Gary R. Bunt
@garyrbunt.bsky.social
Digitally distracted Professor. Researcher/author on Islam, Muslims and the internet. Emoji-free zone. Posting does not imply endorsement, etc. Based in Wales. X antidote. https://virtuallyislamic.com
Pinned
Gary R. Bunt
@garyrbunt.bsky.social
· Nov 26
(Another) Commercial Break:
The ‘Islamic Algorithms’ paperback is out now @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social. If you want to tap into my research on cyber-Islamic environments and AI this is the place to start. Drop me a comment if you have read it. More info: www.virtuallyislamic.com/books/islami...
The ‘Islamic Algorithms’ paperback is out now @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social. If you want to tap into my research on cyber-Islamic environments and AI this is the place to start. Drop me a comment if you have read it. More info: www.virtuallyislamic.com/books/islami...
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
NEW: Ring has introduced "Search Party", a horrifyingly dystopian feature nominally designed to turn all of the Ring cameras in a neighborhood into a dragnet that uses AI to look for, in their commercial, a cute lost dog.
With Ring, US consumers are actually building a surveillance dragnet.
With Ring, US consumers are actually building a surveillance dragnet.
With Ring, American Consumers Built a Surveillance Dragnet
Ring's 'Search Party' is dystopian surveillance accelerationism.
www.404media.co
February 10, 2026 at 3:18 PM
NEW: Ring has introduced "Search Party", a horrifyingly dystopian feature nominally designed to turn all of the Ring cameras in a neighborhood into a dragnet that uses AI to look for, in their commercial, a cute lost dog.
With Ring, US consumers are actually building a surveillance dragnet.
With Ring, US consumers are actually building a surveillance dragnet.
Meanwhile, at Stanford …
A matchmaking algorithm has become an all-consuming force at Stanford, where once a week thousands of students brace to learn their romantic fate.
A Stanford Experiment to Pair 5,000 Singles Has Taken Over Campus
A student built a matchmaking algorithm that has consumed the school—and highlighted the challenges of finding love for high achievers.
on.wsj.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Meanwhile, at Stanford …
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
Is this the torture video? 2009 "The American citizen is a former business partner of Sheikh Issa, and claims he, too, was tortured in the UAE after the pair fell out. Nabulsi said the first tape was shot by his brother on the orders of Sheikh Issa, who liked to view them later for his own pleasure"
February 10, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Is this the torture video? 2009 "The American citizen is a former business partner of Sheikh Issa, and claims he, too, was tortured in the UAE after the pair fell out. Nabulsi said the first tape was shot by his brother on the orders of Sheikh Issa, who liked to view them later for his own pleasure"
Universities told to report foreign interference on campus to MI5 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Universities told to report foreign interference on campus to MI5
Ministers say UK universities have become a
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Universities told to report foreign interference on campus to MI5 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
Starting to think these weren’t really applied with the consideration required by law
February 5, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Starting to think these weren’t really applied with the consideration required by law
FFS:
"The White House defended Trump's post, saying it was "from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle.""
"The White House defended Trump's post, saying it was "from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle.""
Trump shares racist video depicting the Obamas as monkeys
The White House defended Trump's post, saying it was "from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle."
www.nbcnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:55 PM
FFS:
"The White House defended Trump's post, saying it was "from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle.""
"The White House defended Trump's post, saying it was "from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle.""
Very happy to be distracted by this appropriate (in many contexts!) monologue from the brilliant Sir Ian McKellen:
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Very happy to be distracted by this appropriate (in many contexts!) monologue from the brilliant Sir Ian McKellen:
"Environmental group Basel Action Network in a report last year estimated that the United States alone exported about 32,947 metric tons of e-waste per month with Malaysia being the primary recipient."
Malaysia imposes ban on e-waste imports
Malaysia has imposed a ban on imports of electronic waste, as it looks to tighten controls on the entry of hazardous materials and safeguard the environment, the head of the country's anti-graft body ...
reuters.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:18 PM
"Environmental group Basel Action Network in a report last year estimated that the United States alone exported about 32,947 metric tons of e-waste per month with Malaysia being the primary recipient."
An interesting prospect ...
This bizarre job site lets AI agents hire humans and pay them for tasks
A crypto developer has launched RentAHuman, a job site where AI agents can rent humans to perform real-world work to complete tasks that AI cannot handle.
www.digitaltrends.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:17 PM
An interesting prospect ...
