Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
@jenvalentino.bsky.social
New York Times reporter on the investigations desk, focusing on technology and data journalism. Reach me on Signal at jenval.06 https://www.nytimes.com/by/jennifer-valentino-devries
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
That MAGA Account Might Be a Troll From Pakistan
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
The Queens Daily Eagle remains undefeated.
Queens men meet — Queens Daily Eagle
The first man from Queens to be elected president and the first Queens resident to be elected mayor of New York City met for the first time in the Oval Office on Friday.
queenseagle.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:33 AM
The Queens Daily Eagle remains undefeated.
Apropos of nothing: The vast majority of my family is MAGA, and they've been obsessed for years with the idea that NYC some kind of criminal hellscape. They were also quite concerned with our recent local election, oddly enough. And I'm wondering now whether to send them some screenshots or nah.
November 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Apropos of nothing: The vast majority of my family is MAGA, and they've been obsessed for years with the idea that NYC some kind of criminal hellscape. They were also quite concerned with our recent local election, oddly enough. And I'm wondering now whether to send them some screenshots or nah.
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
Well worth the time to read this piece by the ACLU's Brett Max Kaufman on the Trump administration's boat strikes.
Here's the kicker:
Here's the kicker:
November 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Well worth the time to read this piece by the ACLU's Brett Max Kaufman on the Trump administration's boat strikes.
Here's the kicker:
Here's the kicker:
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
NEW: As Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drives billions of dollars in foreign payments to help build AI data centers in the US, his sons help run a company earning tens of millions in fees helping finance AI data centers. A NYT investigation. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Family Affair: Commerce Secretary’s Sons Cash In on A.I. Frenzy
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
NEW: As Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drives billions of dollars in foreign payments to help build AI data centers in the US, his sons help run a company earning tens of millions in fees helping finance AI data centers. A NYT investigation. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
This experience mirrors reports of A.I. chatbots reinforcing delusional thinking in some people, as @kashhill.bsky.social has written about extensively.
One good point is that certain communities on the internet did this already (think QAnon). But A.I. is available 24-7 and is even more insular.
One good point is that certain communities on the internet did this already (think QAnon). But A.I. is available 24-7 and is even more insular.
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
This experience mirrors reports of A.I. chatbots reinforcing delusional thinking in some people, as @kashhill.bsky.social has written about extensively.
One good point is that certain communities on the internet did this already (think QAnon). But A.I. is available 24-7 and is even more insular.
One good point is that certain communities on the internet did this already (think QAnon). But A.I. is available 24-7 and is even more insular.
Amid military strikes on Venezuelan boats, Trump's team has said Pres. Maduro leads the "narcoterrorist org Cartel de los Soles."
But "Cartel de los Soles" is not a literal group. Just a Venezuelan figure of speech.
More great work from @charliesavage.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
But "Cartel de los Soles" is not a literal group. Just a Venezuelan figure of speech.
More great work from @charliesavage.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
Trump Team Calls Maduro a ‘Cartel’ Boss. That Word Doesn’t Mean What You Think.
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Amid military strikes on Venezuelan boats, Trump's team has said Pres. Maduro leads the "narcoterrorist org Cartel de los Soles."
But "Cartel de los Soles" is not a literal group. Just a Venezuelan figure of speech.
More great work from @charliesavage.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
But "Cartel de los Soles" is not a literal group. Just a Venezuelan figure of speech.
More great work from @charliesavage.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/u...
Earlier this year, agents found videos showing violent sexual abuse of a young child. But the agents have since been asked to arrest undocumented immigrants, hindering progress toward rescue. This and more from @mhkeller.bsky.social and team in an important story.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Homeland Security Missions Falter Amid Focus on Deportations
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Earlier this year, agents found videos showing violent sexual abuse of a young child. But the agents have since been asked to arrest undocumented immigrants, hindering progress toward rescue. This and more from @mhkeller.bsky.social and team in an important story.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Always love a story that involves reporters looking through thousands of hours of mind-numbing video. (I say this seriously.)
