Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Jul 12

"...according to The Objective there is “growing unrest” in the National Police and Guardia Civil over the Chinese company’s involvement with sensitive systems."
#Privacy #DigitalEthics #DigitalCivics

Alexander Martin @alexmartin.bsky.social · Jul 11

The Spanish government is using Huawei to manage and store judicially authorized wiretaps in the country used by both law enforcement and intelligence services, despite concerns about how the Chinese government could compel Huawei to assist Beijing with its own intelligence activities.

Spain awards Huawei contracts to manage intelligence agency wiretaps

Huawei will manage and store judicially authorized wiretaps in Spain, under a contract that bucks the trend of Western governments restricting use of the Chinese tech company's products and services.

therecord.media

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Jul 11

Of interest to those in #AI #Law #digitalcivics #digitalethics #techethics #legalethics

The Bar Council @thebarcouncil.bsky.social · Jul 10

The President of the King’s Bench Division recently issued a wake-up call to the profession over the misuse of artificial intelligence by lawyers.

In this blog, David O'Mahony who sits on our Regulatory Review Panel, considers what this means for barristers.

Read the blog⬇️
bit.ly/44ooKJR

David O'Mahony's quote reads: "AI is here to stay. However, if its potential advantages are to be harnessed, each tool that uses AI must be properly assessed on its merits before being deployed in the provision of legal services."

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · May 30

From CBC News: The National
"Companies are using AI hiring bots to screen, shortlist and talk to job candidates."

Your next job interview could be with an AI bot

YouTube video by CBC News: The National

www.youtube.com

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · May 29

Free newsletter available from @mantzarlis.com &
@craigsilverman.bsky.social offering a weekly briefing of the latest news & research about digital deception, plus links to new and updated OSINT tools and techniques.
#EduSky #DigitalCivics #Data #Privacy #disinformation #EdTech
indicator.media

Indicator

Indicator is your essential guide to understanding and investigating digital deception.

indicator.media

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · May 28

Of interest to those in #DigitalEthics #Ethics #Information #Disinformation #Privacy #Surveillance

Nieman Lab @niemanlab.org · May 24

"It's just politically expedient in this climate [for platforms] to lay low. And so this manifests in record levels of digital scams, AI slop everywhere, and entire chatbots dedicated to fringe conspiracy theories." www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/how-...

How big is the market for rigorous reporting on misinformation? This new newsletter will be an Indicator

"It's just politically expedient in this climate [for platforms] to lay low. And so this manifests in record levels of digital scams, AI slop everywhere, and entire chatbots dedicated to fringe…

www.niemanlab.org

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · May 28

"This didn’t play out in your average Claude usage, but in a highly manufactured scenario ...Some critics have also labeled Anthropic’s recent safety disclosures as spin, aimed at bolstering the perception of its newest model’s capabilities"
www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/anth...

Anthropic’s new AI model didn’t just “blackmail” researchers in tests — it tried to leak information to news outlets

Last week, Anthropic dropped its latest batch of AI models, including Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4. Over the weekend, the release was followed by a string of headlines detailing how, in safety te...

www.niemanlab.org

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · May 28

"...How on earth can the average person understand the extent of the tracking? Are children even kept out of the dataset? Who can access this data? Is it shared with police? Is my data being sold? We need answers to these questions!"
Good Questions #DataPrivacy #Privacy
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Tesco shoppers mock 'VAR'-style cameras at self-checkout

The supermarket's latest use of technology to crack down on shoplifting has led to both jokes and complaints.

www.bbc.co.uk

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · May 8

"It's thought this is the first judicial review to be brought against the new online safety laws - albeit a narrow part of them - but experts say it may not be the last."
#Wikipedia

Wikipedia legally challenges 'flawed' online safety rules

It argues the regulations could threaten the privacy and safety of Wikipedia's volunteer contributors.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Digital Civics

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · May 7

Exclusive: Bellingcat in partnership with @tjekdet.dk , @politiken.dk and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) can reveal the identity of a key administrator behind MrDeepFakes, one of the world’s largest providers of non-consensual deepfake pornography. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/05...

Unmasking MrDeepFakes: Canadian Pharmacist Linked to World’s Most Notorious Deepfake Porn Site - bellingcat

Double life: open source investigation reveals Canadian hospital pharmacist's links to MrDeepFakes, the most notorious deepfake porn website in the world.

www.bellingcat.com

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Apr 21

Harvard sues Trump administration over $2.2B US grant freeze | CBC News

In a letter to Harvard earlier this month, Trump's administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university, as well as changes to its admissions policies. It also deman...

www.cbc.ca

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Apr 10

With Canada's Election April 28, here's a timely CBC report from @farahnasser.bsky.social exploring "3 sneaky ways you could be influenced this election"
#canada #technology #news #DigitalEthics #DigitalCivics #Civics #Information #Education #EduSky #Disinformation

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWBp...

