Krystal Kauffman
LightNews LightNews
banner
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
Krystal Kauffman
@krystalkauffman.bsky.social
1.7K followers 560 following 20 posts
Activist * Former Lead Organizer - Turkopticon * Research Fellow - Distributed AI Research (DAIR) Institute * Rising Stars in AI Ethics 2024 * Tech Crunch Women in AI 2024 * All opinions are my own
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
milamiceli.bsky.social
📣New paper!
Thrilled to share the methodological recipe for @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social in this article co-authored with @adiod.bsky.social @krystalkauffman.bsky.social Camilla Salim Wagner, Laurenz Sachenbacher @alexhanna.bsky.social & @timnitgebru.bsky.social

👉 ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI...
Proceedings of the Eighth AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society (AIES2025) Methodological Considerations for Centering Workers’ Epistemic Authority in AIResearchMilagros Miceli1, 2, 3, Adio-Adet Dinika1, Krystal Kauffman1, Camilla Salim Wagner2, 3,Laurenz Sachenbacher2, 3, Alex Hanna1, Timnit Gebru11The Distributed AI Research Institute2Weizenbaum-Institute3Technische Universit ̈at Berlinmila@dair-institute.org, adio@dair-institute.org, krystal@dair-institute.org, camilla.salim.wagner@tu-berlin.de,l.sachenbacher@tu-berlin.de, alex@dair-institute.org, timnit@dair-institute.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social
TikTok management wants to lay off over 160 workers in Berlin as easily and cheaply as possible. After the first meeting of the conciliation committee, employees could be DISMISSED IMMEDIATELY.
www.heise.de/en/news/Berl...
Berlin: Tiktok-employees going on strike against massive job cuts
German Tiktok censors have trained an AI that is now taking their jobs. Verdi wants to talk, Tiktok doesn't. There was a warning strike on Wednesday.
www.heise.de
July 28, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
strippel.bsky.social
Over the past months, I had the privilege to be part of a great team of scholars, practitioners, and data workers who developed ethical principles for academic data work requesters. These principles have now been published @weizenbauminstitut.bsky.social: www.weizenbaum-institut.de/publikatione...
July 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
milamiceli.bsky.social
🚨NEW INQUIRY!

@joan1k.bsky.social from @datalabelers.bsky.social discusses beginnings, gratitude, and partnerships in this piece.

@dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social is an active partner of the DLA, and we remain united in the fight for the rights of data workers worldwide!

data-workers.org/DLA/
Organizing Across Borders, by Joan Kinyua
The Data Labelers Association is developing mutual support structures and fighting for better working conditions. This inquiry recounts our path to founding it and acknowledges our ongoing partnership...
data-workers.org
July 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
New Inquiry!!
July 1, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
milamiceli.bsky.social
Caught up this week with @krystalkauffman.bsky.social and @adiod.bsky.social to plot what’s next for @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social: new inquiries, new events, and some big ideas in the works. More soon!
Krystal Kauffman, Adio Dinika and Milagros Miceli take a selfie outdoors
June 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
New Inquiry is live! Our co-researchers have identified the problems in data work. Now it is time to create solutions. Read on below!
dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · Jun 5
Our brand NEW INQUIRY just dropped!

Every day, data workers, content moderators, annotators, and labellers confront some of the internet’s most harmful content to keep digital spaces safe for others.
June 5, 2025 at 8:16 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
Live right now!!
milamiceli.bsky.social Milagros Miceli @milamiceli.bsky.social · Jun 5
📢NEW INQUIRY‼️

Data workers see the internet’s worst, so the rest of us don’t have to.

