Dr Abeba Birhane
@abeba.bsky.social
Founder & PI @aial.ie. Assistant Professor of AI, School of Computer Science & Statistics, @tcddublin.bsky.social
AI accountability, AI audits & evaluation, critical data studies. Cognitive scientist by training. Ethiopian in Ireland. She/her
AI accountability, AI audits & evaluation, critical data studies. Cognitive scientist by training. Ethiopian in Ireland. She/her
Pinned
Dr Abeba Birhane
@abeba.bsky.social
· Jun 25
Computer-vision research powers surveillance technology - Nature
An analysis of research papers and citing patents indicates the extensive ties between computer-vision research and surveillance.
www.nature.com
New paper hot off the press www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
We analysed over 40,000 computer vision papers from CVPR (the longest standing CV conf) & associated patents tracing pathways from research to application. We found that 90% of papers & 86% of downstream patents power surveillance
1/
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
The situations in Palestine and Sudan haven't stopped being horrible, just because the news cycle pivoted to Venezuela and Iran.
The genocides and other atrocities are still happening, it's important to not lose sight of them...
The genocides and other atrocities are still happening, it's important to not lose sight of them...
January 9, 2026 at 12:46 PM
The situations in Palestine and Sudan haven't stopped being horrible, just because the news cycle pivoted to Venezuela and Iran.
The genocides and other atrocities are still happening, it's important to not lose sight of them...
The genocides and other atrocities are still happening, it's important to not lose sight of them...
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
He didn't shoot her in the head at point blank range because he felt like he was in danger. He shot her in the head at point blank range because he was furious that she wasn't afraid of him. He shot her in the head at point blank range because he felt emasculated.
January 9, 2026 at 11:25 PM
He didn't shoot her in the head at point blank range because he felt like he was in danger. He shot her in the head at point blank range because he was furious that she wasn't afraid of him. He shot her in the head at point blank range because he felt emasculated.
“The government generally shouldn’t be recording members of the public,” said Stanley. “People experience chilling effects in terms of exercising their right to exercise their First Amendment rights of expression and assembly.”
this is a good read
this is a good read
January 9, 2026 at 10:49 PM
“The government generally shouldn’t be recording members of the public,” said Stanley. “People experience chilling effects in terms of exercising their right to exercise their First Amendment rights of expression and assembly.”
this is a good read
this is a good read
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Big Oil spent nearly $100M to get Trump elected in 2024.
Now Trump is returning the favor, giving them advance notice of his Venezuela attack and inviting them to the White House to discuss how they will divvy up control of the country's oil.
Oligarchy in action.
Now Trump is returning the favor, giving them advance notice of his Venezuela attack and inviting them to the White House to discuss how they will divvy up control of the country's oil.
Oligarchy in action.
January 9, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Big Oil spent nearly $100M to get Trump elected in 2024.
Now Trump is returning the favor, giving them advance notice of his Venezuela attack and inviting them to the White House to discuss how they will divvy up control of the country's oil.
Oligarchy in action.
Now Trump is returning the favor, giving them advance notice of his Venezuela attack and inviting them to the White House to discuss how they will divvy up control of the country's oil.
Oligarchy in action.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Israel has begun implementing its plan to end the Palestinian refugee issue by demolishing its most important symbol: the refugee camp.
January 8, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Israel has begun implementing its plan to end the Palestinian refugee issue by demolishing its most important symbol: the refugee camp.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Political cartoonists are not fuckin’ around this week. (thread)
1. Pat Bagley
1. Pat Bagley
January 9, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Political cartoonists are not fuckin’ around this week. (thread)
1. Pat Bagley
1. Pat Bagley
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
A US congresswoman is threatening to sanction the "whole of Britain" if the UK bans X.
I'm not posting the screenshot from the other place, but lol
Every country needs to ban X, just to let the United States know who is the boss of their country, because the United States thinks they're it.
I'm not posting the screenshot from the other place, but lol
Every country needs to ban X, just to let the United States know who is the boss of their country, because the United States thinks they're it.
January 9, 2026 at 5:12 PM
A US congresswoman is threatening to sanction the "whole of Britain" if the UK bans X.
I'm not posting the screenshot from the other place, but lol
Every country needs to ban X, just to let the United States know who is the boss of their country, because the United States thinks they're it.
