emails discussing the deletion of pirated books.
futurism.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:57 AM
jenraso.bsky.social
😍 Just in time for winter holiday gift-giving and gathering season!
breatheteq.bsky.social BreatheTeq KN95s @breatheteq.bsky.social · 13d
We know lots of you have been asking 3M for a Black Aura - like mask for consumer use.

Today we're excited to launch a new product to fill that hole in the market!

Introducing the headband version of BreatheTeq KN95.

Available in black and white.
black breatheteq headband mask white breatheteq headband mask
November 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Jen Raso
rbreich.bsky.social
The lesson of history is that tyrants cannot be appeased.

Appeasement only feeds their insatiable hunger for power.

Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable.

But without mass submission, a tyrant is powerless.

Remember this.
November 5, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Reposted by Jen Raso
tjheffernan.bsky.social
And what does the Canadian gov mean by "AI"? Which, as @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social explain ("The AI Con"), at best, is a marketing term? Why should we "build trust in its use" around a sales pitch instead of paying attention to the research?
bhaggart.bsky.social Blayne Haggart @bhaggart.bsky.social · 14d
Indeed (p. 119):

"The government will also explore options and work with the private sector to encourage the adoption of artificial intelligence in the financial sector in ways that advance innovation and build trust in its use."
November 5, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Reposted by Jen Raso
ldobsonhughes.bsky.social
Canada budget: AI is going to do an awful lot apparently. We can cut lots of money, AI will deliver instead!

Public safety? AI will deliver
RCMP? You guessed it, AI will save the day
Fisheries? Yup
ESDC? Also on the AI train
CRA? See above

Gosh I hope this AI thing works out
November 5, 2025 at 1:05 AM
jenraso.bsky.social
I agree totally. These "basics" would be revolutionary, actually. Even more so if they were designed to ensure the people using them can robustly be heard on the other end, and to require and support folks/institutions on the other end(s) to do the work that hearing and exercising judgment require.
jeff.doctor Jeff Doctor @jeff.doctor · 14d
You know what's urgently needed? Basic software. Reliable database systems, accessible interfaces, privacy oriented design. It's super mundane stuff like asking, "how can software make your life better", not telling people "this is how software is going to solve all your problems." Because it won't.
November 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
jenraso.bsky.social
👇 Looking forward to reading this piece and the whole collection. Thanks @blairaf.com for sharing, and for this vital work.
blairaf.com blair @blairaf.com · 14d
How can we address algorithmic justice challenges when we are faced with unreliable and malicious governments? My new article "Algorithmic Justice vs. State Power" confronts this question. Read here: montrealethics.ai/state-of-ai-...
Screenshot from an article entitled "Algorithmic Justice vs. State Power"
November 4, 2025 at 4:08 PM
jenraso.bsky.social
It's inappropriate to "sprint" a national AI strategy in 30 days. I've signed this open letter along with +160 civil society and human rights groups, academics & other experts, and privacy & equality advocates to protest the AI Minister's "consultation" and to demand a re-do. tinyurl.com/yytcbwna
OPEN LETTER to the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation from civil society organizations and individuals opposing "National Sprint" consultation on AI strategy - BC Civil Liberti...
The Honourable Mélanie JolyMinister of IndustryHouse of CommonsOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A6 The Honourable Evan SolomonMinister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital InnovationHouse of CommonsOttawa, Ontar...
tinyurl.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Jen Raso
aial.ie
The AIAL is looking for a highly driven Post-Doctoral Researcher who can design and implement research that improves transparency and accountability regarding the use of generative AI in public services

