Marc Faddoul
@marcfaddoul.com
Director at @aiforensics.org - Algorithmic Audit and Platform Accountability non-profit
Also with @freeourfeeds.com to expand ATproto infra and ecosystem!
Also with @freeourfeeds.com to expand ATproto infra and ecosystem!
🎥 #TikTok, under influence?
In this 2-part @artefr.bsky.social documentary, we explore a critical question: What is the role of TikTok as an instrument of geopolitical power?
In the film, I focus on three things that make TikTok stand out today:
In this 2-part @artefr.bsky.social documentary, we explore a critical question: What is the role of TikTok as an instrument of geopolitical power?
In the film, I focus on three things that make TikTok stand out today:
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 AM
🎥 #TikTok, under influence?
In this 2-part @artefr.bsky.social documentary, we explore a critical question: What is the role of TikTok as an instrument of geopolitical power?
In the film, I focus on three things that make TikTok stand out today:
In this 2-part @artefr.bsky.social documentary, we explore a critical question: What is the role of TikTok as an instrument of geopolitical power?
In the film, I focus on three things that make TikTok stand out today:
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
Europe is rapidly rolling out age-verification — in the name of “child safety.” 🚷 But is it actually working?
Our first audit found AgeGO’s selfie feature streamed biometric data straight to Amazon. 🪪
Our new report examines AgeVerif: What we found raises serious concerns.
👇
Our first audit found AgeGO’s selfie feature streamed biometric data straight to Amazon. 🪪
Our new report examines AgeVerif: What we found raises serious concerns.
👇
October 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Europe is rapidly rolling out age-verification — in the name of “child safety.” 🚷 But is it actually working?
Our first audit found AgeGO’s selfie feature streamed biometric data straight to Amazon. 🪪
Our new report examines AgeVerif: What we found raises serious concerns.
👇
Our first audit found AgeGO’s selfie feature streamed biometric data straight to Amazon. 🪪
Our new report examines AgeVerif: What we found raises serious concerns.
👇
The deployment of age verification methods on the internet is not without risk for users, whether they are adults or minors.
These methods require the processing of highly sensitive data such as biometric markers or identity documents, which can then be opaquely exchanged between entities.
These methods require the processing of highly sensitive data such as biometric markers or identity documents, which can then be opaquely exchanged between entities.
Last week, 5 major porn sites rolled out “age verification” in France to comply with regulators.
3 of them — xvideos, xnxx, tnaflix — use AgeGO.
AgeGO:
• Collects the exact video URL before consent
• Sends webcam streams directly to Amazon
• Forces users to give an email via an unskippable step
3 of them — xvideos, xnxx, tnaflix — use AgeGO.
AgeGO:
• Collects the exact video URL before consent
• Sends webcam streams directly to Amazon
• Forces users to give an email via an unskippable step
September 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The deployment of age verification methods on the internet is not without risk for users, whether they are adults or minors.
These methods require the processing of highly sensitive data such as biometric markers or identity documents, which can then be opaquely exchanged between entities.
These methods require the processing of highly sensitive data such as biometric markers or identity documents, which can then be opaquely exchanged between entities.
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
🚨 "AI Slop" investigation: Platforms failing to label synthetic content
We found:
- 1 in 4 TikTok search results contain AI imagery
- Specialized "Agentic AI Accounts" mass-produce synthetic content
- 80%+ of AI content is photorealistic but unlabeled
- Instagram desktop users see zero AI labels
We found:
- 1 in 4 TikTok search results contain AI imagery
- Specialized "Agentic AI Accounts" mass-produce synthetic content
- 80%+ of AI content is photorealistic but unlabeled
- Instagram desktop users see zero AI labels
July 31, 2025 at 12:53 PM
🚨 "AI Slop" investigation: Platforms failing to label synthetic content
We found:
- 1 in 4 TikTok search results contain AI imagery
- Specialized "Agentic AI Accounts" mass-produce synthetic content
- 80%+ of AI content is photorealistic but unlabeled
- Instagram desktop users see zero AI labels
We found:
- 1 in 4 TikTok search results contain AI imagery
- Specialized "Agentic AI Accounts" mass-produce synthetic content
- 80%+ of AI content is photorealistic but unlabeled
- Instagram desktop users see zero AI labels
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
📢 In a joint civil society effort, we filed a formal DSA complaint against 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) for violating Article 26(3) — which bans targeting ads based on sensitive data like sexuality, politics, religion, health.