I'm not posting the screenshot from the other place, but lol
Every country needs to ban X, just to let the United States know who is the boss of their country, because the United States thinks they're it.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
OK, so Musk has paywalled the deepfake porn app on his hellsite. This may reduce the CSAM (without ofc addressing X's liability for what was already made) but it strikes me as unlikely to address the abuse of everyone else.
No public servant should be using X.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
No public servant should be using X.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
Editing function to be limited to paying subscribers after X threatened with fines and regulatory action
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:53 PM
OK, so Musk has paywalled the deepfake porn app on his hellsite. This may reduce the CSAM (without ofc addressing X's liability for what was already made) but it strikes me as unlikely to address the abuse of everyone else.
No public servant should be using X.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
No public servant should be using X.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
The works of Plato are now being banned at schools in the United States.
Tell me again how censorship is a European problem? 🤔
Tell me again how censorship is a European problem? 🤔
Plato Has Been Censored; What Next?
PEN America condemns and calls absurd Texas A&M censoring Plato readings and discussions related to race and gender
pen.org
January 8, 2026 at 9:34 AM
The works of Plato are now being banned at schools in the United States.
Tell me again how censorship is a European problem? 🤔
Tell me again how censorship is a European problem? 🤔
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Honestly think that if you pulled twitter from the App Store and shut it down it would fuck up the entire right wing ecosystem at that point. Like the entire media apparatus would fall apart.
January 8, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Honestly think that if you pulled twitter from the App Store and shut it down it would fuck up the entire right wing ecosystem at that point. Like the entire media apparatus would fall apart.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Posts may be a bit more sporadic from me today as my kids are home from school because my city is being brutalized by the federal government to the extent that it's unsafe for schools to be open
January 8, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Posts may be a bit more sporadic from me today as my kids are home from school because my city is being brutalized by the federal government to the extent that it's unsafe for schools to be open
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
January 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
I'm glad to see this pressure on Google and Apple. If any other company was running an active CSAM generator in public you better believe it would have been removed from their app stores by now www.wired.com/story/x-grok...
Why Are Grok and X Still Available in App Stores?
Elon Musk’s chatbot has been used to generate thousands of sexualized images of adults and apparent minors. Apple and Google have removed other “nudify” apps—but continue to host X and Grok.
www.wired.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:58 PM
I'm glad to see this pressure on Google and Apple. If any other company was running an active CSAM generator in public you better believe it would have been removed from their app stores by now www.wired.com/story/x-grok...
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
his name is Jonathan Ross and he shouldn't get a good night's sleep for the rest of his life www.startribune.com/ice-agent-wh...
Star Tribune identifies ICE agent who fatally shot woman in Minneapolis
Jonathan Ross was dragged in a separate incident last year by a fleeing driver, according to court records.
www.startribune.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:09 PM
his name is Jonathan Ross and he shouldn't get a good night's sleep for the rest of his life www.startribune.com/ice-agent-wh...
this, coming from the Media Minister in Ireland is embarrassing.
other genAI providers have managed to minimise generation of non-consensual porn and CSAM, why can’t X?
it is absolutely scandalous to put the onus on the user and not the platform owner financially benefiting from this
other genAI providers have managed to minimise generation of non-consensual porn and CSAM, why can’t X?
it is absolutely scandalous to put the onus on the user and not the platform owner financially benefiting from this
My word. (Again.)
Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan: "At the end of the day, it's the choice of a person to make these images... technology is moving so fast... even if the law is changed there's no doubt about... the advances are far faster than law is able to respond..."
Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan: "At the end of the day, it's the choice of a person to make these images... technology is moving so fast... even if the law is changed there's no doubt about... the advances are far faster than law is able to respond..."
January 8, 2026 at 12:53 PM
this, coming from the Media Minister in Ireland is embarrassing.
other genAI providers have managed to minimise generation of non-consensual porn and CSAM, why can’t X?
it is absolutely scandalous to put the onus on the user and not the platform owner financially benefiting from this
other genAI providers have managed to minimise generation of non-consensual porn and CSAM, why can’t X?
it is absolutely scandalous to put the onus on the user and not the platform owner financially benefiting from this
non-consensual porn*
January 8, 2026 at 12:52 PM
non-consensual porn*
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
I recently learnt the Irish national anthem, and the most powerful part for me was:
“Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave;”
Definitely feel like Irish values are not being followed as the govt finds many ways to waffle in response.
“Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave;”
Definitely feel like Irish values are not being followed as the govt finds many ways to waffle in response.