Application closes on Dec 02, 2025

More information: aial.ie/hiring/postd...
About AIAL The AI Accountability Lab (AIAL) is a research lab hosted in the ADAPT Research Centre and the School of Computer Science and Statistics in Trinity College Dublin. We are driven by the urgent need to demystify, critically assess, and publicly communicate the operations and functionality of AI systems by looking under the hood as well as their downstream impact on the public with the aim of shaping public knowledge, shifting power, and reserving fundamental rights, freedoms, and autonomy. The AIAL is an innovative lab at the cutting-edge of AI dedicated to greater transparency on the use of AI systems in the public domain and concrete accountability for the downstream societal impact of these technologies. The AIAL operates under the core principle that academic research, particularly research in AI, should be of a high-relevance and utility to the public. Thus, we actively engage and partner with local communities, civil society, and rights groups to ensure our work is grounded in real challenges and remains relevant and useful to these stakeholders. We are deeply committed to ensuring our work contributes to fostering transparency and driving a culture of AI accountability. Academic freedom and autonomy are of utmost importance to us and we take great care to ensure our lab is free from direct conflict of interest or implicit influence or pressure from the industry that we are studying. We are funded by philanthropic organisations such as the MacArthur foundation and European grants. About the role There is currently a growing move by governments worldwide, including the Irish government, to integrate generative AI technologies into public sector operations. However, information on the where, how, why, and when such technologies are being used remains scarce. Without this knowledge, it is difficult to understand, assess, and ensure the integrity of public services. The AIAL seeks to understand this challenge better and to conduct high-quality, high-impact research that helps uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and equity. To directly tackle this urgent problem, the AIAL is looking for a highly driven Post-Doctoral Researcher who can design and implement research that improves transparency and accountability regarding the use of generative AI in public services. The researcher will particularly focus on uncovering and critically examining the integration, procurement, and governance practices of generative AI in government functions and public service operations. The output of this work is expected to be a public-facing database that acts as a knowledge-base and provides transparency and critical evaluation into the use of generative AI with the aim of expanding public knowledge and feeding into regulations and standards. Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a 2-year, in-person, full-time fixed term position as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the AIAL. Responsibilities Identify and map public sector organisations and government bodies that are integrating generative AI into internal as well as public-facing processes, in particular where these constitute decision making. The scope for this work will be Ireland in the initial stages Identify similar initiatives with value-aligned researchers/organisations across Europe and establish collaborations with the aim of painting a fuller-picture as well as performing cross-country comparisons and analysis. The appointed candidate will be expected to establish this collaboration to share findings from Ireland and learn from other EU initiatives to develop a pan-EU analysis Develop a public-facing database detailing the use of generative AI in public sectors. The database will provide key information such as modality, model version, vendor information, contractual agreements (if any), known risks, and will also facilitate information such as how it was procured, and where it is being used, for what purpose as well as any prior audits or testing done and main findings Identify and analyse contractual agreements and policies regarding the procurement and use of generative AI in public services. The appointed candidate will be expected to understand the procurement system involving government bodies and technology vendors, and the means to achieve this information where it isn’t readily available – such as through freedom of information requests. The analysis of obtained information will be through the lens of relevant European regulations to identify key information and transparency, accountability and equity concerns Assess the impact of generative AI in decision-making processes in government and the implications for institutional transparency, governance and accountability Requirements Hold a PhD in the following disciplines: computer science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, AI policy research, investigative journalism, management sciences, information systems studies, science and technology studies or cognate disciplines In-depth experience and publication track-record examining governance structures, power asymmetries and EU regulations Demonstrable experience in data visualisation, statistical analysis and a history of working with freedom of information (FoI) requests In-depth knowledge of European legislations and regulations such as the AI Act, DSA, GDPR Comprehensive knowledge (with a publication track record) of the AI audit landscape. Hands on experience with black-box auditing as well as executing qualitative and quantitative audits, particularly of generative AI Self-driven, passionate, and committed to transforming institutional transparency from a theoretical concept to a concrete, operationalisable, and practical mechanism for expanding public knowledge and fostering accountability Ambitious and passionate communicator who is well able to articulate transparency (lack thereof) and accountability in this domain, even when there is considerable pushback Experience working with civil society organisations and community organising with a particular focus on AI transparency, accountability, equity and the rule of law
October 30, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by Jen Raso
veenadubal.bsky.social
“To leave our students to their own devices — which is to say, to the devices of A.I. companies — is to deprive them of indispensable opportunities to develop their linguistic mastery, and with it their most elementary powers of thought.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Opinion | Why Even Basic A.I. Use Is So Bad for Students
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:48 AM
jenraso.bsky.social
Unfortunately, I recently spent hours peer reviewing such a paper. Once I discovered "hallucinated" references, I then suspected that even the "fieldwork" was made up. A truly awful feeling, and it burned up time that I needed to get other (real) research done.
wolvendamien.bsky.social Dr. Damien P. Williams! Look over here! … It's All For You! @wolvendamien.bsky.social · 20d
About a year ago I wrote "Scholars are Failing the GPT Review Process" in which i warned that pressures of publish or perish coupled with an increased push to accept "generative AI" in the academic milieu would lead to people using "gen AI" to make up research they never actually conducted. So.
Screenshot of text reading Thus, it is in atmospheres and tendencies such as these, and incidents like the one described and experienced by Rua Williams, where we can observe the contributing factors that have led an increasing number of scholars to use GPT tools to translate, revise, or wholly write the articles that they submit to peer review. Scholars under pressure to publish or perform or otherwise live up to the perceived expectations of their discipline are willing to, at the very least, run their hard-won knowledge through systems that do not and, as shaped, cannot truly understand what they are being asked to process. The sociotechnical paradigms of these new technologies are often situated in a hypothetical space where the technology is perceived as neutral. At “best,” this results in scholars trying to “get out ahead” of the technology, seeking ways to integrate it into their work or field of research, even where it does not fit. [See Footnote 8.] At worst, this high-pressure adversarial relationship may lead to scholars using this technology to write papers or generate “research” whole cloth. Screenshot of text reading [Footnote] 8. Emanuel Maiberg, “Scientific Journals Are Publishing Papers with AI-Generated Text.” 404 Media. March 18, 2024. www.404media.co/scientific-journals-are-publishing-papers-with-ai-generated-text
October 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
jenraso.bsky.social
👻🧡
presentcorrect.bsky.social Present & Correct @presentcorrect.bsky.social · 19d
We made these Pumpkin Ghost Cakes 10 years ago. They haunt to this very day. www.instagram.com/p/CG7eIeAn1bo/
October 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Jen Raso
palapid.bsky.social
Reminded me to post this BOO-lean operator visualization fav for spooky season 🎃 👻
Pumpkins illustrating the Boolean operators AND, OR, XOR, NOR, NAND, and XNOR
October 30, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Jen Raso
socialmedialab.ca
New law in China now requires influencers "to prove professional qualifications for discussing topics such as finance, medicine, law, or education.
Platforms ... will be held liable for verifying these credentials, with fines as high as 100,000 yuan." www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/china-influe...
Not Verified? Not Welcome. China’s Influencer Policy Sends a Message
Influencers now need to prove professional qualifications for discussing topics such as finance, medicine, law, or education. Platforms like Douyin, Weibo, and Bilibili will be held liable for verifyi...
www.globalbrandsmagazine.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:24 AM