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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 1h

Just caught an amazing talk by amac - Alex MacGillivray - at UMass Amherst on regulating the actual harms of AI, not just science fiction fantasies: ethanzuckerman.com/2025/10/08/a... #umass #umassamherst

amac at UMass: How do we regulate AI? - Ethan Zuckerman

One of the most experienced tech policy makers - Alex MacGillivray - offers advice on regulating the real problems of AI.

ethanzuckerman.com

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Reposted by Ethan Zuckerman

Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 4d

This is the obvious absurdity of pulling ICEBlock. It is obviously legal, protected speech for anyone to say, in any forum, “I just witnessed some police activity at location X”. Indeed, people have been doing this regularly on social media since its inception.

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 4d

"I think in a free country we should be able to post onto the internet, 'hey, there are masked agents on Broadway and Vine and not have the government or the tech oligarchs prevent us from doing that.' Shame on you, Tim Cook."

@radiofreetom.bsky.social joins @timmiller.bsky.social:

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Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 7d

Training AI doesn’t only depend on data but on the way humans, with all our drives and flaws, interact with it, writes @ethanz.bsky.social. And is that really destined to improve?

Chatbots may not keep getting better

Training AI doesn’t only depend on data but on the way humans, with all our drives and flaws, interact with it

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 9d

There’s no guarantees that LLMs keep getting better - just look at search engines: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/techno...

Chatbots may not keep getting better

Training AI doesn’t only depend on data but on the way humans, with all our drives and flaws, interact with it

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

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ReDICo @redico.eu · 13d

Today we also celebrate the launch of our new podcast season "Internet Futures". In the first episode @fergallenehan.bsky.social and Luisa Conti discuss random archives, global YouTube and rewiring the Net with @ethanz.bsky.social. Stay tuned for episode 2 next week! letscast.fm/sites/redico...

S2E1: “Random Archives, Global YouTube and Rewiring the Net: A Conversation with Ethan Zuckerman”

In the first episode of the series Fergal Lenehan and Luisa Conti, from the Centre for Digital Interculturality Studies, talk to Ethan Zuckerman. Ethan is a world-recognized expert in the field of the...

letscast.fm

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 14d

Awesome. Come find me, Rob - Thompson Hall, rm 530. Mostly on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 14d

and Jamie is on WBAI discussing these issues, about halfway through this show: wbai.org/archive/prog...

Proud to work with someone considering these important issues. #StandUpforHigherEd

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 14d

While a great example of diversion from traditional incarceration-focused justice systems, these courts raise questions of who deserves an understanding and forgiving approach to justice.

The book, "Worthy of Justice", is available for pre-order: www.amazon.com/Worthy-Justi...

Worthy of Justice: The Politics of Veterans Treatment Courts in Practice

Amazon.com: Worthy of Justice: The Politics of Veterans Treatment Courts in Practice: 9781503611498: Rowen, Jamie: Books

www.amazon.com

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 14d

My #UMass friend and colleague Jamie Rowan has a new book coming out about Veterans Treatment Courts, a "problem solving" court that helps veterans access VA medical and social services in resolution of cases concerning drug abuse and mental health issues.

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 14d

there's an enormous amount of messaging attacking expertise in general, and higher education in particular. Those of us who work hard teaching, researching and caring for our students need to be telling our stories as well.

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 14d

In the spirit of standing up for higher ed, I'm going to be highlighting great work that colleagues at UMass and elsewhere are doing, using #DefendHigherEd as the hashtag. I'd encourage you to do the same

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 14d

They're founding a new organization - Stand Together for Higher Ed - which is organizing a national webinar on reclaiming the narrative on October 29. For more on the org and the webinar - www.standtogetherhighered.org

Stand Together

www.standtogetherhighered.org

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 14d

My #UMassAmherst colleagues Jen Lundquist and Kathy Forde ran a great workshop - "Reclaim the Narrative" at UMass last week on helping university staff and faculty tell stories about the importance of the work we do for our students and for society as a whole.

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · 16d

Thrilled that Alaa will be free. Heartbroken at the costs paid by his family and everyone that loves him: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah to be freed from prison

Reports say writer, who has served six years for liking a Facebook post, has also been given a presidential pardon

www.theguardian.com

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Alona Ferber @aloner.bsky.social · Sep 3

Our latest issue is out! featuring @benansell.bsky.social on left populism, @jenstout.bsky.social on landmines, @jamesball.bsky.social on big data, @ethanz.bsky.social on how tech used to be progressive, @sarahelizacollins.bsky.social on goodbyes and yours truly on the new-not-so-new misogyny

Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · Sep 3

Our latest issue has just hit newsstands! Here’s a peek at what’s inside... 🧵

In our cover essay, @benansell.bsky.social surveys the resurgence of left populism, from Zohran Mamdani to Zarah Sultana. Should Keir Starmer take notes?
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/709...

