M Berk
@mberk.bsky.social
Ethics. Political theory. Product management. Cat pics. Privacy. Consultant. I teach stuff. Flawed mortal, fumbling toward enlightenment. My life is measured in 2FA tokens.
Pinned
M Berk
@mberk.bsky.social
· Mar 8
“Life is a hard battle anyway. If we laugh and sing a little as we fight the good fight of freedom, it makes it all go easier. I will not allow my life's light to be determined by the darkness around me.”
—Sojourner Truth
—Sojourner Truth
Reposted by M Berk
If AI scribes are used in practice settings, no transcript nor recording should be stored or accessible to anyone after the appointment. The privacy risks are way too big for this to be a point of compromise. Companies like mdhub.ai and Therapy Notes need to be very tightly regulated and audited.
November 26, 2025 at 4:25 PM
If AI scribes are used in practice settings, no transcript nor recording should be stored or accessible to anyone after the appointment. The privacy risks are way too big for this to be a point of compromise. Companies like mdhub.ai and Therapy Notes need to be very tightly regulated and audited.
“It’s your fault for buying this thing that we’re selling” is certainly a take.
"It is against the TOS to be talked into suicide by our LLM" is possibly the most evil tech bro thing I've ever read
Additionally, OpenAI argues its not liable because Raine, by using ChatGPT for self-harm, broke its terms of service
November 26, 2025 at 8:34 AM
“It’s your fault for buying this thing that we’re selling” is certainly a take.
“Viola’s family fled in a horse and buggy. As they were leaving…she saw ash falling on the streets…an airplane dropping what looked like firebombs. She passed piles of corpses. She saw a white man blow off a Black man’s head with a shotgun…Nobody was held legally responsible for the destruction…”
November 25, 2025 at 4:56 AM
“Viola’s family fled in a horse and buggy. As they were leaving…she saw ash falling on the streets…an airplane dropping what looked like firebombs. She passed piles of corpses. She saw a white man blow off a Black man’s head with a shotgun…Nobody was held legally responsible for the destruction…”
Reposted by M Berk
Hearing SDPD say if people don't want their plates shared widely they can shop elsewhere is sbad faith when it is only a kpbs investigation that reveals the mall, Lowe's, and Home Depot sharing data.
San Diego County police agencies access many private license plate readers with minimal oversight
Dozens of businesses and homeowners associations around San Diego allow law enforcement to search through data from their license plate readers, including Home Depot, Lowe's, and local malls.
www.kpbs.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Hearing SDPD say if people don't want their plates shared widely they can shop elsewhere is sbad faith when it is only a kpbs investigation that reveals the mall, Lowe's, and Home Depot sharing data.
Reposted by M Berk
💼Birthright Citizenship
Trump asked the Court to uphold his order to end birthright citizenship for certain American-born children. The admin argues that the 14th amendment only applies to children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
www.democracydocket.com/cases/washin...
Trump asked the Court to uphold his order to end birthright citizenship for certain American-born children. The admin argues that the 14th amendment only applies to children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
www.democracydocket.com/cases/washin...
🚨 State of Washington v. Trump
Learn more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
💼Birthright Citizenship
Trump asked the Court to uphold his order to end birthright citizenship for certain American-born children. The admin argues that the 14th amendment only applies to children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
www.democracydocket.com/cases/washin...
Trump asked the Court to uphold his order to end birthright citizenship for certain American-born children. The admin argues that the 14th amendment only applies to children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
www.democracydocket.com/cases/washin...
Nick Kristof has long had a pulse on reducing world suffering. His holiday gift guide puts your money toward highest impact charities, and every $1 you give turns into $4 for the charity.
KristofImpact.org
KristofImpact.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Nick Kristof has long had a pulse on reducing world suffering. His holiday gift guide puts your money toward highest impact charities, and every $1 you give turns into $4 for the charity.
KristofImpact.org
KristofImpact.org
@bsky.app Hey BSKY, I’d love a “disable retweets” type function.
There are some lovely people I want to follow, but I find myself unfollowing them because they can’t stop smashing the Repost button and it’s gumming up my feeds.
Could you please add this to your consideration list? Thank you!
There are some lovely people I want to follow, but I find myself unfollowing them because they can’t stop smashing the Repost button and it’s gumming up my feeds.
Could you please add this to your consideration list? Thank you!
November 24, 2025 at 1:48 AM
@bsky.app Hey BSKY, I’d love a “disable retweets” type function.
There are some lovely people I want to follow, but I find myself unfollowing them because they can’t stop smashing the Repost button and it’s gumming up my feeds.
Could you please add this to your consideration list? Thank you!
There are some lovely people I want to follow, but I find myself unfollowing them because they can’t stop smashing the Repost button and it’s gumming up my feeds.
Could you please add this to your consideration list? Thank you!
I went to college here and even as a student, the corruption was evident. The affair scandal broke the year after I graduated. The Salon article linked below is written by one of my friends who was expelled for digging.
Periodic reminder that the original head of Hillsdale College divorced his first wife to marry his mistress, an employee.
