Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Torin Monahan

@torinmonahan.bsky.social

1.3K followers 350 following 32 posts

Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Studies surveillance, tech, platforms. Co-Editor-in-Chief of Surveillance & Society. https://www.torinmonahan.com/

Videos

Torin Monahan is co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Surveillance & Society, a former director of the Surveillance Studies Network, and a professor of communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is best known for his work on the social and cultural dimensions of surveillance systems. .. more

Political science 41%

Sociology 25%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Torin Monahan

Jathan Sadowski @jathansadowski.com · 9d

What an unsurprising decision by corporations that desperately need to make money with AI. If every other company with a chatbot isn't already doing this, then expect them to be following Meta's lead soon. The chatbot is not your friend; it's a corporate listening device. www.ft.com/content/22f7...

Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour.
https://www.ft.com/content/22f7afc3-8ac0-4ca1-9877-fd3f8ddcc986?desktop=true&segmentId=7c8f09b9-9b61-4fbb-9430-9208a9e233c8#myft:notification:daily-email:content

Meta will use conversations people have with its chatbots to personalise advertising and content across its platforms, in a sign of how tech companies plan to make money from artificial intelligence.

The owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp on Wednesday said it would use the content of chats with its Meta AI to create advertising recommendations across its suite of apps.

“People will already expect that their Meta AI interactions are being used for these personalisation purposes,” said Christy Harris, privacy and data policy manager at Meta.

5 88 210

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · 14d

In my experience, climate committed youth are especially unaware of the impact meat eating has on the planet.

“Food and agriculture contribute one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions – second only to the burning of fossil fuels.”

#vegetarianism

Meat is a leading emissions source – but few outlets report on it, analysis finds

Sentient Media reveals less than 4% of climate news stories mention animal agriculture as source of carbon emissions

www.theguardian.com

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · 17d

Quite disturbing unlawful collection of DNA by CBP.

US border patrol collected DNA from thousands of US citizens for years, data shows

CBP officers took DNA samples from about 2,000 citizens, some as young as 14 and many who never faced criminal charges, new analysis shows

www.theguardian.com

1 2

Reposted by Torin Monahan

Emily M. Bender @emilymbender.bsky.social · 29d

Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 Episode 62

www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/epis...

Come to hear @mharrisondupre.bsky.social , @alexhanna.bsky.social and I dismantle the misplaced enthusiasm for chatbots in therapy, stay for the literal word sausages.

2 8 25

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · 29d

Surveillance functions in anticipatory and reactive modalities: 1) to preemptively interrupt pro-Palestinian speech; 2) to punish and terrorize individuals for their expressions of dissent.

tinyurl.com/4fr95zxy

View of Silencing Dissent: Surveillance and Police Actions on University Campuses during Pro-Palestinian Protests

tinyurl.com

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · 29d

In my latest piece in Surveillance & Society, I investigate #Colombia University’s police crackdown on protesters; #UCLA’s tolerance for terror inflicted by vigilante counterprotesters; and the broader punishment and dismissal of professors voicing criticism of Israel’s war in #Gaza.

1 1

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · 29d

🚨New Publication Alert: “Silencing Dissent: Surveillance and Police Actions on University Campuses during Pro-Palestinian Protests” 🚨

This article explores #surveillance, #violence, and #dissent on university campuses in the United States.

tinyurl.com/4fr95zxy

Screenshot of Surveillance & Society article: "Silencing Dissent: Surveillance and Police Actions on University Campuses during Pro-Palestinian Protests"

1 1 2

Reposted by Göran Bolin, Torin Monahan, David Murakami Wood

Surveillance Studies Network @survstudiesnet.bsky.social · Sep 2

Surveillance & Society has published a great new issue—w/ articles on data leaks, ceasefire monitoring, campus #protests, & much more! The journal is always fully #openaccess.

Check it out, and please spread the word: ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/su...

Three police officers standing in front of Gaza solidarity encampment tents at Columbia University. (Photo credit: Wm3214 via Wikimedia Commons.)

23 25

Reposted by Torin Monahan

San Diego TRUST Coalition @sandiegotrust.bsky.social · Sep 1

Flock lied to cities and it has come out that federal immigration agents had direct access to Flock's networks. www.9news.com/article/news...

www.9news.com

1 2 4

Reposted by Timnit Gebru, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, David Lazer , and 5 more Timnit Gebru, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, David Lazer, John Hogan, Torin Monahan, W Grant, David Murakami Wood, Aleksandra Urman

Kashmir Hill @kashhill.bsky.social · Aug 26

Why publish one story about A.I. gone wrong when you can publish two?

Here's my other story today on how the NYPD used facial recognition tech to arrest the wrong man for public lewdness.

The perp was 5'6''. Cops charged Trevis Williams, who is 6'2''.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/n...

How the N.Y.P.D.’s Facial Recognition Tool Landed the Wrong Man in Jail

www.nytimes.com

10 170 390

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · Aug 22

I'm absolutely going to assign this when I teach my "Technology & Social Justice" course next, most likely in the Spring. The critique is spot on, and the examples are perfectly colorful and outrageous. Thanks for writing this book!

