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Critical Internet Studies Institute

@criticalinternet.bsky.social

570 followers 46 following 28 posts

Institutional resilience, independent of industry. www.criticalinternet.org

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · Jul 3

How do we ensure timely, accurate local knowledge after a violent incident--rather than political exploitation?

Learn how our monitoring work applies to breaking news in @npquarterly.bsky.social

BostonJoan 🏳️‍🌈 🦫 @bostonjoan.bsky.social · Jul 2

The Critical Internet Studies Institute was covered in Non-Profit Quarterly for our research into the disinformation mobilizing recent political violence.

X is still the main platform for circulating disinformation during breaking news events.

nonprofitquarterly.org/in-hortman-k...

In Hortman Killing, an Opportunity for Right-Wing Disinformation - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly

The assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman created a feeding frenzy for disinformation.

nonprofitquarterly.org

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · 15d

Thursday webinar: Catch CISI Co-Director @hypervisible.blacksky.app on AI, libraries, & privacy

Library Futures @libraryfutures.bsky.social · 16d

Maybe you can't read Ray Carver at work, but you CAN talk about AI, and we've got the webinar series you've been waiting for. Join @hypervisible.blacksky.app, Christa Albrecht-Crane, and Library Futures this Thursday 9/25 for the first installment!

nyu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Reposted by Critical Internet Studies Institute

BostonJoan 🏳️‍🌈 🦫 @bostonjoan.bsky.social · 19d

I wanted to follow up on the meme discussion with a longer piece about how to understand memes as cultural artifacts with their own politics.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/19/o...

The memes that may — or may not — shed light on Charlie Kirk’s killing - The Boston Globe

Are the alleged shooter’s messages left, right, or just ragebait?

www.bostonglobe.com

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · 25d

CISI Founder interviewed today in TIME Magazine

BostonJoan 🏳️‍🌈 🦫 @bostonjoan.bsky.social · 25d

"In the set of engravings, he referenced some more ambiguous symbols and a clearly homophobic joke. The ambiguity is a crucial element of memes because not everyone is in on the reference or knows its origins” - Joan Donovan
@criticalinternet.bsky.social

time.com/7317032/tyle...

Suspect in Charlie Kirk Killing Left Messages, But No Motive

Tyler Robinson left obscure messages on bullet casings, authorities say, but they have yet to discover a clear motive.

time.com

Reposted by Critical Internet Studies Institute

Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 25d

Dr. Donovan @bostonjoan.bksy.social breaks it down.

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · 25d

ICYMI: Today, CISI Co-Director @bostonjoan.bsky.social spoke with @anitachabria.bsky.social for the @latimes.com

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Reposted by Critical Internet Studies Institute

BostonJoan 🏳️‍🌈 🦫 @bostonjoan.bsky.social · 26d

I’m putting this information out here so that press and police can begin to understand what’s actually motivating Kirk’s murder.

BostonJoan 🏳️‍🌈 🦫 @bostonjoan.bsky.social · 26d

This is the Groyper playlist on Spotify, which includes “Bella Ciao.”

It’s a meme war. FBI and others are all taking the bait.

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · 26d

Thank you! We have been deep in the work this week, so this is very appreciated. More to come.

Reposted by Critical Internet Studies Institute

Eric Holthaus @ericholthaus.com · 26d

If you want to figure out something productive to do in the aftermath of this horrific week, donating to @criticalinternet.bsky.social is a good place to start. I just did.

BostonJoan 🏳️‍🌈 🦫 @bostonjoan.bsky.social · Apr 9

Our non-profit, The Critical Internet Studies Institute, has a BlueSky account. Please follow for updates: @criticalinternet.bsky.social

Check us out and leave a donation to support independent research and analysis that puts community and safety first.
www.criticalinternet.org

The Critical Internet Studies Institute

CISI is an independent nonprofit that offers research and programs that mobilize knowledge on emerging technology topics including networked incitement, privacy and community safety, surveillance over...

www.criticalinternet.org

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · 26d

We agree.

Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · Aug 27

CISI Co-Director @hypervisible.blacksky.app quoted in @nytimes.com on the perils of trading time for privacy www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/t...

Google Pixel 10 Pro Review: This A.I. Phone Can Save Time if You Surrender Your Data

www.nytimes.com

Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · Aug 25

Audio/transcript: CISI Co-Director @bostonjoan.bsky.social interviewed on @npr.org about the taxpayer-paid "forced memes" & rage bait of ICE social media www.npr.org/2025/08/22/n...

Inside the White House meme factory : It's Been a Minute

We need to talk about the memes your tax dollars paid for. What is the federal government trying to communicate with them?The social media accounts of the White House and the Department of Homeland Se...

www.npr.org

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · Aug 19

ICYMI, CISI Co-Director @bostonjoan.bsky.social was quoted in the @wired.com piece by @tessowen.bsky.social on dog whistles & aesthetic slop as targeted recruitment appeal www.wired.com/story/trump-...