While married to wife #2 he was alleged to have had an affair with his own son’s wife who committed suicide on campus.
They’d prefer you not know all that though.
While married to wife #2 he was alleged to have had an affair with his own son’s wife who committed suicide on campus.
They’d prefer you not know all that though.
This is the academic institution that is playing the most significant role in shaping the official celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding. dc.hillsdale.edu/News/Hillsda...
November 23, 2025 at 12:45 AM
I went to college here and even as a student, the corruption was evident. The affair scandal broke the year after I graduated. The Salon article linked below is written by one of my friends who was expelled for digging.
The best analysis of the Ukraine deal and broader situation. Worth 10 minutes of your time!
Europe and Ukraine are on their own - my first long form Substack on Trump’s 28 point "peace plan"
open.substack.com/pub/vladvexl...
open.substack.com/pub/vladvexl...
Trump's 28 point plan: big-picture analysis
Europe and Ukraine are on their own
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
The best analysis of the Ukraine deal and broader situation. Worth 10 minutes of your time!
Reposted by M Berk
Scurryfunge [SKUR-ee-funj]
(v.)
- To rush around cleaning the house when company is on their way over.
(n.)
- The act of rushing to clean one’s home in preparation for impending company.
(v.)
- To rush around cleaning the house when company is on their way over.
(n.)
- The act of rushing to clean one’s home in preparation for impending company.
November 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Scurryfunge [SKUR-ee-funj]
(v.)
- To rush around cleaning the house when company is on their way over.
(n.)
- The act of rushing to clean one’s home in preparation for impending company.
(v.)
- To rush around cleaning the house when company is on their way over.
(n.)
- The act of rushing to clean one’s home in preparation for impending company.
Reposted by M Berk
In addition to ripple effects across local health systems, changes to Medi-Cal will ripple through local economies. Labor Center research found every $1 in Medicaid spending generates nearly $1.85 in state economic output. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/california-c...
California Could Lose Up to 217,000 Jobs if Congress Cuts Medicaid
Republicans are considering major cuts to Medicaid to offset tax cuts. Depending on the specific mechanisms and timing for cutting Medicaid, California could expect to see between $10 billion and $20 ...
laborcenter.berkeley.edu
November 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
In addition to ripple effects across local health systems, changes to Medi-Cal will ripple through local economies. Labor Center research found every $1 in Medicaid spending generates nearly $1.85 in state economic output. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/california-c...
Reposted by M Berk
I mean, look, I'm not a reporter, so who am I to talk?
But on a day where the president both just called a woman reporter "Piggy" and is celebrating someone who had people bone saw apart one of my colleagues, I might just be a little ready to defend my colleagues and profession.
But that's just me
But on a day where the president both just called a woman reporter "Piggy" and is celebrating someone who had people bone saw apart one of my colleagues, I might just be a little ready to defend my colleagues and profession.
But that's just me
November 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I mean, look, I'm not a reporter, so who am I to talk?
But on a day where the president both just called a woman reporter "Piggy" and is celebrating someone who had people bone saw apart one of my colleagues, I might just be a little ready to defend my colleagues and profession.
But that's just me
But on a day where the president both just called a woman reporter "Piggy" and is celebrating someone who had people bone saw apart one of my colleagues, I might just be a little ready to defend my colleagues and profession.
But that's just me
Remember when we had free Easy File and didn’t have to give our personal information to for-profit companies known to hallucinate?
The popular chatbot has integrated several applications in similar deals in recent months, including PayPal, Walmart and Spotify.
Intuit Will Pay OpenAI $100 Million In Deal Combining TurboTax And ChatGPT
The popular chatbot has integrated several applications in similar deals in recent months, including PayPal, Walmart and Spotify.
www.forbes.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Remember when we had free Easy File and didn’t have to give our personal information to for-profit companies known to hallucinate?
Reposted by M Berk
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I thought about this type of distinction all day after the “piggy” remark. Did a single person stand up for the reporter, or if that’s too hard, for freedom of the press?
When my brain is clocking the safety level of new-to-me dudes, there are three groups:
- would be violent towards me
- wouldn't be violent towards me himself but would watch another man be violent towards me and not do anything about it
- would actually help me fight back if anyone tries creep shit
- would be violent towards me
- wouldn't be violent towards me himself but would watch another man be violent towards me and not do anything about it
- would actually help me fight back if anyone tries creep shit
November 19, 2025 at 7:22 AM
I thought about this type of distinction all day after the “piggy” remark. Did a single person stand up for the reporter, or if that’s too hard, for freedom of the press?
The last time I had this “huh?” vibe was when Enron, an energy company, went all in on “we’re gonna provide internet access as a core part of our biz.”
Except that was a way of cooking the failing books, and this feels more like an excuse to transfer money.
Except that was a way of cooking the failing books, and this feels more like an excuse to transfer money.
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
November 18, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The last time I had this “huh?” vibe was when Enron, an energy company, went all in on “we’re gonna provide internet access as a core part of our biz.”