📄 Read the joint statement: aiforensics.org/uploads/Join...
📄 Read the joint statement: aiforensics.org/uploads/Join...
aiforensics.org
July 15, 2025 at 10:02 AM
📢 In a joint civil society effort, we filed a formal DSA complaint against 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) for violating Article 26(3) — which bans targeting ads based on sensitive data like sexuality, politics, religion, health.
📄 Read the joint statement: aiforensics.org/uploads/Join...
📄 Read the joint statement: aiforensics.org/uploads/Join...
Behind the scenes of a UN “AI for Good” conference sponsored by @microsoft.com: mentions of the complicity of BigTech in enabling the genocide in Gaza gets censored.
Thank you Abeba for your bravery and stature. Definitely the best talk there was to be seen there
Thank you Abeba for your bravery and stature. Definitely the best talk there was to be seen there
July 10, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Behind the scenes of a UN “AI for Good” conference sponsored by @microsoft.com: mentions of the complicity of BigTech in enabling the genocide in Gaza gets censored.
Thank you Abeba for your bravery and stature. Definitely the best talk there was to be seen there
Thank you Abeba for your bravery and stature. Definitely the best talk there was to be seen there
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
En 2024 et 2025, une agence pro-Orbán a mené une campagne numérique occulte en faveur du Rassemblement national.
Des dizaines de contenus ont été diffusés sur X sur la base d’un ciblage politique (ce qui est interdit), selon des données de l’ONG @aiforensics.org partagées avec @mediapart.fr. 👇
Des dizaines de contenus ont été diffusés sur X sur la base d’un ciblage politique (ce qui est interdit), selon des données de l’ONG @aiforensics.org partagées avec @mediapart.fr. 👇
Une agence pro-Orbán a mené une campagne numérique occulte pour le RN en France
Des contenus ont été diffusés sur le réseau social X en ciblant les internautes sur la base de critères politiques, ce qui est interdit par les réglementations françaises et européennes.
www.mediapart.fr
July 3, 2025 at 5:46 PM
En 2024 et 2025, une agence pro-Orbán a mené une campagne numérique occulte en faveur du Rassemblement national.
Des dizaines de contenus ont été diffusés sur X sur la base d’un ciblage politique (ce qui est interdit), selon des données de l’ONG @aiforensics.org partagées avec @mediapart.fr. 👇
Des dizaines de contenus ont été diffusés sur X sur la base d’un ciblage politique (ce qui est interdit), selon des données de l’ONG @aiforensics.org partagées avec @mediapart.fr. 👇
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
Wanna check if you've been targeted by ads based on sensitive data? Just drop your X portability archive to find out haveibeentargeted.online
June 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Wanna check if you've been targeted by ads based on sensitive data? Just drop your X portability archive to find out haveibeentargeted.online
In @aiforensics.org’s last study authored by @paulbouchaud.com we depict how advertisers use political and other sensitive user data to target ads on X
aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
June 18, 2025 at 7:02 AM
In @aiforensics.org’s last study authored by @paulbouchaud.com we depict how advertisers use political and other sensitive user data to target ads on X
aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
aiforensics.org/work/sensiti...
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
🧵How TikTok failed Polish democracy during the 2025 Presidential Election
Our new investigation exposes serious gaps in TikTok's election content moderation that disproportionately harmed the Polish diaspora : aiforensics.org/work/tiktok-...
Our new investigation exposes serious gaps in TikTok's election content moderation that disproportionately harmed the Polish diaspora : aiforensics.org/work/tiktok-...