The Trump Administration Is Using Memes to Turn Mass Deportation Into One Big Joke

Memes shared by the White House, DHS, and ICE have used catchy TikTok tunes to normalize mass deportation and Christian nationalist narratives. Experts say that’s the point.

www.wired.com

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · Aug 16

“It’s so important for young people to have a sense of pride of place and duty to their country. But not in this way, not in a way that oppresses the human dignity of others.” –CISI Co-Director @bostonjoan.bsky.social on ICE meme propaganda in @motherjones.com www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

The official voice of the US government is cruel, gross, and weird. What is that doing to us?

Joking memes about imprisonment, deportation, and death by alligator are designed to radicalize and desensitize.

www.motherjones.com

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · Aug 7

Quotes CISI Co-Director @hypervisible.bsky.social: "It's clear that whatever imaginary boundary there was between consumer surveillance tech and government surveillance tech is now completely erased."

404 Media @404media.co · Aug 7

A Border Agent Wore Meta Smart Glasses to an Immigration Raid in Los Angeles

🔗 www.404media.co/a-cbp-agent-...

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · Aug 4

For an update on Chris' work with CISI, check out this new podcast via @politechs.bsky.social. Remember: Don't give the gift of surveillance! @hypervisible.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

Surveillance

Podcast Episode · Politechs · S1 E4 · 1h 13m

podcasts.apple.com

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · Aug 4

Congrats to CISI Co-Director @hypervisible.bsky.social on joining the @epic.org Advisory Board! epic.org/four-leading...

Four Leading Scholars and Advocates Join EPIC’s Advisory Board

<p>Today the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) announced the addition of four members to its Advisory Board.</p>

epic.org

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · Jul 3

How do we ensure timely, accurate local knowledge after a violent incident--rather than political exploitation?

Learn how our monitoring work applies to breaking news in @npquarterly.bsky.social

BostonJoan 🏳️‍🌈 🦫 @bostonjoan.bsky.social · Jul 2

In Hortman Killing, an Opportunity for Right-Wing Disinformation - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly

The assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman created a feeding frenzy for disinformation.

nonprofitquarterly.org

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Reposted by Critical Internet Studies Institute

Internet Archive @archive.org · Jun 5

“Libraries are under attack,” said Brewster Kahle. At our Escaping the Memory Hole event, he made a passionate call to action for defending digital libraries amid cyberattacks, lawsuits, & censorship. 📚💿 🎞️📼🏛️

Full video ➡️ youtu.be/_L1VP8klL_g

#MemoryHole #Preservation #InternetArchive

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · May 20

"They give lip service to the idea of consent...float trial balloons up...& then they do it anyway!" 👓

–CISI co-director @hypervisible.bsky.social on Meta's "antisocial" spy glasses as "luxury surveillance" versus embracing community "obscurity." With @markhurst.bsky.social for @wfmu.bsky.social 🔊

Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · May 20

👀👀

Surveillance scholar Chris Gilliard on Facebook's spy glasses from May 19, 2025

Podcast Episode · Techtonic with Mark Hurst | WFMU · 05/20/2025 · 1 sec

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by Critical Internet Studies Institute

Rick Valenzuela @threatc.at · May 16

And plug: I mentioned Lockdown Mode and Advanced Protection Program in a tip sheet I cowrote with @bostonjoan.bsky.social for @criticalinternet.bsky.social. If you fit the profile, these are really good and really easy things to switch on to be safer

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · May 13

Pairs well with our digital security #tipsheet for knowledge workers, via @threatc.at & @bostonjoan.bsky.social! www.criticalinternet.org/research

Research — The Critical Internet Studies Institute

www.criticalinternet.org

Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · May 13

Interesting resource via @unclosetedmedia.bsky.social www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/data-priva...

Data Privacy in Trump 2.0 and LGBTQ Rights: What You Need to Know

Americans are “constantly shedding data.” What does that mean for LGBTQ people under the current administration?

www.unclosetedmedia.com

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · May 12

New reports of intimidation campaigns toward US judges– including anonymous 🍕 deliveries–are sadly no surprise.

CISI was quick to flag potential networked incitement towards an independent judiciary; see @bloomberglaw.com (quoting @bostonjoan.bsky.social) news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

Trump Allies’ Criticism of Judges Prompts Security Concerns

President Donald Trump’s allies have fueled misinformation and verbal attacks against courts on social media, raising concerns that judges hearing high-profile litigation challenging his administratio...

news.bloomberglaw.com

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · May 8

Facial recognition technology is “uniquely dangerous, unreliable, and a persistent threat to human rights.” CISI co-director @hypervisible.bsky.social quoted by @willoremus.com in today's @washingtonpost.com Tech Brief www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Analysis | More airports are scanning faces. A new bill would limit the practice.

Senators revive bipartisan push to regulate the TSA’s use of facial recognition at security checkpoints.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Critical Internet Studies Institute @criticalinternet.bsky.social · May 7

ICYMI: CISI co-director quoted in @prospectmagazine.co.uk on measures against “this new technological oligarchy”

BostonJoan 🏳️‍🌈 🦫 @bostonjoan.bsky.social · May 5

Fantastic run down of all the great things happening in the pro-democracy movement and beyond.

I do worry that these mass movements need to better articulate democratic resilience and have a pro-social vision for democracy’s future.

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...

In the United States, the fightback against Trump has begun

From the courts to the streets, Americans are finding ways to resist a president who made their fears a reality

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

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