"Geoffrey Hinton’s work on artificial neural networks made him a respected figure in the deep learning community — his warnings about AI should be taken seriously."
Why the ‘Godfather of AI’s’ warnings about AI are getting serious attention now
Geoffrey Hinton’s work on artificial neural networks made him a respected figure in the deep learning community — his warnings about AI should be taken seriously
www.tomsguide.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:16 PM
"Geoffrey Hinton’s work on artificial neural networks made him a respected figure in the deep learning community — his warnings about AI should be taken seriously."
"Egypt's Supreme Council for Media Regulation announced the ban soon after several senators called for tighter controls on the platform, arguing that it contained inappropriate, violent and otherwise unsuitable content for children." #Egypt
Egypt blocks Roblox over child safety concerns
Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation announced the ban soon after several senators called for tighter controls on the platform
www.newarab.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:15 PM
"Egypt's Supreme Council for Media Regulation announced the ban soon after several senators called for tighter controls on the platform, arguing that it contained inappropriate, violent and otherwise unsuitable content for children." #Egypt
"As countries step up their use of internet shutdowns to muzzle dissent, some are also taking advantage of the blackouts to increase censorship firewalls, internet privacy company Proton warned in an interview with AFP."
Countries using internet blackouts to boost censorship: Proton
As countries step up their use of internet shutdowns to muzzle dissent, some are also taking advantage of the blackouts to increase censorship firewalls, internet privacy company Proton warned in an…
www.france24.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:14 PM
"As countries step up their use of internet shutdowns to muzzle dissent, some are also taking advantage of the blackouts to increase censorship firewalls, internet privacy company Proton warned in an interview with AFP."
I'm enjoying taking a closer look at this issue of the Journal of Muslims in Europe, with its digitally oriented chapters and contributions from Chanse DigitIslam colleagues. I've downloaded sections on Poland, Lithuania, CIS countries, and Hungary.
brill.com/view/journal...
brill.com/view/journal...
February 5, 2026 at 12:03 PM
I'm enjoying taking a closer look at this issue of the Journal of Muslims in Europe, with its digitally oriented chapters and contributions from Chanse DigitIslam colleagues. I've downloaded sections on Poland, Lithuania, CIS countries, and Hungary.
brill.com/view/journal...
brill.com/view/journal...
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
The failure of age-verification laws is now turning into a War on VPNs. The British government and a number of US states are now proposing that VPNs be banned entirely, or only accessible to those who have surrendered to facial scans, ID check and other identity verification.
'The UK war on VPNs is an embarrassment' – backlash grows over proposed VPN age-checks
Critics are warning against proposals to restrict VPN access — but will the plans actually become law?
www.techradar.com
January 28, 2026 at 7:53 PM
The failure of age-verification laws is now turning into a War on VPNs. The British government and a number of US states are now proposing that VPNs be banned entirely, or only accessible to those who have surrendered to facial scans, ID check and other identity verification.
"‘There’s no way for me to go back right now. It’s too dangerous for me,’ student says, having protested against the regime." #Iran
With just weeks left on her student visa, one Iranian woman fears she will be executed if she has to return
‘There’s no way for me to go back right now. It’s too dangerous for me,’ student says, having protested against the regime
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:04 PM
"‘There’s no way for me to go back right now. It’s too dangerous for me,’ student says, having protested against the regime." #Iran
"Mohammed Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and chairman of the World Governments Summit Organisation, on Tuesday said AI was one of the four forces reshaping the world, along with advanced medicine, brain science and new digital environments." #UAE
Rise of AI is redefining human capabilities, Mohammed Al Gergawi says | The National
UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs asks whether global governments are 'ready for the humans we have become'
www.thenationalnews.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:03 PM
"Mohammed Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and chairman of the World Governments Summit Organisation, on Tuesday said AI was one of the four forces reshaping the world, along with advanced medicine, brain science and new digital environments." #UAE
#Yemen "Yemen's economic crisis, banking restrictions on money transfers, and growing digital financial literacy have fuelled the adoption of cryptocurrencies."