3 sneaky ways you could be influenced this election

YouTube video by CBC News: The National

www.youtube.com

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Mar 24

“Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company.”
#DataProtection #privacy #DataEthics
oag.ca.gov/news/press-r...

Attorney General Bonta Urgently Issues Consumer Alert for 23andMe Customers

Californians have the right to direct the company to delete their genetic data OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing ...

oag.ca.gov

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Mar 23

"I knew that this kind of predatory, invasive advertising is actually something that we all have a legal right to object to," Ms O'Carroll told Radio 4's Today Programme.
#dataprivacy #surveillance #SurveillanceCapitalism #data
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Facebook to stop targeting ads at UK woman after legal fight

Tanya O'Carroll says her case opens a "gateway" for others wanting to stop personalised adverts.

www.bbc.com

Reposted by Digital Civics

Doug Richmond, PhD @drphd2k7.bsky.social · Mar 4

"Civic Learning Week
unites students, educators, policymakers, and private sector leaders to energize the movement for #civiceducation across the nation."
civiclearningweek.org

#democracy #K12 #highereducation #civicseducation #CivicLearningWeek #instructionaldesign

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Mar 4

"The BBC understands that the US technology giant has appealed to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent court with the power to investigate claims against the Security Service."

Apple takes legal action in UK data privacy row

The tech giant is appealing a government order for access to customers' private data, the BBC understands.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Mar 4

"The reasoning for the instruction has not been publicly stated, and it is not clear how long the halt might last. The defence department has declined to comment.
The directive reportedly came before Trump ended up in a televised row with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House..."

Hegseth orders pause in offensive US cyber operations against Russia

The reported directive from the defence secretary comes during an American push to end the war in Ukraine.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Mar 4

Trump Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine After Clash With Zelenskiy

President Donald Trump ordered a pause to all military aid to Ukraine, turning up the heat on Volodymyr Zelenskiy just days after an Oval Office blowup with the Ukrainian president left the support of...

www.bloomberg.com

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Feb 28

Trump tells Zelensky 'make a deal or we're out' in angry White House meeting - follow live

The US president calls his Ukrainian counterpart

www.bbc.co.uk

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Feb 21

"Prof Alan Woodward - a cyber-security expert at Surrey University - said it was a "very disappointing development"...
"All the UK government has achieved is to weaken online security and privacy for UK based users""
#Privacy www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row

There has been a fierce backlash to the request from privacy campaigners and US politicians.

www.bbc.co.uk

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Feb 20

Published last year, this might be of interest, it discusses what they can do with that data when they start analysing it and applying psychological techniques, and how they can fill in the blanks when the data sets are high quality. Specific focus on the body politic publicera.kb.se/jdsr/article...

Shadow footprints and the provision of digital behavioral data: A digital civics perspective on psychology research | Journal of Digital Social Research

publicera.kb.se

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Feb 19

"Each of the six new topics features a classroom experiment aimed at 11-14 year olds, followed by interviews with STEM professionals working in academia or industry."
#EduSkyUK #EduSky #BrianCoxSchoolExperiments
www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Aw...

Brian Cox School Experiments teaser | The Royal Society

YouTube video by The Royal Society

www.youtube.com

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Feb 17

The article gives more detail but that seems the indication. There also seems to be a suggestion that use of this particular technology to support students needs to be explored more holistically as part of a program: a short term support while building the necessary skills, not a long term solution.

Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Feb 17

"Noise-cancelling headphones do have their benefits" BUT "there is a possibility the brain can "forget" to filter out the noise" AND "more research is needed". "Treatment [including mobile apps] for APD can make a significant positive difference"
#edusky #keeplistening
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Audiologists raise concern over headphone use in young people

More young people are presenting to audiology teams in England with difficulty processing sound.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Digital Civics @digitalcivics.bsky.social · Feb 17

"The UK's data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), says "fingerprinting is not a fair means of tracking users online because it is likely to reduce people's choice and control over how their information is collected.""
#Privacy
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Fingerprinting: Critics say Google rules put profits over privacy

Google is allowing advertisers to collect more personal information, which is harder for users to control.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Digital Civics

Christopher Whitaker @civicwhitaker.com · Feb 16

For civic technologists in the Federal government who want to stay in the space even if you’re taking jobs elsewhere, the @civictechallies.bsky.social is recruiting volunteers and organizers for locally focused volunteer groups. #civictech

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