Tiktok's Polish Elections Labels: Only Sometimes, And Only For Some
Our investigation reveals TikTok's systematic failures in applying election information labels during Poland's 2025 Presidential Election. The platform excluded 20+ million Polish diaspora users from ...
aiforensics.org
June 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
🧵How TikTok failed Polish democracy during the 2025 Presidential Election
Our new investigation exposes serious gaps in TikTok's election content moderation that disproportionately harmed the Polish diaspora : aiforensics.org/work/tiktok-...
Our new investigation exposes serious gaps in TikTok's election content moderation that disproportionately harmed the Polish diaspora : aiforensics.org/work/tiktok-...
For Europe to regain sovereignty over its digital infrastructure, we also need sovereign funding for the ecosystem that defends its integrity!
The Sunstorm Foundation was just launched to rally a new generation of European, tech-savvy, and entrepreneurially-minded philanthropists to fill this gap
The Sunstorm Foundation was just launched to rally a new generation of European, tech-savvy, and entrepreneurially-minded philanthropists to fill this gap
www.lesechos.fr
June 2, 2025 at 4:34 PM
For Europe to regain sovereignty over its digital infrastructure, we also need sovereign funding for the ecosystem that defends its integrity!
The Sunstorm Foundation was just launched to rally a new generation of European, tech-savvy, and entrepreneurially-minded philanthropists to fill this gap
The Sunstorm Foundation was just launched to rally a new generation of European, tech-savvy, and entrepreneurially-minded philanthropists to fill this gap
The most entertaining and apropos thing the internet has to offer this week!
Portrait artist @ianbrucestudio.bsky.social is doing a 6 day marathon livestream painting a portrait of Elon Musk. Check it out. www.youtube.com/live/uogmc-c...
#TeslaTakedown
#NoKings
#TeslaTakedown
#NoKings
May 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
The most entertaining and apropos thing the internet has to offer this week!
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
Ok my called shot: we should think about an ATproto App Store.
1. DMA affords alternative App Stores in the EU.
2. ATproto apps can provide other types of guarantees to users.
Where can users learn about apps? Nowhere right now.
1. DMA affords alternative App Stores in the EU.
2. ATproto apps can provide other types of guarantees to users.
Where can users learn about apps? Nowhere right now.
April 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Ok my called shot: we should think about an ATproto App Store.
1. DMA affords alternative App Stores in the EU.
2. ATproto apps can provide other types of guarantees to users.
Where can users learn about apps? Nowhere right now.
1. DMA affords alternative App Stores in the EU.
2. ATproto apps can provide other types of guarantees to users.
Where can users learn about apps? Nowhere right now.
@marcfaddoul.com on creating an EU-based ATproto app store at #ahoy25 is an utterly fascinating idea. 👀
April 24, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Yes! that was youchoose.ai an interesting proof of concept at the time
April 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Yes! that was youchoose.ai an interesting proof of concept at the time
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
"This is a highly adversarial space, we are investing a lot in our detection systems..." Meanwhile, our latest report at @aiforensics.org found Meta reviewed, approved, and displayed fake medicine advertisements over 292 million times to EU users since the DSA took effect.
April 14, 2025 at 9:24 AM
"This is a highly adversarial space, we are investing a lot in our detection systems..." Meanwhile, our latest report at @aiforensics.org found Meta reviewed, approved, and displayed fake medicine advertisements over 292 million times to EU users since the DSA took effect.
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
📣 Join @marcfaddoul.com discussing the vision behind @freeourfeeds.com! Learn how this movement aims to break free from billionaire-controlled platforms by developing AT infrastructure with a European focus. Hear their vision for promoting open, interoperable social platforms!
Marc Faddoul at AHOY! European Social Web Day
Free Our Feeds is a movement aimed at breaking free from billionaire-controlled social media platforms and building a more open and equitable digital ecosystem. We are raising funds to develop the AT ...
ahoy.eu
April 8, 2025 at 1:17 PM
📣 Join @marcfaddoul.com discussing the vision behind @freeourfeeds.com! Learn how this movement aims to break free from billionaire-controlled platforms by developing AT infrastructure with a European focus. Hear their vision for promoting open, interoperable social platforms!
