Dr Pen
@drpen.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Tech society posts and shares from Dr Pen, Digital Media & Humanities academic based in Malta, from London. Late bloomer, a bit pithy.
#UserExperience #UGC […]
🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://mastodon.social/@DrPen, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
#UserExperience #UGC […]
🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://mastodon.social/@DrPen, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
Fun survey over at Duck Duck Go, Yes or No AI.
https://voteyesornoai.com/
#ai #noai #academia #academicchatter #survey
https://voteyesornoai.com/
#ai #noai #academia #academicchatter #survey
Are you YES AI or NO AI? Vote now.
Big Tech doesn't care if you want AI or not. They should.
voteyesornoai.com
January 17, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Fun survey over at Duck Duck Go, Yes or No AI.
https://voteyesornoai.com/
#ai #noai #academia #academicchatter #survey
https://voteyesornoai.com/
#ai #noai #academia #academicchatter #survey
Reposted by Dr Pen
*Maybe AI is a really strong conservative force that only goes where the convenient Big Data already is
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09922-y
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09922-y
January 17, 2026 at 6:27 AM
*Maybe AI is a really strong conservative force that only goes where the convenient Big Data already is
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09922-y
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09922-y
I really dont understand why anyone would want to carry on giving free work to these companies who make vast profits at the expense of the planet.
I probably won't donate anymore. They dont need my money, I'll give to a smaller outfit who do.
#wikipedia #ai #genai #chatbots
Six more AI […]
I probably won't donate anymore. They dont need my money, I'll give to a smaller outfit who do.
#wikipedia #ai #genai #chatbots
Six more AI […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 16, 2026 at 4:54 PM
I really dont understand why anyone would want to carry on giving free work to these companies who make vast profits at the expense of the planet.
I probably won't donate anymore. They dont need my money, I'll give to a smaller outfit who do.
#wikipedia #ai #genai #chatbots
Six more AI […]
I probably won't donate anymore. They dont need my money, I'll give to a smaller outfit who do.
#wikipedia #ai #genai #chatbots
Six more AI […]
Reposted by Dr Pen
Judge Proposes Restricting Deportation of Scores of Noncitizen Academics- The New York Times
https://archive.ph/eyD8h
https://archive.ph/eyD8h
January 16, 2026 at 4:29 AM
Judge Proposes Restricting Deportation of Scores of Noncitizen Academics- The New York Times
https://archive.ph/eyD8h
https://archive.ph/eyD8h
Apple killed U2s career with this, they never managed to repair the damage of being in bed with a corporate platform. But outrage forced Apple to allow people to delete the album. It's a key issue of AI into OS and software, you cannot fully remove it. At […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
January 15, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Apple killed U2s career with this, they never managed to repair the damage of being in bed with a corporate platform. But outrage forced Apple to allow people to delete the album. It's a key issue of AI into OS and software, you cannot fully remove it. At […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by Dr Pen
Propietarios de grandes medios, redes, plataformas y productoras.
Extrema derecha trumpista.
Extrema derecha trumpista.
January 14, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Propietarios de grandes medios, redes, plataformas y productoras.
Extrema derecha trumpista.
Extrema derecha trumpista.
Educational intervention about AI deepfakes. This follows on from previous posts about deepfake mis- and disinformation. I have a good collection of these kinds of papers.
free PDF > **https://faculty.washington.edu/.../articles/AIDeepfakes.pdf**
**https://www.wordnik.com/words/intervention** […]
free PDF > **https://faculty.washington.edu/.../articles/AIDeepfakes.pdf**
**https://www.wordnik.com/words/intervention** […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 12, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Educational intervention about AI deepfakes. This follows on from previous posts about deepfake mis- and disinformation. I have a good collection of these kinds of papers.
free PDF > **https://faculty.washington.edu/.../articles/AIDeepfakes.pdf**
**https://www.wordnik.com/words/intervention** […]
free PDF > **https://faculty.washington.edu/.../articles/AIDeepfakes.pdf**
**https://www.wordnik.com/words/intervention** […]
Reposted by Dr Pen
Indonesia today became the first country to block Grok.