NEW: ProPublica examined months of Fox News’ coverage and reviewed over 700 videos posted on social media.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
“Riots Raging”: The Misleading Story Fox News Told About Portland Before Trump Sent Troops
After reviewing coverage from the network and hours of social media videos that preceded Trump’s decision, ProPublica found that Fox’s portrayal of “Portland rioters” routinely instigating violence was misleading.
www.propublica.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Always love a story that involves reporters looking through thousands of hours of mind-numbing video. (I say this seriously.)
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
Meta earns $3.5 billion every six months from showing Faceboon and Instagram users 15 billion “higher legal risk” scam ad impressions a day, internal documents state.
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Meta earns $3.5 billion every six months from showing Faceboon and Instagram users 15 billion “higher legal risk” scam ad impressions a day, internal documents state.
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
Both The New York Times and Airwars are tracking the U.S. strikes on boats in the Carribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. 64 or 65 killed in 15 separate incidents.
NYT: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Airwars: airwars.org/conflict/u-s...
NYT: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Airwars: airwars.org/conflict/u-s...
Tracking U.S. Military Killings in Boat Attacks
In two months, the Trump administration has killed dozens of people it accused of smuggling drugs aboard boats. Here are the acknowledged strikes so far.
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Both The New York Times and Airwars are tracking the U.S. strikes on boats in the Carribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. 64 or 65 killed in 15 separate incidents.
NYT: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Airwars: airwars.org/conflict/u-s...
NYT: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Airwars: airwars.org/conflict/u-s...
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
PSA: Please stop giving advice on spotting the hallmarks of A.I.-generated videos.
Even the pros are are having a hard time. We can't OSINT sleuth our way out of this problem. wapo.st/4ljYzJy
Even the pros are are having a hard time. We can't OSINT sleuth our way out of this problem. wapo.st/4ljYzJy
Analysis | How to spot an AI video? LOL, you can’t.
It’s time to stop trying to be AI detectives. We need a different approach to a world awash in realistic AI.
wapo.st
November 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
PSA: Please stop giving advice on spotting the hallmarks of A.I.-generated videos.
Even the pros are are having a hard time. We can't OSINT sleuth our way out of this problem. wapo.st/4ljYzJy
Even the pros are are having a hard time. We can't OSINT sleuth our way out of this problem. wapo.st/4ljYzJy
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
New from 404 Media: CBP has quietly launched a facial recognition app for local cops to do immigration enforcement. Scans their face, tells cops whether to contact ICE about this person or not. A truly rapid expansion of ICE's facial recognition app to local cops
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
CBP Quietly Launches Face Scanning App for Local Cops To Do Immigration Enforcement
The app, called Mobile Identify and available on the Google Play Store, is specifically for local and regional law enforcement agencies working with ICE on immigration enforcement.
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM
New from 404 Media: CBP has quietly launched a facial recognition app for local cops to do immigration enforcement. Scans their face, tells cops whether to contact ICE about this person or not. A truly rapid expansion of ICE's facial recognition app to local cops
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has repeatedly criticized his rival, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, for living in a rent-stabilized apartment, occupied a rent-stabilized unit himself when he was a young professional living in New York City in the 1980s.
Cuomo Blasts Mamdani for His Rent-Stabilized Unit. But He Had One, Too.
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has repeatedly criticized his rival, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, for living in a rent-stabilized apartment, occupied a rent-stabilized unit himself when he was a young professional living in New York City in the 1980s.
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
New Yorkers: Come to City Hall Park tomorrow at noon and join the unionized reporters, photographers and editors of the New York Daily News, as we call on Heath Freeman and Alden Global Capital to pay fair wages and agree to worker protections.
October 28, 2025 at 6:55 PM
New Yorkers: Come to City Hall Park tomorrow at noon and join the unionized reporters, photographers and editors of the New York Daily News, as we call on Heath Freeman and Alden Global Capital to pay fair wages and agree to worker protections.
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
Almost every major news story this week is about how the entire economy is now gambling, scams, bribes and theft.
October 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Almost every major news story this week is about how the entire economy is now gambling, scams, bribes and theft.