Except that was a way of cooking the failing books, and this feels more like an excuse to transfer money.
Except that was a way of cooking the failing books, and this feels more like an excuse to transfer money.
My patio brings me so much joy.
Extra credit if you can spot the cat.
Extra credit if you can spot the cat.
November 17, 2025 at 12:23 AM
My patio brings me so much joy.
Extra credit if you can spot the cat.
Extra credit if you can spot the cat.
Santa Clara County makes its emergency announcements on Facebook. I will not use Facebook.
Santa Clara County allows you to sign up for text-based emergency alerts - if you allow the vendor to sell your data. (Everbridge, btw).
Santa Clara County allows you to sign up for text-based emergency alerts - if you allow the vendor to sell your data. (Everbridge, btw).
Just renewed a passport and the government website had so many “for more information, find us on X,
Insta “ etc .
All this has done is send people to wade in a cess pit to get information. Social media is not and should not be public infrastructure. Use it to sell, connect, buy, but not for infra
Insta “ etc .
All this has done is send people to wade in a cess pit to get information. Social media is not and should not be public infrastructure. Use it to sell, connect, buy, but not for infra
November 16, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Santa Clara County makes its emergency announcements on Facebook. I will not use Facebook.
Santa Clara County allows you to sign up for text-based emergency alerts - if you allow the vendor to sell your data. (Everbridge, btw).
Santa Clara County allows you to sign up for text-based emergency alerts - if you allow the vendor to sell your data. (Everbridge, btw).
“Under the new [SNAP] law, parents & older Americans will be required to meet stricter work requirements, & states eventually will have to share in the cost…which could force further program cuts…[some] legal immigrants will also lose access to the program under the law.” apple.news/AUMIaXMBnQpi...
Food stamps are back, but millions will soon lose benefits permanently — POLITICO
Even though the shutdown is over, the GOP’s signature tax and spending law is poised to kick people off the nation’s largest anti-hunger program.
apple.news
November 16, 2025 at 6:28 PM
“Under the new [SNAP] law, parents & older Americans will be required to meet stricter work requirements, & states eventually will have to share in the cost…which could force further program cuts…[some] legal immigrants will also lose access to the program under the law.” apple.news/AUMIaXMBnQpi...
Reposted by M Berk
Pope Leo absolutely cooking
November 16, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Pope Leo absolutely cooking
It’s unnatural that the sky is nighttime dark before 5 pm
November 16, 2025 at 1:28 AM
It’s unnatural that the sky is nighttime dark before 5 pm
Thr Pope’s four favorite movies:
The Sound of Music
It’s a Wonderful Life
Life is Beautiful
Ordinary People
The Sound of Music
It’s a Wonderful Life
Life is Beautiful
Ordinary People
Pope Leo likes movies. As he meets with Hollywood stars today, we have a look at his four favorite movies.
Opinion: Pope Leo's hope-inspiring favorite films
Pope Leo likes movies. As he meets with Hollywood stars today, we have a look at his four favorite movies.
n.pr
November 15, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Thr Pope’s four favorite movies:
The Sound of Music
It’s a Wonderful Life
Life is Beautiful
Ordinary People
The Sound of Music
It’s a Wonderful Life
Life is Beautiful
Ordinary People
Reposted by M Berk
If you need a nap and a nap alibi, schedule a meeting with me.
It will be in your calendar as a regular meeting, and you just go have a little recharge in your car or your bed.
If anyone asks, we talked about security roadmaps and professional development.
It will be in your calendar as a regular meeting, and you just go have a little recharge in your car or your bed.
If anyone asks, we talked about security roadmaps and professional development.
November 11, 2025 at 8:07 PM
If you need a nap and a nap alibi, schedule a meeting with me.
It will be in your calendar as a regular meeting, and you just go have a little recharge in your car or your bed.
If anyone asks, we talked about security roadmaps and professional development.
It will be in your calendar as a regular meeting, and you just go have a little recharge in your car or your bed.
If anyone asks, we talked about security roadmaps and professional development.
This is a great article for getting a glimpse at what thoughtful privacy advocacy and civic responsibility are about, and also the forces that continuously undermine it.
Sorry to hear that Oakland lost 2 great commissioners.
Sorry to hear that Oakland lost 2 great commissioners.
This is a damn shame to see. @brianhofer.bsky.social has been such a driving force not just in keeping this city on track and protecting its citizens' privacy, but in creating a standard for the rest of the country. Thanks for all you've done, Brian.
oaklandside.org/2025/11/12/o...
oaklandside.org/2025/11/12/o...
2 Oakland privacy commissioners resign: ‘I felt like nothing I was doing mattered’
Brian Hofer and Sean Everhart don’t think the city is doing enough to ensure residents’ privacy rights and protect itself from lawsuits.
oaklandside.org
November 13, 2025 at 10:30 PM
This is a great article for getting a glimpse at what thoughtful privacy advocacy and civic responsibility are about, and also the forces that continuously undermine it.
Sorry to hear that Oakland lost 2 great commissioners.
Sorry to hear that Oakland lost 2 great commissioners.