"The government views non-consensual deepfake practices as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/indonesia-suspends-grok-ai-over-sexualized-images/
"The government views non-consensual deepfake practices as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/indonesia-suspends-grok-ai-over-sexualized-images/
Indonesia suspends Grok AI over sexualized images
Elon Musk's platform is facing global backlash after reports emerged that its image creation feature allowed users to sexualize pictures of women and children using simple text prompts.
www.cbsnews.com
January 11, 2026 at 6:21 AM
Indonesia today became the first country to block Grok.
"The government views non-consensual deepfake practices as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/indonesia-suspends-grok-ai-over-sexualized-images/
"The government views non-consensual deepfake practices as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/indonesia-suspends-grok-ai-over-sexualized-images/
Video clip of the infamous Iranian girl with cigarette burning the image of the Iranian leader. https://www.facebook.com/reel/2461292674265808
For those curious about GenAI, fake content and political (mis)messaging, the image shared in socmed does NOT […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
For those curious about GenAI, fake content and political (mis)messaging, the image shared in socmed does NOT […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
January 11, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Video clip of the infamous Iranian girl with cigarette burning the image of the Iranian leader. https://www.facebook.com/reel/2461292674265808
For those curious about GenAI, fake content and political (mis)messaging, the image shared in socmed does NOT […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
For those curious about GenAI, fake content and political (mis)messaging, the image shared in socmed does NOT […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by Dr Pen
I have got to hand it to @pj, @kevin, and @Casey for creating the #forkiverse – a new Mastodon instance: https://theforkiverse.com
They have been reporting on the #enshittification of social media forever (via Search Engine, Hard Fork, Platformer), and decided to “make a clubhouse that has […]
They have been reporting on the #enshittification of social media forever (via Search Engine, Hard Fork, Platformer), and decided to “make a clubhouse that has […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 11, 2026 at 5:12 AM
I have got to hand it to @pj, @kevin, and @Casey for creating the #forkiverse – a new Mastodon instance: https://theforkiverse.com
They have been reporting on the #enshittification of social media forever (via Search Engine, Hard Fork, Platformer), and decided to “make a clubhouse that has […]
They have been reporting on the #enshittification of social media forever (via Search Engine, Hard Fork, Platformer), and decided to “make a clubhouse that has […]
Reposted by Dr Pen
I miss blogs.
I started doing something very much like blogging in 'zine form in the 90's, and carried that over into my tabletop roleplaying website in 2000. When actual blog software came along, I started using it. It was fun, and I enjoyed reading the blogs of quite a few friends.
But now […]
I started doing something very much like blogging in 'zine form in the 90's, and carried that over into my tabletop roleplaying website in 2000. When actual blog software came along, I started using it. It was fun, and I enjoyed reading the blogs of quite a few friends.
But now […]
Original post on kolektiva.social
kolektiva.social
January 11, 2026 at 12:39 AM
I miss blogs.
I started doing something very much like blogging in 'zine form in the 90's, and carried that over into my tabletop roleplaying website in 2000. When actual blog software came along, I started using it. It was fun, and I enjoyed reading the blogs of quite a few friends.
But now […]
I started doing something very much like blogging in 'zine form in the 90's, and carried that over into my tabletop roleplaying website in 2000. When actual blog software came along, I started using it. It was fun, and I enjoyed reading the blogs of quite a few friends.
But now […]
Reposted by Dr Pen
I'm off for a few days of remote field work away from the Wasa research station here in Antarctica.
Try not to break or lose anything while I'm gone. Like NATO.
Or Greenland.
Try not to break or lose anything while I'm gone. Like NATO.
Or Greenland.
January 10, 2026 at 7:08 AM
I'm off for a few days of remote field work away from the Wasa research station here in Antarctica.
Try not to break or lose anything while I'm gone. Like NATO.
Or Greenland.
Try not to break or lose anything while I'm gone. Like NATO.