Former content moderator and clinical psychologist, Kauna Malgwi, collaborated with DWI to design a mental health plan tailored to data workers' needs: data-workers.org/kauna/
A Mental Health Intervention for Data Workers, by Kauna Ibrahim Malgwi
A scalable mental health intervention designed for data workers, grounded in hands‑on insight and evidence‑based practice from my dual perspective as a former content moderator and a registered clinic...
data-workers.org
June 5, 2025 at 1:59 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
🚨New Inquiry!! Today, we present Kauna’s mental healthcare proposal tailored specifically to data workers - addressing PTSD, burnout, depression, and more. Her plan delivers a way forward for those affected and a call for change. data-workers.org/kauna/
#MentalHealthInTech #DataWorkersInquiry
A Mental Health Intervention for Data Workers, by Kauna Ibrahim Malgwi
A scalable mental health intervention designed for data workers, grounded in hands‑on insight and evidence‑based practice from my dual perspective as a former content moderator and a registered clinic...
data-workers.org
June 5, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
dairinstitute.bsky.social
🔇🔇🔇Join us for an honest conversation with some of the people forging a better digital future. Event will be recorded for those who can't make it.

⏰ Thursday May 30th at 10am PDT/1pm EDT

➡️ Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/imagining-...

More info on our amazing speakers below🧵
A flyer of with headshots of the featured speakers. Cat Small, product designer, game maker. Rudy Fraser founder, Blacksky Ra'il I'Nasah Kiam, indi scholar, artist. Roland X. Pulliam. Founder, heuristic instruments.
May 14, 2025 at 11:20 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
Follow the Data Labelers Association here 👉 @datalabelers.bsky.social
datalabelers.bsky.social Data Labelers Association. @datalabelers.bsky.social · May 9
𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁:
The first "data labeling" for AI can be traced back to the 1960s when researchers manually labeled images of faces to train early facial recognition systems, long before computers could even process images in color! #AI #Datalabeling #DataAnnotation
May 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
Visit www.data-workers.org to view Sakine's contribution to the Data Workers' Inquiry. While you're there, check out the whole repository!
dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social Data Workers’ Inquiry @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · May 21
“In the Colony of Blooded Eyes: A Trilogy on Working Conditions as a Content Moderator in Germany” is a raw and honest account by Sakine Mohamadi Bozorg on the realities faced by migrant content moderators in Germany.
May 21, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social
Wilington Shitawa is a former data worker and quality analyst who has worked at Cloud Factory and Sama in Nairobi, Kenya. Drawing from his personal experiences and interviews with fellow workers Andrea, Derrick, and Edwin, he created the comic „Click Captives: The Unseen Struggle of Data Workers“.
Wilington Shitawa, drawing from his personal experiences and interviews with fellow workers Andrea, Derrick, and Edwin, created the comic „Click Captives: The Unseen Struggle of Data Workers“. Wilington Shitawa
April 27, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social
“Safe data work demands better pay, better working conditions, and a safe, supportive environment that helps workers deal with the emotional toll of the job.”
Fasica Berhane Gebrekidan, data worker and DWI community researcher
May 2, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social
In her report “If I Had Another Job, I Would Not Accept Data Annotation Tasks,” Roukaya al-Hammada highlights the precarious working conditions of Syrian refugees in Lebanon involved in data annotation.
May 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social
In “The Impact of Gift Card Payments on MTurk Workers”, Alexis Chávez reveals how many MTurk workers —depending on where they live— are only paid in Amazon gift cards deposited into their Amazon.com balance.
May 14, 2025 at 5:39 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
Today I'm announcing my departure from Turkopticon, where I've been the lead organizer for the last few years.

I'll be dedicating my time to research and advocacy with DAIR, pushing boundaries in ways that are personally and professionally fulfilling.

Thanks to all who have supported me!
March 11, 2025 at 7:15 AM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
Happy to join @gleemie.bsky.social on this list! I see a lot of brilliant women here - congrats to all! womeninaiethics.org/the-list/of-...
2025 | Women in AI Ethics™
womeninaiethics.org
February 4, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
dairinstitute.bsky.social
"Generative AI will always need humans"...says @krystalkauffman.bsky.social. Dylan Baker agrees: “It’s a well-crafted marketing strategy on the part of the platforms to claim that one day AI will no longer need humans.”
voxeurop.eu/en/artificia...
Not-so-artificial intelligence: the human workers who power AI
Invisible, isolated from one another, and with little income security – such is the lot of data workers. And yet without them, there'd be no ChatGPT, Midjourney or Gemini.
voxeurop.eu
January 28, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
marisakabas.bsky.social
NEW — OMB temporarily pauses all agency grants and loans programs.