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Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · Aug 30

We used to think technology was inherently liberatory. Now it’s empowering corporations and conmen, writes @ethanz.bsky.social.

Tech bros used to be progressive. What happened?

We used to think technology was inherently liberatory. Now it’s empowering corporations and conmen

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · Aug 29

Terrific thread from my friend and colleague Ryan McGrady, who studies Wikimedia closely and knows a lot about what information is available (and not available) to respond to this (chilling, stupid, threatening) information request from the House committee on intimidating academics.

Ryan McGrady @antisomniac.bsky.social · Aug 28

[thread] The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent a request for assistance to the @wikimediafoundation.org today (request, importantly, and not a subpoena).
oversight.house.gov/wp-content/u... [1/?]

oversight.house.gov

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Reposted by Ethan Zuckerman

Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · Aug 26

We used to think technology was inherently liberatory. Now it’s empowering corporations and conmen, writes
@ethanz.bsky.social

Tech bros used to be progressive. What happened?

We used to think technology was inherently liberatory. Now it’s empowering corporations and conmen

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · Aug 26

The tech world's lurch to the right is the subject of my latest column for Prospect: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/techno... - it offers a super-brief history from the Whole Earth Catalog to cryptoconmen and anti-labor AI.

Tech bros used to be progressive. What happened?

We used to think technology was inherently liberatory. Now it’s empowering corporations and conmen

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

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Reposted by Ethan Zuckerman

Global Voices @globalvoices.org · Aug 25

For two decades, Global Voices has amplified the voices of people from all around the world, making it possible to hear perspectives usually left out of the news. @ethanz.bsky.social
#KeepGVStrong

#KeepGVStrong: Global Voices advocates for a connected world at a dark time

For two decades, Global Voices has amplified the voices of people from all around the world, making it possible to hear perspectives usually left out of the news.

globalvoices.org

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Reposted by Ethan Zuckerman

Ryan McGrady @antisomniac.bsky.social · Aug 13

I wrote an article about linguistic bias and the internet for the BBC, based on a paper @ze.vin, @ethanz.bsky.social, and I wrote comparing four language-specific samples of YouTube. www.bbc.com/future/artic...

How language is hiding the real internet from you

Most of the internet is out of your reach, but the barrier isn't just algorithms. In another language, the same platforms turn into whole other worlds.

www.bbc.com

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · Aug 9

Hi from Toledo, Mike.

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · Aug 6

"These are not normal times. and these are not my normal job duties." My friend Catherine d'Ignazio describes being a professor under state terrorism, a description that resonates with my experience as well: academeblog.org/2025/08/05/h...

How US Universities Can Survive State Terrorism

BY CATHERINE D’IGNAZIO As a professor at MIT, I find myself navigating strange waters these days. Last semester, I advised the thesis of a student who left the country because she did not fee…

academeblog.org

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Ethan Zuckerman @ethanz.bsky.social · Aug 4

Lots of fun and worthwhile stuff on this thread - thanks for amplifying the Reimagining the Internet interview with Alondra Nelson!

Ben Railton @americanstudier.bsky.social · Aug 3

@ethanz.bsky.social, today's thread includes your awesome episode with @alondra.bsky.social. Would you be able to share the thread to get all this great public scholarship to your followers? Thanks!

bsky.app/profile/amer...

Ben Railton @americanstudier.bsky.social · Aug 3

August is here, and with it my 236th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the past week. Add more below, share widely, & enjoy, all! 🗃️ +

americanstudier.substack.com/p/scholarsun...

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Reposted by Ethan Zuckerman

Clive Thompson @clivethompson.bsky.social · Aug 3

Fun: @ethanz.bsky.social crunched data on restaurants in 340 American cities ...

... to see which towns have "statistically improbable" cuisine

i.e. which towns have unexpected concentrations of Lebanese food?

Item #3 in my latest "Linkfest" newsletter, free here: buttondown.com/clivethompso...

A well-dressed server is slicing cured meat at a lavish buffet table filled with an array of artfully presented appetizers. The spread includes trays of skewered olives with lemon slices, tomato-topped bruschetta, and small paper bowls filled with seafood and vegetable bites. A stack of clean white plates sits ready for guests, while a large floral arrangement and baskets of bread add elegance to the rustic wooden table. Natural light filters in, suggesting a festive and upscale gathering, perhaps a wedding or formal reception.

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