Or Greenland.
Reposted by Dr Pen
Our vision is crystal clear: social spaces should belong to the people, forever. 🏡💙
No ads, no manipulative algorithms, no hidden agendas: a platform governed by and for its community.
Support Mastodon. Keep the internet in the hands of the people: Donate […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
No ads, no manipulative algorithms, no hidden agendas: a platform governed by and for its community.
Support Mastodon. Keep the internet in the hands of the people: Donate […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
January 9, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Our vision is crystal clear: social spaces should belong to the people, forever. 🏡💙
No ads, no manipulative algorithms, no hidden agendas: a platform governed by and for its community.
Support Mastodon. Keep the internet in the hands of the people: Donate […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
No ads, no manipulative algorithms, no hidden agendas: a platform governed by and for its community.
Support Mastodon. Keep the internet in the hands of the people: Donate […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by Dr Pen
Republican bullies deploy more threats against the UK to protect their big tech corporate allies.
January 9, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Republican bullies deploy more threats against the UK to protect their big tech corporate allies.
Reposted by Dr Pen
A website to destroy all websites.
https://henry.codes/writing/a-website-to-destroy-all-websites/
https://henry.codes/writing/a-website-to-destroy-all-websites/
A Website To End All Websites | Henry From Online
How to win the war for the soul of the internet, and build the Web We Want.
henry.codes
January 8, 2026 at 1:42 AM
A website to destroy all websites.
https://henry.codes/writing/a-website-to-destroy-all-websites/
https://henry.codes/writing/a-website-to-destroy-all-websites/
Reposted by Dr Pen
A rousing call to take back our technology and bring back the old web. I read the entire essay!
As I've been saying for a year or two now, *almost nothing has actually changed* technology-wise between 1995 and 2025. Most of HTML 3.5 still works in any browser. It's super easy to learn. I've got […]
As I've been saying for a year or two now, *almost nothing has actually changed* technology-wise between 1995 and 2025. Most of HTML 3.5 still works in any browser. It's super easy to learn. I've got […]
Original post on defcon.social
defcon.social
January 8, 2026 at 2:32 AM
A rousing call to take back our technology and bring back the old web. I read the entire essay!
As I've been saying for a year or two now, *almost nothing has actually changed* technology-wise between 1995 and 2025. Most of HTML 3.5 still works in any browser. It's super easy to learn. I've got […]
As I've been saying for a year or two now, *almost nothing has actually changed* technology-wise between 1995 and 2025. Most of HTML 3.5 still works in any browser. It's super easy to learn. I've got […]
I just got an email from someone who has entered a preprint paper of mine into a chatbot and generated some output from it ('additional ideas'). They did not ask me beforehand to do this. They say in the email the (SocArxiv) CC By-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License allows them to do […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 6, 2026 at 10:45 AM
I just got an email from someone who has entered a preprint paper of mine into a chatbot and generated some output from it ('additional ideas'). They did not ask me beforehand to do this. They say in the email the (SocArxiv) CC By-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License allows them to do […]
Reposted by Dr Pen
This may be useful to people.
Being anonymous online.
https://hexshift.medium.com/how-to-stay-anonymous-online-in-2025-without-going-off-the-grid-35a11a327770
#privacy #anonymous #data #surveillance
Being anonymous online.
https://hexshift.medium.com/how-to-stay-anonymous-online-in-2025-without-going-off-the-grid-35a11a327770
#privacy #anonymous #data #surveillance
January 3, 2026 at 8:15 AM
This may be useful to people.
