Chris Roper
@chrisroper.bsky.social
Deputy CEO at @Code4Africa, Former Ed-in-Chief: Mail & Guardian and 24. com. Knight Fellow at ICFJ 2015-2019. He/him
Hard to work out who the criminals are here. Right?
"Reuters reported last month that Meta earns $7 billion a year just from the portion of scam ads it considers “high risk,” and that 10% of the company’s 2024 revenue – about $16 billion – was projected to come from ads for scams, illegal gambling and banned products. "
To grow its ad biz in China, Meta has relied on ad agency partners given the power to create special enforcement-protected ad accounts and share them with resellers. The system produces so much fraud that Meta internally calls China its top “scam exporting nation.”
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
December 16, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Hard to work out who the criminals are here. Right?
Reposted by Chris Roper
The spokesperson for South Africa's president said the govt was in talks with Russia over bringing home 17 men allegedly tricked into fighting for Russia.
"They are facing grave, grave danger to their lives... the information that we have is that they were bungled into the Russian military forces."
"They are facing grave, grave danger to their lives... the information that we have is that they were bungled into the Russian military forces."
South Africa in talks with Russia over men ‘tricked’ into fighting in Ukraine
Government says it received distress calls, as daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma accused of luring men to frontline
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:23 AM
The spokesperson for South Africa's president said the govt was in talks with Russia over bringing home 17 men allegedly tricked into fighting for Russia.
"They are facing grave, grave danger to their lives... the information that we have is that they were bungled into the Russian military forces."
"They are facing grave, grave danger to their lives... the information that we have is that they were bungled into the Russian military forces."
Reposted by Chris Roper
the intensity of my anger at those who would criminalize the homeless — a population literally created by the greed and callousness of the ruling class — is very hard to contain. it was you who dismantled the safety net. if you don’t like the results, put it back
August 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
the intensity of my anger at those who would criminalize the homeless — a population literally created by the greed and callousness of the ruling class — is very hard to contain. it was you who dismantled the safety net. if you don’t like the results, put it back
If you wondered why the hype machine shrieks.
“Nearly 500 AI unicorn companies now exist worldwide with a combined value of $2.7 trillion, with 100 of these billion-dollar firms established after 2023 alone.”
“Nearly 500 AI unicorn companies now exist worldwide with a combined value of $2.7 trillion, with 100 of these billion-dollar firms established after 2023 alone.”
August 12, 2025 at 5:56 AM
If you wondered why the hype machine shrieks.
“Nearly 500 AI unicorn companies now exist worldwide with a combined value of $2.7 trillion, with 100 of these billion-dollar firms established after 2023 alone.”
“Nearly 500 AI unicorn companies now exist worldwide with a combined value of $2.7 trillion, with 100 of these billion-dollar firms established after 2023 alone.”
“The posts and palaces and public places have been filled with buffoons, fools and clowns at various levels, offering a variety of services. Their function is to preach before the fetish the fiction of its perfection.” - Achille Mbembe, De la postcolonie (2000)
July 7, 2025 at 5:50 AM
“The posts and palaces and public places have been filled with buffoons, fools and clowns at various levels, offering a variety of services. Their function is to preach before the fetish the fiction of its perfection.” - Achille Mbembe, De la postcolonie (2000)
Reposted by Chris Roper
This is a must-read by @chrisroper.bsky.social ... Well pleased that that paywall has been removed. I am a columnist and essayist for @businesslivesa.bsky.social but don't have access to the stable of publications. Strange how that works. www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/...
CHRIS ROPER: The treasure behind a paywall
There is a chasm between an argument in a news publication and how it lands on social media
www.businesslive.co.za
June 12, 2025 at 10:56 AM
This is a must-read by @chrisroper.bsky.social ... Well pleased that that paywall has been removed. I am a columnist and essayist for @businesslivesa.bsky.social but don't have access to the stable of publications. Strange how that works. www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/...