Economic collapse in Yemen drive many towards cryptocurrency
Yemen’s economic crisis, banking restrictions on money transfers, and growing digital financial literacy have fuelled the adoption of cryptocurrencies.
www.newarab.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
#Yemen "Yemen's economic crisis, banking restrictions on money transfers, and growing digital financial literacy have fuelled the adoption of cryptocurrencies."
"Saudi fintech Hakbah is pushing to formalize one of the region’s oldest financial habits, jameya savings circle, as the kingdom prepares a new National Savings Strategy aimed at bringing more household money into the banking system." #KSA
Saudi traditional savings circles go digital
Fintech Hakbah is turning the jameya model into an online platform as Riyadh readies a national push to lift household savings.
www.semafor.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM
"Saudi fintech Hakbah is pushing to formalize one of the region’s oldest financial habits, jameya savings circle, as the kingdom prepares a new National Savings Strategy aimed at bringing more household money into the banking system." #KSA
"Abu Dhabi’s artificial intelligence company G42 is developing national infrastructure for autonomous AI systems, alongside plans to build a large-scale computing centre in the UAE." #UAE
Abu Dhabi’s G42 to build ‘agent factory’ to manage self-running AI systems | The National
Factory is part of AI company's wider intelligence grid
www.thenationalnews.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
"Abu Dhabi’s artificial intelligence company G42 is developing national infrastructure for autonomous AI systems, alongside plans to build a large-scale computing centre in the UAE." #UAE
"Israel’s army will reportedly appoint its highest-ranking Muslim woman, Maj. Ella Waweya, to replace Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee."
Ella Waweya to replace Avichay Adraee as Israel’s Arabic voice
Israel’s army will reportedly appoint its highest-ranking Muslim woman, Maj. Ella Waweya, to replace Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee.
www.newarab.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:45 PM
"Israel’s army will reportedly appoint its highest-ranking Muslim woman, Maj. Ella Waweya, to replace Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee."
From a few days ago (missed it amongst everything else!). "A crypto venture linked to Donald Trump accepted a half-billion-dollar investment backed by an Abu Dhabi royal days before the US president’s inauguration." #Trump
Abu Dhabi royal bought big stake in Trump family crypto venture
Investors backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan put half a billion dollars into World Liberty Financial
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:32 PM
From a few days ago (missed it amongst everything else!). "A crypto venture linked to Donald Trump accepted a half-billion-dollar investment backed by an Abu Dhabi royal days before the US president’s inauguration." #Trump
Via @aljazeera.com #Palestine #Gaza "The Israel-Palestine director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) has resigned in protest, saying the organisation’s new chief blocked a report accusing Israel of committing “crimes against humanity” in its denial of Palestinian refugees’ right of return."
Israel-Palestine head of Human Right Watch quits over ‘blocked’ report
Omar Shakir, who has worked for the rights group for more than 10 years, says he has lost faith in the organisation.
www.aljazeera.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Via @aljazeera.com #Palestine #Gaza "The Israel-Palestine director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) has resigned in protest, saying the organisation’s new chief blocked a report accusing Israel of committing “crimes against humanity” in its denial of Palestinian refugees’ right of return."
"The program titled "Khat-Khati" (“Scribbles”), was aired on Sunday on Ofogh TV, a channel close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps." #Iran @euronews.com
Iran : mocking over protest deaths on TV sparks outrage
Tehran Prosecutor has brought charges against the director, the production team, and the host of Ofogh TV, a channel close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
www.euronews.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:26 PM
"The program titled "Khat-Khati" (“Scribbles”), was aired on Sunday on Ofogh TV, a channel close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps." #Iran @euronews.com
Reposted by Gary R. Bunt
How BBC experts confirmed hundreds killed in Iran’s protest crackdown despite an internet blackout @reutersinstitute.bsky.social
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/how-bbc...
#journalism
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/how-bbc...
#journalism
How BBC experts confirmed hundreds killed in Iran’s protest crackdown despite an internet blackout
On 8 January, thousands of accounts sharing scenes from the streets of Tehran went dark. After 12 days of escalating anti-regime protests, the authorities had cut internet connection, isolating Irania...
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk
January 30, 2026 at 2:08 PM
How BBC experts confirmed hundreds killed in Iran’s protest crackdown despite an internet blackout @reutersinstitute.bsky.social
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/how-bbc...
#journalism
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/how-bbc...
#journalism