My word.
The Taoiseach, in China, says "platforms can be misused and abused or they can be used for positive reasons as well..." and says that should be considered carefully "before jumping to conclusions" on whether it's appropriate for the Government to be on X.
The Taoiseach, in China, says "platforms can be misused and abused or they can be used for positive reasons as well..." and says that should be considered carefully "before jumping to conclusions" on whether it's appropriate for the Government to be on X.
January 8, 2026 at 12:32 PM
I recently learnt the Irish national anthem, and the most powerful part for me was:
“Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave;”
Definitely feel like Irish values are not being followed as the govt finds many ways to waffle in response.
“Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave;”
Definitely feel like Irish values are not being followed as the govt finds many ways to waffle in response.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
There are real people, real women, real girls whose images have been edited by grok at the request of users.
This is not some fictionalised, nebulous harm.
That the 'adults in the room' and 'rules-based order' governments are humming and hawwing over taking a firm line on this is extraordinary
This is not some fictionalised, nebulous harm.
That the 'adults in the room' and 'rules-based order' governments are humming and hawwing over taking a firm line on this is extraordinary
January 8, 2026 at 9:38 AM
There are real people, real women, real girls whose images have been edited by grok at the request of users.
This is not some fictionalised, nebulous harm.
That the 'adults in the room' and 'rules-based order' governments are humming and hawwing over taking a firm line on this is extraordinary
This is not some fictionalised, nebulous harm.
That the 'adults in the room' and 'rules-based order' governments are humming and hawwing over taking a firm line on this is extraordinary
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
The only logical conclusion from this now is that the Government here, and governments around Europe, are absolutely terrified of being dragged into another battle with the richest man in the world who is hellbent on their removal; or with his ally in the White House over regulation.
January 8, 2026 at 9:37 AM
The only logical conclusion from this now is that the Government here, and governments around Europe, are absolutely terrified of being dragged into another battle with the richest man in the world who is hellbent on their removal; or with his ally in the White House over regulation.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
My word.
The Taoiseach, in China, says "platforms can be misused and abused or they can be used for positive reasons as well..." and says that should be considered carefully "before jumping to conclusions" on whether it's appropriate for the Government to be on X.
The Taoiseach, in China, says "platforms can be misused and abused or they can be used for positive reasons as well..." and says that should be considered carefully "before jumping to conclusions" on whether it's appropriate for the Government to be on X.
January 8, 2026 at 9:34 AM
My word.
The Taoiseach, in China, says "platforms can be misused and abused or they can be used for positive reasons as well..." and says that should be considered carefully "before jumping to conclusions" on whether it's appropriate for the Government to be on X.
The Taoiseach, in China, says "platforms can be misused and abused or they can be used for positive reasons as well..." and says that should be considered carefully "before jumping to conclusions" on whether it's appropriate for the Government to be on X.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
You and your wife drop your 6-year-old off at school. You just moved here. You see ICE terrorizing your new neighbors. You film them, as is your legal right. Your wife complies with orders. She is then shot in the head. You still have to pick up your child later today.
This could be you.
This could be you.
January 8, 2026 at 12:15 AM
You and your wife drop your 6-year-old off at school. You just moved here. You see ICE terrorizing your new neighbors. You film them, as is your legal right. Your wife complies with orders. She is then shot in the head. You still have to pick up your child later today.
This could be you.
This could be you.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
I figured I’d check, ‘cos I didn’t know: In Ireland, the guards (our police), don’t normally carry guns. They have to complete their 2-year basic qualification, serve with a clean record for 4 years, and then do 13 weeks of specialist training before they can be selected to join an armed unit.
47 days. That is all the training ICE officers get before our government hands them weapons and tells them to go raise hell.
January 8, 2026 at 1:35 AM
I figured I’d check, ‘cos I didn’t know: In Ireland, the guards (our police), don’t normally carry guns. They have to complete their 2-year basic qualification, serve with a clean record for 4 years, and then do 13 weeks of specialist training before they can be selected to join an armed unit.
Reposted by Dr Abeba Birhane
I am pleased to announce that I have commandeered my neighbor's home. This home will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, to ensure it is used to benefit my neighbor and me! Thank you for your attention to this matter!
January 7, 2026 at 2:44 AM
I am pleased to announce that I have commandeered my neighbor's home. This home will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, to ensure it is used to benefit my neighbor and me! Thank you for your attention to this matter!