Highly recommend this excellent new podcast, where in first episode, we make the case for middlewares and algorithmic interoperability with contributions from @jonathanstray.bsky.social and others
hucklemelon.org/episodes/ins...
hucklemelon.org/episodes/ins...
Hucklemelon | Instead of the Algorithm
An exploration of social media 'middleware' with guests Marc Faddoul, Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci, and Jonathan Stray. Transcript here.Recommended reading:Report of the Working Group on Platform Scale...
hucklemelon.org
April 5, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Highly recommend this excellent new podcast, where in first episode, we make the case for middlewares and algorithmic interoperability with contributions from @jonathanstray.bsky.social and others
hucklemelon.org/episodes/ins...
hucklemelon.org/episodes/ins...
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
📊 AI Forensics: A Year of Impact
After a pivotal year, we've reached new organizational maturity as leaders in algorithmic auditing & platform accountability.
See our annual report to know more: cmsbackend.aiforensics.org/uploads/aif_...
After a pivotal year, we've reached new organizational maturity as leaders in algorithmic auditing & platform accountability.
See our annual report to know more: cmsbackend.aiforensics.org/uploads/aif_...
April 2, 2025 at 9:30 AM
📊 AI Forensics: A Year of Impact
After a pivotal year, we've reached new organizational maturity as leaders in algorithmic auditing & platform accountability.
See our annual report to know more: cmsbackend.aiforensics.org/uploads/aif_...
After a pivotal year, we've reached new organizational maturity as leaders in algorithmic auditing & platform accountability.
See our annual report to know more: cmsbackend.aiforensics.org/uploads/aif_...
🔥 I just reconnected with 78 #X contacts on BlueSky with OpenPortability.org!
Exercise your right to data portability with #OpenPortability
🎯 And 24 followers reconnected
Exercise your right to data portability with #OpenPortability
🎯 And 24 followers reconnected
April 3, 2025 at 5:51 PM
🔥 I just reconnected with 78 #X contacts on BlueSky with OpenPortability.org!
Exercise your right to data portability with #OpenPortability
🎯 And 24 followers reconnected
Exercise your right to data portability with #OpenPortability
🎯 And 24 followers reconnected
23andMe bankruptcy is a privacy nightmare, although quite forseeable.
If you did a test, delete your data ASAP!
And thank the EU GDPR for introducing this consumer right, then mimiced by the California CCPA (but unfornately, not yet at a US federal level...)
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
If you did a test, delete your data ASAP!
And thank the EU GDPR for introducing this consumer right, then mimiced by the California CCPA (but unfornately, not yet at a US federal level...)
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
'People should be worried': 23andMe bankruptcy could expose customers' genetic data
The direct-to-consumer DNA testing service 23andMe filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, putting millions of customers' genetic information up for sale.
www.latimes.com
March 30, 2025 at 2:25 AM
23andMe bankruptcy is a privacy nightmare, although quite forseeable.
If you did a test, delete your data ASAP!
And thank the EU GDPR for introducing this consumer right, then mimiced by the California CCPA (but unfornately, not yet at a US federal level...)
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
If you did a test, delete your data ASAP!
And thank the EU GDPR for introducing this consumer right, then mimiced by the California CCPA (but unfornately, not yet at a US federal level...)
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
Reposted by Marc Faddoul
Marc Faddoul @marcfaddoul.com came representing Free Our Feeds @freeourfeeds.com, talking about Developing AT Infra, Ecosystem, and Governance
He also hosted a discussion group to go into more detail and get feedback from the community.
#ATmosphereConf
He also hosted a discussion group to go into more detail and get feedback from the community.
#ATmosphereConf
Free Our Feeds: Developing the AT infra ecosystem and governance, Marc Faddoul, ATmosphereConf 2025
YouTube video by AT Protocol Development
youtu.be
March 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Marc Faddoul @marcfaddoul.com came representing Free Our Feeds @freeourfeeds.com, talking about Developing AT Infra, Ecosystem, and Governance
He also hosted a discussion group to go into more detail and get feedback from the community.
#ATmosphereConf
He also hosted a discussion group to go into more detail and get feedback from the community.
#ATmosphereConf