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
Preliminary results show that the current framework of "AI" makes ppl less likely to help or seek help from other humans, or to seek to soothe conflict, and that people actively prefer that framework to any others, literally serving to make them more dependent on it.
Sycophantic AI Decreases Prosocial Intentions and Promotes Dependence
Both the general public and academic communities have raised concerns about sycophancy, the phenomenon of artificial intelligence (AI) excessively agreeing with or flattering users. Yet, beyond isolat...
arxiv.org
October 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Preliminary results show that the current framework of "AI" makes ppl less likely to help or seek help from other humans, or to seek to soothe conflict, and that people actively prefer that framework to any others, literally serving to make them more dependent on it.
Oh my God, its title is "Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence." The Wikipedia article about it is giving me a panic attack. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diella_...
In rolling out an AI-generated minister, Diella, the Albanian government appears to have bypassed fundamental democratic values and processes entirely, Adele Jasperse writes.
Albania is Showing the Perils of Outsourcing Democracy to Algorithms | TechPolicy.Press
Albania’s appointment of an AI-generated minister appears to have bypassed fundamental democratic values, writes Adele Jasperse.
www.techpolicy.press
October 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Oh my God, its title is "Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence." The Wikipedia article about it is giving me a panic attack. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diella_...
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
Updating my LEGO White House
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Updating my LEGO White House
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
Aggregate measures say the economy is doing pretty well right now. But that obscures a growing divide: Wealthy Americans, buoyed by stock market gains, are spending. Low-and middle-income Americans are struggling amid inflation and a weakening labor market. #EconSky
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b...
Wealthy Americans Are Spending. People With Less Are Struggling.
www.nytimes.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Aggregate measures say the economy is doing pretty well right now. But that obscures a growing divide: Wealthy Americans, buoyed by stock market gains, are spending. Low-and middle-income Americans are struggling amid inflation and a weakening labor market. #EconSky
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b...
In Mexico, a doctor has to stitch kids up by flashlight. In Ireland, data centers consume more than 20% of the country’s electricity (!). In Chile, aquifers are in danger. Important story by @paulmozur.bsky.social @satariano.bsky.social, Emiliano Rodríguez Mega
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/t...
From Mexico to Ireland, Fury Mounts Over a Global A.I. Frenzy
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
In Mexico, a doctor has to stitch kids up by flashlight. In Ireland, data centers consume more than 20% of the country’s electricity (!). In Chile, aquifers are in danger. Important story by @paulmozur.bsky.social @satariano.bsky.social, Emiliano Rodríguez Mega
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/t...
This good piece by @stuartathompson.bsky.social really drives home how much AI slop the president posts these days. Also, it uses the word "excrement" in the second paragraph.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How Trump Is Using Fake Imagery to Attack Enemies and Rouse Supporters (Gift Article)
The president has posted A.I.-generated images and videos dozens of times on social media, in some cases misleading viewers and amplifying political divisions.
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This good piece by @stuartathompson.bsky.social really drives home how much AI slop the president posts these days. Also, it uses the word "excrement" in the second paragraph.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
The only excuse Lois Lane has for why her interviewing Superman isn't unethical, despite their romantic entanglement, is that it would be even more unethical for the paper's other top reporter, who is Superman, to interview himself, yet she cannot say this. This dilemma should be taught in J-school.
October 20, 2025 at 1:12 AM
The only excuse Lois Lane has for why her interviewing Superman isn't unethical, despite their romantic entanglement, is that it would be even more unethical for the paper's other top reporter, who is Superman, to interview himself, yet she cannot say this. This dilemma should be taught in J-school.
Didn't expect anyone to take "internet of shit" quite so literally.
Home goods company Kohler recently unveiled a new device called the Dekoda — a $599 camera that can be attached to your toilet bowl and take pictures of what’s inside.
Kohler unveils a camera for your toilet | TechCrunch
Home goods company Kohler recently unveiled a new device called the Dekoda — a $599 camera that can be attached to your toilet bowl and take pictures of what’s inside.
techcrunch.com
October 19, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Didn't expect anyone to take "internet of shit" quite so literally.