Being anonymous online.
https://hexshift.medium.com/how-to-stay-anonymous-online-in-2025-without-going-off-the-grid-35a11a327770
#privacy #anonymous #data #surveillance
Being anonymous online.
https://hexshift.medium.com/how-to-stay-anonymous-online-in-2025-without-going-off-the-grid-35a11a327770
#privacy #anonymous #data #surveillance
Reposted by Dr Pen
I suggest you support Standard Ebooks 📚
“Standard Ebooks is a volunteer-driven project that produces new editions of public domain ebooks that are lovingly formatted, open source, free of … copyright restrictions, and free of cost.” ⚖️
See what’s free to read […]
[Original post on fosstodon.org]
“Standard Ebooks is a volunteer-driven project that produces new editions of public domain ebooks that are lovingly formatted, open source, free of … copyright restrictions, and free of cost.” ⚖️
See what’s free to read […]
[Original post on fosstodon.org]
January 1, 2026 at 9:11 AM
I suggest you support Standard Ebooks 📚
“Standard Ebooks is a volunteer-driven project that produces new editions of public domain ebooks that are lovingly formatted, open source, free of … copyright restrictions, and free of cost.” ⚖️
See what’s free to read […]
[Original post on fosstodon.org]
“Standard Ebooks is a volunteer-driven project that produces new editions of public domain ebooks that are lovingly formatted, open source, free of … copyright restrictions, and free of cost.” ⚖️
See what’s free to read […]
[Original post on fosstodon.org]
New year resolutions: Another reason to dump Instagram if you haven't already.
> Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is closing out 2025 with a 20-images-deep dive into what a new era of “infinite synthetic content” means as it all becomes harder and harder to distinguish from reality, and the old […]
> Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is closing out 2025 with a 20-images-deep dive into what a new era of “infinite synthetic content” means as it all becomes harder and harder to distinguish from reality, and the old […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 1, 2026 at 9:24 AM
New year resolutions: Another reason to dump Instagram if you haven't already.
> Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is closing out 2025 with a 20-images-deep dive into what a new era of “infinite synthetic content” means as it all becomes harder and harder to distinguish from reality, and the old […]
> Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is closing out 2025 with a 20-images-deep dive into what a new era of “infinite synthetic content” means as it all becomes harder and harder to distinguish from reality, and the old […]
Reposted by Dr Pen
Most European politicians are still active on X.
Let's work together in 2026 to finally wake up our representatives.
https://leavex.eu
#leavex #eupol #eu #europe
Let's work together in 2026 to finally wake up our representatives.
https://leavex.eu
#leavex #eupol #eu #europe
An Open Letter to All European Politicians and Leaders to Abandon X/Twitter
Protect Democracy
leavex.eu
December 31, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Most European politicians are still active on X.
Let's work together in 2026 to finally wake up our representatives.
https://leavex.eu
#leavex #eupol #eu #europe
Let's work together in 2026 to finally wake up our representatives.
https://leavex.eu
#leavex #eupol #eu #europe
Reposted by Dr Pen
This image is from January 1st 2025 and, in my opinion, has remained unbeated as the most iconic photo of the year.
If you think of a better candidate for photo of the year, please share it in the comments!
#2025 #photography #photo #trump #cybertruck #tesla
If you think of a better candidate for photo of the year, please share it in the comments!
#2025 #photography #photo #trump #cybertruck #tesla
December 31, 2025 at 4:51 PM
This image is from January 1st 2025 and, in my opinion, has remained unbeated as the most iconic photo of the year.
If you think of a better candidate for photo of the year, please share it in the comments!
#2025 #photography #photo #trump #cybertruck #tesla
If you think of a better candidate for photo of the year, please share it in the comments!
#2025 #photography #photo #trump #cybertruck #tesla
Reposted by Dr Pen
The Trump administration is closing NASA’s largest research library on Friday, a facility that houses tens of thousands of books, documents and journals — many of them not digitized or available anywhere else.
Jacob Richmond, a NASA spokesman, said the agency would review the library holdings […]
Jacob Richmond, a NASA spokesman, said the agency would review the library holdings […]
Original post on c.im
c.im
December 31, 2025 at 9:38 PM
The Trump administration is closing NASA’s largest research library on Friday, a facility that houses tens of thousands of books, documents and journals — many of them not digitized or available anywhere else.
Jacob Richmond, a NASA spokesman, said the agency would review the library holdings […]
Jacob Richmond, a NASA spokesman, said the agency would review the library holdings […]