2 4

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · Aug 22

Paul Lynch’s _Prophet Song_ is an absolutely devastating novel that really got under my skin. It convincingly depicts a gradual slide into #totalitarianism, but on an intimate, human level. @ubisurv.net, if you haven’t read this one, I’m pretty sure you would like it.

Cover of Paul Lynch's novel Prophet Song.

Reposted by Torin Monahan

Oakland Abolition & Solidarity @oaklandabosol.bsky.social · Aug 18

OPD is attempting to expand its surveillance system to be able to easily integrate footage from public and private security cameras into one centralized database under the Flock system, a massive AI-powered tracking system that has been metastasizing across the country in the past two years.
1/x

Simple clip-art style graphic, black line drawing of a hand poking a surveillance camera in the lens and breaking it.

1 74 130

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · Aug 18

[Publication Alert]: "Leaving Academia: Dual-Career Relationships and Partners’ Attrition from Academic Careers"

22% of aspiring academics who have an academic partner end up leaving academia. Women are most impacted. That's a lot of attrition! #openaccess

www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10....

Leaving Academia: Dual-Career Relationships and Partners’ Attrition from Academic Careers | Women's Health Reports

Background: More than one third of academics are coupled with another academic, with more women being in such dual-career relationships. Little is known about how these couples’ experiences affect the...

www.liebertpub.com

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · Aug 17

“Is it surprising that Trump’s stormtroopers are acting with impunity? [No.] But is it shocking to see a man—someone’s family member, someone’s friend, someone’s neighbor—being brutalized by agents who are fully aware they’re being watched and recorded? Yes. And I hope it remains shocking.”

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Aug 16

New — I wrote about the violent assault on a DC delivery worker this morning by masked federal agents, and how these agents have made the disturbing turn from quiet thugs to playing for the cameras.

Federal agent during violent DC arrest: “Liberals already ruined” this country

Trump's thugs are proving their skull-bashing loyalty in broad daylight.

www.thehandbasket.co

Reposted by Reece Jones, Marc Lynch, Families , and 9 more Reece Jones, Marc Lynch, Families, Tom Clark, Steve Peers, Robin Celikates, Berk Özler, Dean Eckles, Torin Monahan, Mark Rice, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Farah Mendlesohn

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Aug 16

Federal agent during violent DC arrest: “Liberals already ruined” this country

Trump's thugs are proving their skull-bashing loyalty in broad daylight.

www.thehandbasket.co

120 1.3K 3.1K

Anna Kornbluh @annakornbluh.bsky.social · Aug 15

teachers!

excited to share a new website at this late date of Aug 15 to try to help us collectively prepare for back to school in the interpretative humanities classroom assaulted by the AI grift, so we don't have to go it alone.

take a look, share, + most importantly: CONTRIBUTE
against-a-i.com

AGAINST AI

against-a-i.com

42 430 750

Reposted by Tama Leaver, Torin Monahan

Mél Hogan / The Data Fix @melhogan.bsky.social · Jul 28

I feel very lucky to have gotten a chance to talk about “AI” with @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social — authors of The AI Con.

Enjoy the episode!

pca.st/episode/ee9c...

Con, with Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna

pca.st

2 23 78

Reposted by Torin Monahan, David Murakami Wood

Surveillance Studies Network @survstudiesnet.bsky.social · Jul 24

The Surveillance Studies Network (SSN) invites nominations (including self-nominations) for its 2026 Arts Prize. The deadline for receipt of nominations is August 15th, 2025.
ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/su...

4 3

Reposted by Torin Monahan

Surveillance Studies Network @survstudiesnet.bsky.social · Jul 24

The Surveillance Studies Network (SSN) invites nominations (including self-nominations) for the annual Surveillance Studies Book Award. The deadline for receipt of books from the publisher is October 15th, 2025.
ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/su...

2 1

Reposted by Fabián Muniesa, Brian Keegan, Torin Monahan

Linda Huber @puellaludens.bsky.social · Jul 23

Very excited to share this workshop I'm helping to host on August 19: "From Tech Lash To Tech Fash: Strategic reflections on a decade of collective organizing in computing"
tech-organizing-reflections.github.io

a simple, dark green flier with a bold, white text header:
From Tech Lash To Tech Fash: Strategic reflections on a decade of collective organizing in computing

The flier includes the following text and details:
Hybrid Workshop @ Aarhus - Tuesday August 19, 8:30–11:30 am EST / 2:30–5:30 pm CEST
Computing is a field plagued with presentism, oriented towards the new in ways that limit our design and research practices - as well as our capacity to understand and collectively respond to emerging crises. To improve our sensemaking and strategizing about today's crises, this workshop explores what Tamara Kneese has deemed the last decade's shift from "techlash" to "tech fash". What have we learned from the era of misinformation and bias, of "surveillance capitalism" and tech worker organizing that can inform our struggle against the increasing power of a techno-fascist oligarchy? We will also look towards previous generations of computing professionals and activists, who likewise sought to address the harms of emerging automated systems and the complicity of computing within violent, imperialist projects. This workshop will create space for participants to explore these questions collectively, bridging past and present moments in an effort to devise strategies moving forward.