I’m probably the 500th South African to point this out to the superlative @andrewhickey.500songs.com podcast, but Ricky Fataar/Blondie Chaplin’s group was The Flames, not The Flame. (Hope I didn’t mishear) Is it weird to be so happy that he’s mentioning SAfricans? Hugh Masakela has featured, too.
March 30, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I’m probably the 500th South African to point this out to the superlative @andrewhickey.500songs.com podcast, but Ricky Fataar/Blondie Chaplin’s group was The Flames, not The Flame. (Hope I didn’t mishear) Is it weird to be so happy that he’s mentioning SAfricans? Hugh Masakela has featured, too.
"People hardly ever make use of the freedom which they have, for example, freedom of thought; instead they demand freedom of speech as compensation."
Søren Kierkegaard, who could have been writing about the shrill demagogues of today.
Søren Kierkegaard, who could have been writing about the shrill demagogues of today.
March 27, 2025 at 8:24 AM
"People hardly ever make use of the freedom which they have, for example, freedom of thought; instead they demand freedom of speech as compensation."
Søren Kierkegaard, who could have been writing about the shrill demagogues of today.
Søren Kierkegaard, who could have been writing about the shrill demagogues of today.
Source unknown. Except in the sense of the pit of despair from whence it came.
March 15, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Source unknown. Except in the sense of the pit of despair from whence it came.
This is terrible. “UNICEF said at least 221 children, including boys, were raped by armed men” in Sudan.
aje.io/vswtia
aje.io/vswtia
More than 200 children, some as young as one, raped in Sudan, UNICEF says
Report says rape is ‘being used as a tactic of war’ in violation of international law and and laws protecting children.
aje.io
March 4, 2025 at 10:35 AM
This is terrible. “UNICEF said at least 221 children, including boys, were raped by armed men” in Sudan.
aje.io/vswtia
aje.io/vswtia
It’s all just a circus. “President Trump on Friday directed government officials to prioritize the resettlement of South Africans of European descent through the U.S. refugee program, which he suspended during his first day in office.” www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-o...
Trump orders U.S. to prioritize refugee resettlement of South Africans of European descent
President Trump directed officials to prioritize the resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa through the U.S. refugee program, which he suspended on his first day in office.
www.cbsnews.com
February 8, 2025 at 4:10 AM
It’s all just a circus. “President Trump on Friday directed government officials to prioritize the resettlement of South Africans of European descent through the U.S. refugee program, which he suspended during his first day in office.” www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-o...
Zapiro always draws it starkly.
February 6, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Zapiro always draws it starkly.
We’ve been there as South Africans. A thoughtful summation of US state capture. mg.co.za/thought-lead...
The Trump-Musk regime: State capture on steroids – The Mail & Guardian
We have started out on a rocky road as the US president and his henchmen make Jacob Zuma look like an amateur
mg.co.za
February 5, 2025 at 5:52 AM
We’ve been there as South Africans. A thoughtful summation of US state capture. mg.co.za/thought-lead...
If you look for oppressed whites, you’ll conjure them up. The orange panopticon sees all, albeit through a glass, crazily. And has now noticed South Africa. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Trump vows to cut off aid to South Africa
"South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY," Trump wrote.
www.politico.com
February 3, 2025 at 5:10 AM
If you look for oppressed whites, you’ll conjure them up. The orange panopticon sees all, albeit through a glass, crazily. And has now noticed South Africa. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Via LeoArt SZ on Facebook.
January 23, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Via LeoArt SZ on Facebook.
While the US is burning, literally as well as figuratively, and it's tech-oligarchs are throwing truth onto the bonfire, we should probably remind ourselves of the threat posed by Russian disinformation in Africa. Here is a great overview by @klyszcz.bsky.social
ridl.io/russia-s-glo...
ridl.io/russia-s-glo...