Per copy of memo: "The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve."
SUBJECT: Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs 'The American people elected Donald J. Trump to be President of the United States and gave him a mandate to increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar. In Fiscal Year 2024. of the nearly $10 trillion that the Federal Government spent, more than $3 trillion was Federal financial assistance, such as grants and loans. Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities. Financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing Administration priorities, focusing taxpayer dollars to advance a stronger and safer America, eliminating the financial burden of inflation for citizens, unleashing American energy and manufacturing, ending wokeness" and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again. The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve. This memorandum requires Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President's policies and requirements. For example, during the initial days of his Administration, President Donald J Trump issued a series of executive orders to protect the American people and safeguard valuable taxpayer resources, including Protecting the American People Against Invasion (Jan. 20, 2025). Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid (Jan 20, 2025), Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements (Jan. 20, 2025). Unleashing American Energy (Jan. 20. 2025). Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing (Jan. 20. ent these orders, each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all jal assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that any of the President's executive orders. In the interian, to the extent applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency nay be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial surice tot foreign nongovernmental organizations, DEL woke gender ideology, and the pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the he temporary pause will become effective on January 28, 2025, at 5:00 rehensive analysis. Federal agencies must immediately deadlines for assistance programs arising while the les must report this information to OMB along with an directs Federal agencies to pause all activities associated conducting merit review panels No later than Febrar - 10. 2025, agencies shail submit to OMB detailed information on any programs projects or activities subject to this pause. Each agency must pause. (i) issuance of disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards, and (il) other relevant has reviewed provided guidance to your agency with respect to the information act recordin grant and ptions allowing Federal agencies to issue new awards or take other case basis. To the extent required by law, Federal agencies may continue nistrative actions. such as closeout of Federal awards (2 CFR 200.344), or expressly required by law
January 27, 2025 at 11:04 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
Put this on your calendar - We're looking forward to seeing you on Feb 13!
milamiceli.bsky.social Milagros Miceli @milamiceli.bsky.social · Jan 24
📢We're proud to support the launch of the Data Labelers Association of Kenya with an online event!

Join to meet and support the workers:
📅Feb 13
⏰8pm Kenya/ 6pm EU/ 12pm ET
✅Watch and submit your questions to the speakers: twitch.tv/dair_institute
Event's flyer that reads "data labelers association. Empowering people powering AI. Event Presenters, Introducing the Data Labellers Association. Eric Mwaura, Dorcas Maundu. Panelists. Upclose and Candid: Organize, Collaborate, Advocate, and Transform. Joan Kinyua, Ephantus Kanyugi, Michael Asia, Krystal Kauffman. Supported by DAIR, AINow, Turkopticon, Data Workers' Inquiry. February 13, 2025, 18h. CET / 12PM ET / 20h. Kenya. Join us on: twitch.tv/dair_institute"
January 24, 2025 at 4:42 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
I'm in an Uber (I know, but there was no other option) and I see this in the door. Not only is this my first ever female driver, but I've never seen this in cars driven by men.
A can of defense spray in the side of a car door.
January 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
krystalkauffman.bsky.social
Thank you, @sklovig.bsky.social, for sharing this piece again. I stand by what I said now more than ever!
January 14, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by Krystal Kauffman
timnitgebru.bsky.social
We're hoping to organize a hopeful virtual event to get us to think our possible technological futures, and have a creative workshop. Stay tuned. In the mean time, read our Possible Futures Series. If you have thoughts on what you'd like to see from the event, comment below.
Two Black women and a Black man floating in space with planets and other circular objects. The background is purple and their clothing is in yellow and brown.
January 7, 2025 at 11:58 PM