RSVP by Aug 12 https://tech-organizing-reflections.github.io/

1 16 43

Reposted by Torin Monahan

Surveillance Studies Network @survstudiesnet.bsky.social · Jul 10

📢 Our latest blog post is live!

'Anyone Who’s Watching Can See That You’re Watching, Too' by @corinnejones.bsky.social - about the relationship b/w #consumption, #visibility labours, & social media’s #surveillance economy.

Find this & our other great contributions here: medium.com/surveillance...

Anyone Who’s Watching Can See That You’re Watching, Too

In this post, Corinne Jones reflects on her article ‘“Anyone Who’s Watching Can See That You’re Watching, Too”: A Case Study of Prosumption…

medium.com

1 3

Reposted by Paul R. Bierman, Elena Litchman, Joshua S. Weitz , and 1 more Paul R. Bierman, Elena Litchman, Joshua S. Weitz, Torin Monahan

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Jun 26

National Science Foundation staff were notified that their office space will be taken over by Department of Housing and Urban Development. It's unclear where the 1,800+ NSF employees will work. Renovation plans apparently include a personal gym for the HUD secretary & family eos.org/research-and...

National Science Foundation Staff Booted From Headquarters - Eos

Staff at the National Science Foundation (NSF) were notified on 25 June that the agency’s office space, located in Alexandria, Va., will be taken over by Department of Housing and Urban Development (H...

eos.org

24 130 180

Reposted by Torin Monahan

Jathan Sadowski @jathansadowski.com · Jun 26

In the new TMK, we dive into a secret partnership between the New Orleans Police Department and Project NOLA, a private organisation that owns and operates an extensive network of facial recognition cameras covering New Orleans and running live analysis on the public.
soundcloud.com/thismachinek...

411. Big Easy’s Big Brother

We get into a secret partnership between the New Orleans Police Department and Project NOLA, a private nonprofit organisation that owns and operates an extensive network of cameras blanketing New Orle

soundcloud.com

2 2 8

Reposted by Torin Monahan

Surveillance Studies Network @survstudiesnet.bsky.social · Jun 22

PUBLISHED: New open issue of Surveillance & Society with articles on #desire, student tracking, #Tesla data collection, #surveillance #art, workplace surveillance, and urban “data walks.” The journal is always fully #openaccess.

Check it out, and please spread the word: tinyurl.com/9c473scz

Map of USA showing automated license plate reader (ALPR) networks. From flock.ajith.fyi.

1 12 12

Reposted by Torin Monahan

Society for Social Studies of Science, 4S @4sonline.bsky.social · Jun 19

We're retiring this duplicate account. You can find more official posts here: @4sweb.bsky.social See you over there! Or on LinkedIn or X.

1 1

Reposted by Suzana J. Camargo, Tomasz Mickiewicz, Lawrence Lessig , and 5 more Suzana J. Camargo, Tomasz Mickiewicz, Lawrence Lessig, Melissa R. Michelson, Mary Rice, Sahar F. Aziz, Torin Monahan, Meredith Farkas

Evan Greer @evangreer.bsky.social · Jun 16

The Minnesota shooter apparently used data broker websites to find the home addresses of the people he shot and murdered.

Congress has had years to do something about data brokers and they've sided with the tech lobby over and over again.

Their inaction is deadly.

720 12K 47K

Reposted by Torin Monahan

Emily M. Bender @emilymbender.bsky.social · Jun 12

For everyone who was sad to miss it, the recording of the Data & Society event about THE AI CON (me and @alexhanna.bsky.social) and EMPIRE OF AI (@karenhao.bsky.social) moderated by @tamigraph.bsky.social is now online!

datasociety.net/events/chall...

Challenging AI Hype and Tech Industry Power

“I think it’s very important to maintain that refusal is an option.” – Emily M. Bender “AI is not inevitable. AI – as it is constructed right now – is, I think, fundamentally anti-democratic.” – Alex ...

datasociety.net

5 37 130

Reposted by Torin Monahan

404 Media @404media.co · Jun 11

Feds Flew Predator Drones Over LA Protests

🔗 www.404media.co/dhs-flew-pre...

13 130 300

Torin Monahan @torinmonahan.bsky.social · Jun 9

Such deployments of the #surveillance state are similar to Iran’s heavy-handed tactics to crush dissent, as @azadehakbari.bsky.social‬ has written about. Glad to see @mguariglia.bsky.social‬’s incisive critique in this piece.

An LAPD helicopter claimed to have ID'ed protesters from above and threatened to "come to your house"

The practice, an expert warns, could lead to "reprisals and retribution by the police for your politics.”

www.motherjones.com

1 6 9