Russia’s global war, north and south – Riddle Russia
Ivan U. Klyszcz maps out Russia’s use of international business ties, old Soviet links, covert operations, and disinformation to exert global pressure
ridl.io
January 9, 2025 at 8:30 AM
While the US is burning, literally as well as figuratively, and it's tech-oligarchs are throwing truth onto the bonfire, we should probably remind ourselves of the threat posed by Russian disinformation in Africa. Here is a great overview by @klyszcz.bsky.social
ridl.io/russia-s-glo...
ridl.io/russia-s-glo...
All the false gods that promised to be journalism's saviours. And who knows - they might have prolonged the death spiral, in some cases. But now we're reaching the age of merciful deaths, for some news organisations.
A new year, a new hope: Revisiting things that were envisioned to save journalism over the last 15 years 🧵
We're starting off hopeful in 2009 with Silicon Valley, blogs, broadband internet, and news cabals 🤞
We're starting off hopeful in 2009 with Silicon Valley, blogs, broadband internet, and news cabals 🤞
January 8, 2025 at 10:42 AM
All the false gods that promised to be journalism's saviours. And who knows - they might have prolonged the death spiral, in some cases. But now we're reaching the age of merciful deaths, for some news organisations.
Reposted by Chris Roper
There is a perception that charity, donations and aid from the Global North is what is keeping African economies afloat. Yet the combined aid and development assistance to Africa in 2022 was $37-billion less than remittances from African diaspora. https://theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/89546
December 31, 2024 at 7:27 AM
There is a perception that charity, donations and aid from the Global North is what is keeping African economies afloat. Yet the combined aid and development assistance to Africa in 2022 was $37-billion less than remittances from African diaspora. https://theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/89546
The necessary redefinition of journalism, via @pboehler.net “This industry appears to have just for a moment forgotten that formats have no power beyond their habituated consumption, and platforms don't pursue long-term altruist goals. The skills persist.
December 10, 2024 at 11:06 AM
The necessary redefinition of journalism, via @pboehler.net “This industry appears to have just for a moment forgotten that formats have no power beyond their habituated consumption, and platforms don't pursue long-term altruist goals. The skills persist.
Reading a Der Spiegel investigative piece about the 1000s of women whose faces are used to make fake porn. And it turns out that in Germany, there are no specific legal regulations against this. According to legal experts...
December 10, 2024 at 8:33 AM
Reading a Der Spiegel investigative piece about the 1000s of women whose faces are used to make fake porn. And it turns out that in Germany, there are no specific legal regulations against this. According to legal experts...
Reposted by Chris Roper
the rich people pushing AI on everything are going to be the same rich people who will brag they can afford to send their kids to a school with human teachers
UCLA is creating an entirely AI-generated course. Except apparently the grading won't be AI-generated. 🤔
newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/comp...
newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/comp...
Comparative lit class will be first in Humanities Division to use UCLA-developed AI system
The textbook for Zrinka Stahuljak’s winter 2025 course is generated by the Kudu platform.
newsroom.ucla.edu
December 8, 2024 at 7:32 PM
the rich people pushing AI on everything are going to be the same rich people who will brag they can afford to send their kids to a school with human teachers
Talk about crazy. “The ATF is not legally permitted to keep a searchable digital database of gun sales, thanks to hysteria that ‘the government will come to take our guns,’ so they only have printouts.
December 9, 2024 at 3:47 AM
Talk about crazy. “The ATF is not legally permitted to keep a searchable digital database of gun sales, thanks to hysteria that ‘the government will come to take our guns,’ so they only have printouts.
Love these old school airports. And who doesn’t like a plane with propellers. You catch a boat taxi to this airport too, which is really quaint. Manda Island Airport.
December 5, 2024 at 3:21 PM
Love these old school airports. And who doesn’t like a plane with propellers. You catch a boat taxi to this airport too, which is really quaint. Manda Island Airport.
This is actually a really nice restaurant. I’ve had fish or crab every day. The only thing I can’t figure out is the tuna larb. It’s probably obvious, as someone will point out.
December 4, 2024 at 10:55 AM
This is actually a really nice restaurant. I’ve had fish or crab every day. The only thing I can’t figure out is the tuna larb. It’s probably obvious, as someone will point out.